Scientific Method

What is the purpose of an experiment?

The question you are trying to answer or the reason for the experiment.

What is research in the context of an experiment?

Information you can collect about your subject, based on previous knowledge or what other scientists know.

What is a hypothesis?

A prediction of what you think you are going to find out or a guess about what will happen.

What is an experiment?

The way you will test your prediction and answer the question.

What are materials in an experiment?

The items and supplies needed for the experiment.

What is a procedure?

The carefully organized steps that are taken during an experiment.

What is the independent variable?

The variable that is intentionally altered during a scientific experiment, graphed on the X axis.

What is the dependent variable?

The variable being tested or measured in an experiment, which changes in response to the independent variable and is graphed on the Y axis.

What is a constant variable?

A variable that must be kept the same throughout the experiment.

What is a control in an experiment?

The experimental trial used for comparison with your results.

What are results in an experiment?

The observations made during the experiment.

What is a conclusion?

A reflection on your hypothesis and a summary of the experiment.