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The Scientific Method

Steps and vocabulary of scientific investigations.

61 cardsGrades 3–5, Grades 6–8, Grades 9–12#scientific method#experiments

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61 cards
  • Scientific methodTerm
    A set of steps scientists use to answer questions
  • ObservationTerm
    Using your senses or tools to notice something
  • QuestionTerm
    What you want to find out
  • ResearchTerm
    Learning what is already known about a topic
  • HypothesisTerm
    A testable prediction or possible answer to a question
  • PredictionTerm
    A statement of what you expect to happen
  • ExperimentTerm
    A fair test to check a hypothesis
  • VariableTerm
    Something that can change in an experiment
  • Independent variableTerm
    The thing you change on purpose
  • Dependent variableTerm
    The thing you measure as the result
  • Controlled variable (constant)Term
    A factor kept the same in every trial
  • Control groupTerm
    The group that doesn't get the change, used for comparison
  • Experimental groupTerm
    The group that gets the change being tested
  • DataTerm
    Information collected during an experiment
  • Quantitative dataTerm
    Data in numbers
  • Qualitative dataTerm
    Data in descriptions, such as color or smell
  • AnalysisTerm
    Looking carefully at data to find patterns
  • ConclusionTerm
    What the results show about the hypothesis
  • TrialTerm
    One run of an experiment
  • Repeated trialsTerm
    Doing the test again to make results more reliable
  • Sample sizeTerm
    The number of items or subjects tested
  • BiasTerm
    An unfair influence on results
  • Fair testTerm
    A test in which only one variable changes
  • ReproducibleTerm
    Others can repeat the experiment and get the same results
  • Peer reviewTerm
    Other experts checking a scientist's work before it is published
  • TheoryTerm
    A well-tested explanation supported by lots of evidence
  • Scientific lawTerm
    A statement that describes a pattern in nature, often as an equation
  • Difference between theory and guessTerm
    A theory is backed by much evidence; a guess is not
  • ModelTerm
    A representation used to explain or predict something
  • InferenceTerm
    A conclusion based on evidence and reasoning
  • EvidenceTerm
    Facts that support an idea
  • AnomalyTerm
    A result that doesn't fit the pattern
  • ErrorTerm
    A difference between a measured value and the true value
  • AccuracyTerm
    How close a measurement is to the true value
  • PrecisionTerm
    How close repeated measurements are to each other
  • Average (mean)Term
    The sum of values divided by how many there are
  • MedianTerm
    The middle value of an ordered list
  • ModeTerm
    The value that appears most often
  • RangeTerm
    The difference between the largest and smallest values
  • Line graphTerm
    Best for showing change over time
  • Bar graphTerm
    Best for comparing categories
  • Pie chartTerm
    Shows parts of a whole
  • Scatter plotTerm
    Shows how two variables relate
  • Title of a graphTerm
    Tells what the graph is about
  • Axis labelsTerm
    Say what is measured and the units
  • Lab reportTerm
    A written account of an experiment
  • Materials listTerm
    Tells what you need for an experiment
  • ProcedureTerm
    The steps followed in an experiment
  • Safety firstTerm
    Follow safety rules in every experiment
  • Metric systemTerm
    The measurement system scientists use worldwide
  • Science fairTerm
    A contest where students show their experiments
  • Why change only one variable?Term
    So you know what caused the result
  • Hypothesis formatTerm
    If I do this, then that will happen, because...
  • CorrelationTerm
    Two things changing together
  • CausationTerm
    One thing causing another
  • Does correlation prove causation?Term
    No
  • PlaceboTerm
    A harmless pill with no medicine, used for comparison in tests
  • Double-blind testTerm
    Neither the subjects nor the testers know who gets the real treatment
  • PseudoscienceTerm
    Ideas that look like science but aren't tested properly
  • SkepticismTerm
    Asking for evidence before believing a claim
  • FalsifiableTerm
    Able to be proven wrong by evidence

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