Term | Definition |
observing | the process of using one or more of your senses to gather information |
qualitative observation | An observation that describes what is observed using words. It describes characteristics that cannot be expressed with numbers. |
inferring | the process of making an interpretation based on observations & prior knowledge |
predicting | the process of forecasting what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence |
classifying | the process of grouping together like items in some way |
making models | process of creating representations of complex objects or processes |
scientific method | process scientists use to find answers to questions |
hypothesis | an educated guess, often an "if-then" statement, must be testable |
variable | factor that might change an experiment |
independent variable (IV) | The ONE factor during an experiment that a scientist changes |
dependent variable (responding variable) (DV) | the factor that changes as a result of changes to the independent variable |
data | facts, figures,information, and other evidence gathered through observations |
control group or control | a part of an experiment left in the "natural or normal state" |
levels of the independent variable | the SPECIFIC AMOUNTS of the independent variable that are changed in an experiment |
inference | a conclusion based on observations and prior experience |