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Scientific Method
Procedures, variables, and steps of scientific experimentation
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| HYPOTHESIS | An educated guess about the results of a scientific experiment. |
| WELL-DEFINED QUESTIONS | Questions about the natural world that involve experimentation, observations, analyzing results, and produce measurable results. |
| MATERIALS | A list of required resources/tools to be used in an experiment. |
| INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (MANIPULATED) | The one variable that is purposely changed during an experiment. |
| DEPENDENT VARIABLE (RESPONDING) | The variable that you measure in an experiment and what is affected during the experiment. The dependent variable responds to the independent variable. |
| CONTROLS | Variables that are not changed (remain constant) during an experiment. |
| EXPERIMENT | Test your hypothesis by using your materials and a step-by-step procedures. Make detailed quantitative and qualitative observations. |
| QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATIONS | Observations using instruments or tools such as a ruler, balance, or thermometer. Measured/counted. |
| QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONS | Observations using your senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing). Described. |
| ANALYZE DATA | Using your observations to create charts, graphs, and tables that illustrated your experiment results. |
| DRAWING CONCLUSIONS | A reasoned deduction or final results of your experiment. What your hypothesis correct? What future experiments could you conduct? What did you learn from your experiment? |
| PUBLISHING RESULTS | Communicating your scientific findings to others. |