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Vocab
Scientific Method Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Science | a way of learning about the natural world and the knowledge gained through that process. |
| Scientific Inquiry | the diverse ways in which scientists explore problems and seek to answer questions about the natural world. |
| Observation | using all 5 senses to gather information. |
| Inference | an interpretation based on observation and prior knowledge |
| Hypothesis | a possible explanation for a set of observations or an answer to a scientific question. |
| Controlled experiment | an experiment in which all factors except one are kept constant. |
| Variable | any factor that can change in an experiment |
| Manipulated variable | the one factor that a scientist changes during an experiment; also called the independent variable. |
| Responding variable | the factor that changes as a result of changes made by the manipulated variable in an experiment; also called the dependent variable. |
| Data | the facts, figures and other evidence gained through observation. |
| Scientific theory | a well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations. |