Term | Definition |
Ethics | the study of principals about what is right and wrong, fair and
unfair |
Qualitative observation | an observation that deals with characteristics that cannot be
expressed in numbers |
Observing | the process of using one or more of your senses to gather
information |
Evaluating | comparing observations and data to reach a conclusion about
them |
Models | a representation of a complex object or process, used to help
people understand a concept that they cannot observe directly |
Classifying | the process of grouping together items that are alike in some
way |
Quantitative observation | an observation that deals with a number or amount |
Inferring | the process of making an inference, an interpretation based on
observations and prior knowledge |
Predicting | the process of forecasting what will happen in the future
based on past experience or evidence |
Science | a way of learning about the natural world through observations
and logical reasoning; leads to a body of knowledge |
Skepticism | an attitude of doubt |
Deductive reasoning | a way to explain things by starting with a general idea and then applying the
idea to a specific observation |
Experimental bias | a mistake in the design of an experiment that makes a particular result more
likely |
personal bias | an outlook influenced by a person’s likes and dislikes |
Cultural bias | a way to explain things by starting with a general idea and then applying the
idea to a specific observation |
Objective | describes the act of decision-making or drawing conclusions based on
available evidence |
Inductive reasoning | using specific observations to make generalizations |
Subjective | describes the influence of personal feelings on a decision or conclusion |
Variable | a factor that can change in an experiment |
Scientific theory | a well-tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental
results |
Process | a sequence of actions in a system |
System | a group of parts that work together as a whole |
Data | facts, figures and other evidence gathered in through
observations |
Scientific Law | a statement that describes what scientist expect to happen
every time under a particular set of conditions |
Input | material, energy, or information that goes into a system |
Output | material, energy, result or product that comes out of a system |
Feedback | output that changes a system or allows the system to adjust
itself |
SI | version of the metric system used by scientists
for quantitative data |
controversy | a public disagreement between groups with different views |
safety symbols | a sign used to alert you to possible sources of accidents in an investigation |
field | any area outside of the laboratory |
Science | the ongoing process of discovery in science; the diverse ways in which scientists study the
natural world and propose explanations based on evidence they gather |
Manipulated variable | the one factor that a scientist changes during an experiment; also called independent variable |
Responding variable | the factor that changes as a result of changes to the manipulated, or independent, variable in
an experiment; also called dependent variable |
Hypothesis | a possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question; must be
testable |
Controlled Experiment | an experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time |