Term | Definition |
Assumption | something accepted as true that may or may not actually be true |
Bias | a tendency to favor something; prejudice |
Conclusion | the decision made about the outcome of an experiment; usually based on how well the actual result matches the predicted result |
Control | that group in an experiment in which everything - except the variable to be tested - is identical; the standard of comparison in an experiment |
Controlled Experiment | an experiment in which all variables - except for the one being tested - are exactly the same |
Data | the results of specific trials or tests completed during experiments |
Dependent Variable | the part of an experiment that is changed to test a hypothesis |
Evidence | support for the idea that something is true |
Experiment | a series of trials or tests that are done to support or refute a hypothesis |
Hypothesis | a statement that predicts a relationship between cause and effect in a way that can be tested |
Independent Variable | a factor that might influence the dependent variable in an experiment (Hint: I control) |
Inference | a conclusion or deduction based on observations |
Model | a representation used to explain or demonstrate a process or structure; also used to predict what might occur in a new situation |
Observation | any information that is collected with any of the senses |
Opinion | ideas people have that may or may not be based in fact |
Peer Review | the process by which scientists carefully examine the work of other scientists to look for possible flaws in their experimental design or their interpretation of results |
Research Plan | the initial stage of an experiment that involves finding background information, developing a hypothesis, and devising an experimental method for testing the hypothesis |
Scientific Literacy | a basic knowledge of the natural world combined with an understanding of the diverse ways that scientists gain knowledge |