SCIENTIFIC METHOD VOCABULARY

Investigation•The process of gathering information in order to answer a question or solve a problem.

Ethics: Principles that guide our decisions about what is good and fair

Bias:•A personal point of view that is based on belief instead of scientific facts.

Materials: •A list of items needed to conduct an experiment.

Procedure: •A step-by-step set of detailed directions for testing the hypothesis.

Variables: •All the factors that can change in an experiment, possibly affecting the results.

Is a classroom noisier when the teacher leaves the room?•Possible Variables?

• Teacher location – either in the room or not

• Same classroom• Same students• Same time of day• Same decibel meter measuring loudness in decibels

Independent Variable: •The ONE factor that is changed in an experiment by the scientist.

Is a classroom noisier when the teacher leaves the room?•Possible Variables?

• Teacher location – either in the room or not

• Same classroom• Same students• Same time of day• Same decibel meter measuring loudness in decibels

Dependent Variable: •The factor that may be affected as a result of changing the independent variable. This is measured and recorded as data.

Is a classroom noisier when the teacher leaves the room?•Possible Variables?

• Teacher location – either in the room or not

• Same classroom• Same students• Same time of day• Same decibel meter measuring loudness in decibels

Assumption: •Is an explanation that is accepted without proof.

Inference:•A conclusion based on observed evidence.

Inferences Examples• Observation: An apple has a missing chunk.• Inference: Someone took a bite of the apple.

• Observation: There are shoe-shaped footprints in the mud.

• Inference: A person has been here.

• Observation: There are pieces of eggshell in a nest.

• Inference: A bird hatched from the egg.

Consumer:•Someone who uses a product or piece of knowledge.

Validity: •Describes how well a test measures the traits it was intended to measure.

Data Table: •A display of information from an investigation.

Line Graph: •Used to show how

data changes over time. •The data is connected

by a rising or falling line.

Bar Graph: •Uses bars to compare results that are totals, such as time, width, distance, temperature, height and length.

Circle Graph: •Used to show percentage or fractions of the whole. Also called pie charts.