The Methods of Science Vocabulary
Dec 16, 2015
Problem StatementA statement to investigate a claim or the cause(s) or effect(s) of an observed phenomenon through experimentation.
Example 3: What effect does zero gravity have on bone density?
Example 2: What is causing the massive fish kill off of the Oregon coastline?
Example 1: Does Jolly fruit juice contain the 100% daily value of Vitamin C as claimed.
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Observations
Process of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful and orderly way.
Senses: Smell, Taste, Touch, Sight, Sound
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Rationale-based hypothesisBased on logical reasoning, it is a possible explanation for a set of observations that can be tested.
Fairy Rings
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Rationale-based hypothesisBased on logical reasoning, it is a possible explanation for a set of observations that can be tested.
H1: Cooler temperatures trigger the color change.
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H2: Decreasing daylight triggers the color change.
Observation: Leaves change color in the Fall, when daylight steadily decreases and temperatures get cooler.
Prediction
A statement of what outcomes to expect prior running an experiment.
Before After
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Counterintuitive result: Time to rethink the Hypothesis!
Null hypothesisThe proposition that implies any effect or relationship between phenomena is purely accidental and is not due to systematic causes.
Ho: There is no significant difference in the way boys and girls carry books.
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Manipulated VariableThe independent variable. The factor in a controlled experiment that is deliberately changed.
Fertilizer concentration
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What might be the manipulated variable?
Responding VariableThe dependent variable. The variable that is observed and changes in response to the manipulated variable.
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Rate of growth
What might be the Responding variable?
Controlled variables
AKA constants. Factors that do not change when other variables change.
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-type of container-amount of water-kind of soil-species of plant-amount of light-temperature
All of these samples have the same …
Controlled experiment
An experiment in which only one variable is changed.
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Fertilizer concentration
Experimental set-upAKA experimental group. The part of a controlled experiment which contains the manipulated variable.
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Mutant strain
Arabidopis seedlings
Normal strain
Control set-upAKA control group or experimental control: The part of an experiment that is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental set-up except for one independent variable.
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Mutant strain
Normal strain
Arabidopis seedlings
Experimental levelsThe values of a factor to be sampled in an experiment.
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How many levels are in this experiment?
Five: There appear to be five different levels or concentrations of fertilizer used.
TrialsThe act of running an experiment and collecting data.
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Look carefully. How many trials are in this experiment?
Two. There are two rows of pots.
UncertaintyThis refers to any error that can occur in an experiment.
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Parallax Sample sizeReaction time
Instrument precision
Instrument calibration
Experimental resultsDescribing trends and observations in data by comparing and contrasting charts.
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As time continues, what trend is evident?
ConclusionInterpreting data for cause and effect relationships. This involves accepting, rejecting, or modifying hypotheses.
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What conclusion can be made if the experiment below were based on a null hypothesis?
Air present Air removed
EvaluationAssessing the procedure and methods used, identifying sources of error, and suggesting modifications to improve the investigation.
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ModelUsed to represent an idea, an object, or event that is too big, too small, too complex, or too dangerous to observe and test directly.
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Too big
Too dangerous
Too complex
Too small
TheoryA well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses, and enables scientists to make accurate predictions about new situations.
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Inactive TAS1R2 “Sweet tooth”
gene
House cat
10.8 mya
Cougar TigerLionBobcatCheetah
7.2 mya
6.7 myaCat
Evolution
Scientific LawA statement or description about what happens in nature that seems to be true all the time; does not explain why or how something happens.
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Laws of Motion Law of Gravity Laws of Planetary MotionLaw of Segregation
Law of Natural Selection
TechnologyThe application of scientific knowledge to solve practical problems, especially in industry and commerce.
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