Scientific Process

Observation

Information gathered using the 5 senses

Inference

A Conclusion made on the basis of facts rather than on direct observations

Hypothesis

An “educated statement” that is testable in the natural world

Hypotheses are never “proven” They are “supported”

Hypotheses are made to be rejected

Qualitative Data

Data Described by Certain Qualities Adjectives

Quantitative Data

Data That Can Be Measured in Numbers

Independent Variable

The variable that the experimenter changes or manipulates

Dependent Variable

The variable that the experimenter measures

When to use a bar graph Discrete data – each item is a whole and

separate unit (cats and dogs) You can’t really have a cat and a half!! Compare sets of data

When to use a line graph Graphs most commonly used in science

they show a relationship Continuous data – the points could

theoretically be subdivided Additional points are always possible

Graphing over time, temperature, weight

A Successful Experiment Includes

Multiple Trials If using subjects, they are chosen at

random Large sample size Tries to remove all bias