Science Terms

TAKS Objective 1

common procedures used by scientists to gather information used in problem solving and experimentation

def: Scientific Method

The part of the experiment in which all conditions are kept constant

def: Control Group

In an experiment the group whose conditions are being changed

def: Experimental group

Testable explanation of a question or problem

def: Hypothesis

Description of the behavior of a variable or the relationship between two variables

def: Trend

A final statement summing up the results of an experiment, it should refer to the hypothesis

def: Conclusion

Factor in an experiment the scientist purposely changes

def: Independent Variable

Factor in an experiment that the scientist wants to observe, which may change as a result of other variables being changed

def: Dependent Variable

Descriptions from observations that do not contain numbers

def: Qualitative data

Observations from an experiment containing numerical measurements

def: Quantitative data

The interpretation of an observation based on prior knowledge

def: Inference

An inference about future events based on current evidence, past experience or knowledge

def: Prediction

how close a measurement is to the actual value

def: Accuracy

how close measurements are to one another

def: Precision

explanation of a set of observations about the natural world

def: Theory