READ: Important Vocabulary Terms

These are the most important vocabulary terms to learn this week. Please make sure you understand these terms. 

  • Data is factual information that is not subject to opinion or bias.

  • Evidence is made up of the observations a scientist makes during an experiment.

  • An experiment is a controlled scientific study of specific variables.

  • A variable is a factor that can take on different values:

  • A manipulated variable is a variable that is changed by the researcher. A manipulated variable is also called an independent variable.

  • A responding variable is a variable that the researcher predicts will change if the manipulated variable changes. A responding variable is also called a dependent variable.

  • A control is a variable that must be held constant so it won’t influence the outcome of an experiment.

  • Replication is getting the same result when an experiment is repeated.

  • A Hypothesis is a proposed explanation that tries to explain an observation.

  • A scientific theory is a broad explanation of why something happens that is widely accepted because it is supported by a great deal of evidence.

After you have completed this part of the lesson, you can check the associated box on the main course page to mark it as complete

Last modified: Tuesday, 17 January 2017, 12:59 PM