Scientific Investigation Terms Important words and phrases to go along with Scientific Investigation

a description of an item or an event Observation a description of an item or an event A. Qualitative- using words B. Quantitative-using numbers or amounts

Inference (to infer) making a conclusion based on evidence about what has occurred using prior knowledge. Example: seeing only one destroyed house and concluding that a tornado struck it

Variable the part of an experiment that changes a. Independent variable- (IV) that variable that is changed or manipulated on purpose Example: the amount of water given to plants in an experiment b. Dependent Variable- (DV) the variable that responds (reacts) to the independent variable i. The DV is determined after the IV has been tested ii. Example: the growth of each plant

factors of an experiment that are kept the same and never change Constants factors of an experiment that are kept the same and never change a. Examples the amount soil should be the same, the temperature, the amount of sunlight each plant gets

Control the part of an experiment that serves as a comparison to the variable(s). It is the most normal condition of the experiment. a. Example: a placebo group in a drug trial

Experiment a process in which a problem is tested and observations are made in order to find a solution

Data facts and figures found as a result of an experiment (recording your observations)

summary of what happened or was learned during your experiment Conclusion summary of what happened or was learned during your experiment