1. Scientific Inquiry
Take out some note cards, a pencil, and your note card holder
Write the following terms on one note card each:
Take a textbook from the table and read from pages NOS 4 to NOS 27
As you read, create flash cards on the vocabulary terms
REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE “GOOD NOTE-TAKING GUIDE” ON THE BOARD
Science
2. Observation
3. Inference
4. Hypothesis
5. Prediction
6. Scientific theory
7. Scientific law
8. Critical thinking
9. Description
10. Explanation
11. Variable
12. Independent variable
13. Dependent variable
14. Constant
15. Experimental group
16. Control group
17. Qualitative data
18. Quantitative data

2. Science
The investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations
Paraphrase: study of natural world
Examples: life science, physical science, Earth science (NOS 5)
Associated words/phrases: “knowledge,” “to know” (NOS 5)

3. Observation
The results of using one or more of your senses to gather information and taking note of what occurs
Often lead to questions

4. Inference
A logical explanation of an observation that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience
Your interpretation of what you see (results)
Ex.: I saw my pencil fall, so I figure that must be because of gravity
You might make additional inferences after reviewing your data (NOS 7)

5. Hypothesis
A possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations
Meant to be tested through either observation or experiment
Scientists test and retest their hypotheses several times to make sure the results are consistent (repetition)
Even when a hypothesis is not supported, you gain valuable information (process of elimination)

6. Prediction
A statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events
Used to help test hypothesis
Based on information you think you’ll find when testing hypothesis
If a prediction is confirmed, it supports your hypothesis (NOS 7)
If a prediction is not confirmed, you might modify your hypothesis and retest it

7. Scientific theory
An explanation of observations or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations an investigations
Supported through many tests over many years
Does not develop from just one hypothesis, but from many
Rarely discarded because they usually have substantial supporting evidence
Often modified as new observations are discovered
An explanation of why or how an event occurred
Will never become a law

8. Scientific law A rule that describes a repeatable pattern in nature
Does not explain why or how the pattern happens, only that it will happen (Doesn’t explain why, just that it will)
Based on repeated observations and can be rejected or modified
Example: because of the law of gravity, if you drop something, it will fall toward the floor

9. Critical thinking
Comparing what you already know with the information you are given in order to decide whether you agree with it
Important to be skeptical and to be able to identify facts from opinions
Used to compare what you know with the new information given to you

10. Description Spoken or written summary of observations
Example: measurements recorded during an experiment
When you report your observations
Details of an observation (NOS 12, Figure 4)

11. Explanation Interpretation of observations
Based on inferences about data
When you interpret your observations
Why or how the event occurred (NOS 12, Figure 4)

12. Variable Any factor that can have more than one value
For controlled experiments, two kinds of variables: independent and dependent
Category you are trying to measure
Example: measurements (height, weight, etc.)

13. Independent variable The factor that you want to test
It is changed by the investigator to observe how it affects a dependent variable

14. Dependent variable
The factor you observe or measure during an experiment
Resultant variable; consequence of changing independent variable

15. Constant
The factors in an experiment that do not change

16. Experimental group
Used to study how a change in the independent variable changes the dependent variable
Altered during the course of the study

17. Control group
Contains the same factors as the experimental group, but the independent variable is not changed
Without a control group, it’s impossible to know whether your experimental observations result from the variable you are testing or some other factor
Is not altered during the course of the study
Provides baseline information to compare the experiment against

18. Qualitative data Uses words to describe what is observed
Description or category

19. Quantitative data Uses numbers to describe what is observed
Measurements

20. Repetition
One scientist doing the same experiment over and over using the same variables
“to repeat”
“Narrows down” the possibilities

21. Replication
“to copy”
The act of taking another person’s experiment data (such as Newton), re-running the experiment yourself, and comparing the data
Purpose is to confirm the results of an experiment
Shows reliability and validity (original experiment is trustworthy)
Double check another scientist’s work