Scientific Method and Observation vs. Inference

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What is the Scientific Method?

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A systematic process used for scientific investigation, involving observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and conclusion.

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What is an independent variable?

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The variable in an experiment that is changed or controlled by the scientist to test its effects on the dependent variable.

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What is a dependent variable?

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The variable that is measured or observed in an experiment, which changes in response to the independent variable.

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What is a control group?

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A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment or independent variable, used for comparison.

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What is a hypothesis?

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A testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.

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What is an observation?

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The act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way.

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What is an inference?

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A logical interpretation or conclusion drawn from observations.

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What is quantitative data?

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Data that can be measured and expressed numerically, such as height, weight, or number of items.

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What is qualitative data?

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Data that describes characteristics or qualities that cannot be measured numerically, such as color or texture.

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What is an experiment?

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A procedure carried out to test a hypothesis, involving manipulation of variables.