Key science skills

Question 1

controlled experiment

Answer 1

an investigation into the effect of
an independent variable on a
dependent variable, while keeping all other factors constant.

Question 2

opinion

Answer 2

the personal belief or
viewpoint of an individual which
typically has not been verified
as fact

Question 3

bias

Answer 3

an inclination to favor a
particular position or outcome

Question 4

error

Answer 4

differences between observed values and the true value

Question 5

hypothesis

Answer 5

a testable statement that describes how experimenters
expect the dependent variable
to change as the independent
variable changes

Question 6

research question

Answer 6

a testable, achievable, and specific question that an investigation sets out
to answer

Question 7

aim

Answer 7

aim the objective of an
investigation or experiment

Question 8

dependent variable (DV)

Answer 8

the factor/s measured in the
experiment that are changed when the IV is manipulated

Question 9

independent variable (IV)

Answer 9

the factor/s that is/are manipulated in an experiment

Question 10

placebo

Answer 10

a substance that has no active ingredients or side effects

Question 11

experimental group

Answer 11

a group of individuals/samples in which the independent variable is manipulated. Also known as the treatment group

Question 12

control group

Answer 12

a group of individuals/samples that are not exposed to the independent variable. Also known as a

Question 13

replication

Answer 13

the process of running your test/experiment multiple times

Question 14

precise

Answer 14

two or more measurements that closely align with each other

Question 15

replicated

Answer 15

multiple measurements
that are exposed to the same level of the IV, are very close in value, and are close to the ‘true’ value of the quantity being measured

Question 16

outlier

Answer 16

a reading that varies
drastically from other results

Question 17

random error

Answer 17

variation in
results caused by uncontrollable
conditions between replicates,
resulting in a less precise spread
of readings. Can be reduced using
more replicates or refining the
measurement process

Question 18

accurate

Answer 18

how close a
measurement is to the true value

Question 19

true value

Answer 19

the value that would be obtained by a perfect
measurement without the
influence of errors

Question 20

population

Answer 20

a set of similar objects
or individuals that are studied in a scientific investigation

Question 21

sample

Answer 21

a subset of the larger
population being studied

Question 22

representative

Answer 22

a sample
that accurately reflects the
characteristics of the larger
population

Question 23

unbiased

Answer 23

a sample or
measurement that is unaffected
by a scientist’s expectations

Question 24

personal error

Answer 24

personal error mistakes or
miscalculations due to human
fault. Can be eliminated by
performing the experiment
again correctly

Question 25

systematic error

Answer 25

errors which cause results to differ by a consistent amount each time, typically due to faulty equipment or calibration, resulting in a less accurate result. Can be reduced by calibrating and maintaining instruments

Question 26

uncertainty

Answer 26

a quantification of the error associated with a measurement, often represented by the symbol ‘±’ after a reading

Question 27

ethics

Answer 27

a field of knowledge that helps individuals exercise moral judgment and determine what is right and wrong

Question 28

sterile

Answer 28

sterile surgically clean and free from contamination by microorganisms

Question 29

primary data

Answer 29

primary data results collected from experiments, interviews, or surveys undertaken by the researcher

Question 30

raw data

Answer 30

results that have not been processed, manipulated, or formatted for use

Question 31

transformed data

Answer 31

results that have been converted from their raw format into a more visually comprehensible format that is easier to analyze

Question 32

secondary data

Answer 32

results from sources other than the researcher’s own investigations

Question 33

numerical variable

Answer 33

a factor that is measured as a number such as height, count of population, and age

Question 34

categorical variable

Answer 34

categorical variable a factor that is qualitative, typically describing a characteristic such as gender, birth order (1st, 2nd, 3rd), or nationality

Question 35

trendline

Answer 35

a line that shows the main pattern followed by a set of points on a graph

Question 36

anecdote evidence

Answer 36

involving a personal account or report of a previous experience that may provide a certain level of support for a position

Question 37

correlation

Answer 37

when there is a relationship between two variables

Question 38

causation

Answer 38

when change in one variable leads to reliable change in another