The Practice of Science

Scientific Method

A set of procedures and skills used to carry out scientific investigations by asking questions, forming a hypothesis, performing experiments, collecting data, analyzing information, drawing conclusions, & communicating results.

conclusion

a detailed explanation based on evidence from observations that defends or rejects the hypothesis

scientific inquiry

a process of using observation and infrences to question and explore the natural world

scientific law

a stated principle based on many observations and occurs in nature

observations

are facts based on the five senses

inferences

are opinions formed from observations

control

does not change during the experiment

model

is a replica that is designed to show the inner workings of an object or idea

hypothesis

is an educated guess based on your observations

theory

is an explanation for an event developed from observations experimentation and reasoning

empirical evidence

is evidence based on observations or experience rather than theory

replication

the reproduction of a scientific investigation by others to ensure accuracy

dependent variable

the test variable that you cannot control in the experiment and is graphed on the y axis

independent variable

the test variable that you change in the experiment and is graphed on the x axis

repetition

when you make multiple sets of measurements in a scientific investigation