| A | B |
|---|
| assumption | something accepted as true that may or may not actually be true |
| bias | a tendency to favor something; prejudice |
| conclusion | the decision made about the outcome of an experiment; usually based on how well the actual result matches the predicted result |
| control | that group in an experiment in which everything - except the variable to be tested - is identical; the standard of comparison in an experiment |
| controlled experiment | an experiment in which all variables - except the one being tested - are exactly the same |
| data | the results of specific trials or tests completed during experiments, information |
| dependent variable | the part of an experiment that is changed to test a hypothesis |
| evidence | support for the idea that something is true |
| experiment | a series of trials or tests that are done to support or refute a hypothesis |
| hypothesis | a statement that predicts a relationship between cause and effect in a way that can be tested |
| independent variable | a factor that might influence the dependent variable in an experiment |
| inference | a conclusion or deduction based on observations |
| model | a representation used to explain or demonstrate a process or structure; also used to predict what might occur in a new situation |
| observation | any information that is collected with any of the senses |
| opinion | ideas that people have that may or may not be based in fact |
| scientific literacy | a basic knowledge of the natural world combined with an understanding of the diverse ways that scientists gain knowledge |
| peer review | the process by which scientists carefully examine the work of other scientists to look for possible flaws in their experimental design or their interpretation of results |
| research plan | the initial stage of an experiment that involves finding background information, developing a hypothesis, and devising an experimental method for testing the hypothesis |
