| A | B |
|---|
| an observation that needs an explanation or a question that needs an answer | problem |
| a possible explanation or answer to a scientific problem that can be tested | hypothesis |
| a step-by-step procedure used to test a hypothesis | experiment |
| the interpreted results of an experiment based on the data; it may prove or disprove the hypothesis | conclusion |
| an idea that is accepted as true because it is supported by repeated evidence | theory |
| observations, measurements, and other information gathered in an experiment | data |
| measured data; data associated with numbers and specific amounts | quantitative data |
| descriptive data; data associated with described qualities such as color, odor, taste, etc. | qualitative data |
| the group that is used for comparison; it does not receive the tested element | control group |
| a group that receives one element being tested | experimental group |
| a belief or opinion that may affect experimental results | bias |
| having no opinion or being impartial | unbiased |
| a substance given to a control group that has no effect on the experiment but is used to eliminate bias | placebo |
| factors that remain the same for all groups during an experiment | constants |
| a factor that is changed during an experiment in order to test its effect | variable |
| the variable used to produce an effect | independent variable |
| the measurable change that occurs because of the independent variable | dependent variable |
| a way to format and organize data into rows and columns | data table |
| information gathered during an experiment before it has been analyzed | raw data |
| the best | optimum |
| a description of a scientific experiment, data, or conclusion that is relevant or meaningful | scientifically valid |
| a visual representation of data showing how something has changed over a period of time | line graph |
| a visual representation of data used to show different quantities between different groups especially when data is not continuous | bar graph |
| a visual representation of data used to show parts (percentages) of a whole | pie graph |
| labeled pictures that show relationships between objects or parts | diagrams |
