OBSERVATIONS AND INFERENCES

WHAT IS AN OBSERVATION? Is bit of information you gather with your senses: Taste Smell Hear Sight Touch

LET’S PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS

WHAT IS AN INFERENCE? Is a conclusion about an observation.

LET’S PRACTICE OBSERVATION AND INFERENCES!

VARIABLES

WHAT IS A DEPENDENT VARIABLE? The outcome or factor which will be measured in an experiment. It is also known as the responding variable.

WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE? The ONE factor in an experiment which changes. It is also known as the manipulative variable.

HOW DO I REMEMBER THE VARIABLES? D= dependent R= responding Y= axis on a graph M= manipulated I= independent X= axis on the graph DRY MIX

WHAT IS A CONTROL? The group who does not receive any treatment and is used as a comparison against which other test results are measured. A treatment for hair loss is being tested. Men of the same age range are gathered. One group receives a product with the active ingredient while the other group receives an application that appears the same but does not have the active ingredient. In blood pressure medication experiment, one group is given the blood pressure medication while the other group is given a placebo pill. An anti-wrinkle facial product is being tested. Volunteers in the age range of 38-45 are given bottles which hold the same product. The other group receives bottles that do not have the compound that is intended to reduce wrinkles.

LET’S PRACTICE VARIABLES! How does the distance from an eye chart affect the number of letters that are recognized on a line? How does the amount of light affect the growth of a plant? How does the amount of oxygen in water affect the shrimp population? How will the amount of fertilizer used on a field affect the number of earthworms found there? How does the length of a string affect the number of times a pendulum will swing back and forth in 10 seconds? How does the size of a bicycle tire affect the distance it will travel when it is pedaled in a given number of times?

BAR GRAPHS, LINE GRAPHS, PIE GRAPHS

WHAT IS A BAR GRAPH? A visual way of comparing.

WHAT IS A LINE GRAPH? Uses points connected by lines to show how something changes over time.

WHAT IS A PIE GRAPH? http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-pie-chart-definition-examples-quiz.html