Science Terms TAKS Objective 1
def: Scientific Method common procedures used by scientists to gather information used in problem solving and experimentation
def: Control Group The part of the experiment in which all conditions are kept constant
def: Experimental group In an experiment the group whose conditions are being changed
def: Hypothesis Testable explanation of a question or problem
def: Trend Description of the behavior of a variable or the relationship between two variables
def: Conclusion A final statement summing up the results of an experiment, it should refer to the hypothesis
def: Independent Variable Factor in an experiment the scientist purposely changes
def: Dependent Variable Factor in an experiment that the scientist wants to observe, which may change as a result of other variables being changed
def: Qualitative data Descriptions from observations that do not contain numbers
def: Quantitative data Observations from an experiment containing numerical measurements
def: Inference The interpretation of an observation based on prior knowledge
def: Prediction An inference about future events based on current evidence, past experience or knowledge
def: Accuracy how close a measurement is to the actual value
def: Precision how close measurements are to one another
def: Theory explanation of a set of observations about the natural world