1. Scientific Method and Experiment Additional Terms

2. Experiments: Variable
Variable – anything that can be changed or controlled in an experiment, and/or any changes that occur because of something else that changed

3. Experiments: Variable (continued)
Two types of variables
Independent variable
The one factor that is changed, or the one factor that is different between the groups
One factor is best, so you can depend on your results, but in analyzing a criminal case all of the variables cannot always be controlled or minimized
Dependent variable
The variable that is observed to see whether it is affected by the independent variable
This is normally the data that is collected as the experiment progresses
The dependent variable depends on what was changed in the experiment, or it depends on the independent variable

4. Experimental Control Scientists always need an experimental control
It is important for comparison, so scientists know what has the effect in the experiment
The control is the normal condition(s) for the subject being tested

6. Vocabulary qualitative (descriptive) quantitative (numerical)
A system is a specific portion of matter in a given region of space that has been selected for study during an experiment or observation.
Repetition is the expectation that an experiment will give the same results when it is performed under the same conditions.
Replication is the idea that experiments should be reproducible by other scientists.

7. The Cycle of Science (continued)
Inductive reasoning – moving from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories
Begin with specific observations and measurements; then detect patterns and regularities
Formulate some tentative hypothesis that we can explore
Finally develop some general conclusions or theories

8. The Cycle of Science (continued)
Deductive reasoning – works from general to specific
Begin with creating a theory about a topic of interest
Narrow that down into a more specific hypothesis that we can test
Narrow that down even further when we collect observations to address the hypothesis
Test the hypothesis with specific data

9. The Cycle of Science
Scientific reasoning must use both inductive and deductive reasoning