VOCABULARY UNIT 1

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE The variable that changes on its own or is changed by the experimenter

 

DEPENDENT VARIABLE The variable that is measured counted or observed during the experiment.

 

CONTROL OR CONTROL GROUP The group in an experiment that nothing is done to. It is left alone so the other variables can be compared to it. It serves as the standard of comparison.

CONSTANTS OR CONTROLLED VARIABLES Variables that are kept the same in all the groups during an experiment. Any change to these will affect the results of an experiment.

 

BIAS A belief or opinion that can affect the results of the experiment ( a prejudice towards a certain outcome). This is BAD for an experiment

 

QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION Describing observations based on the senses. These are observed. Examples: color, texture, appearance, smell

QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATION Observations that are based on measurements. (Uses numbers!) Examples: height, weight, volume, mass, length

 

VALID Relevant or meaningful, in relation to an experiment

 

RELIABLE Dependent in achievement, accuracy, honesty ( a good experiment)

TRIALS The number of times that an experiment is repeated

 

OPTIMUM The BEST or most favorable degree, form, or amount

 

PLACEBO A substance having no pharmacological effect but administered as a control in testing experimentally (sugar pill)

EXPERIMENTAL GROUP The group in which ONE factor will be changed in order to test the effects of the change

 

DATA Information which has been gathered from an experiment (examples: how many tomatoes were grown in the garden, color of blueberries after 6 days)