Question

scientific method review
directions: match the appropriate term to its definition. definitions may be used more than once.
a. control
b. dependent variable
c. hypothesis
d. inference
e. independent variable
f. observation
g. prediction
h. scientific method

1. _____ educated statement about the outcome of an experiment.
2. _____ variable being tested and changed by you.
3. _____ knowledge gained from the 5 senses, gives information to create hypothesis.
4. _____ variable that depends or changes in response to another variable.
5. _____ an act of reasoning or interpretation, not a fact.
6. _____ a guess about a future event.
7. _____ interpretation of an observation, or a statement, explaining the observation based on prior knowledge.
8. _____ treated the same as the experimental group except for one independent variable; used to prove that the independent variable caused an effect.
9. _____ process used to test a hypothesis.
10. _____ process of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way.

critical thinking: what part of scientific thinking is most apparent in this situation? explain your reasoning.
a bird watcher sees an unusual bird at a feeder. she takes careful notes on the birds color, shape, and other physical features. then she goes to a reference book to see if she can identify the species.

Explanation:

1. A hypothesis is an educated statement about the outcome of an experiment.
2. The independent variable is the one being tested and changed.
3. Observation is knowledge from the 5 - senses used to create a hypothesis.
4. The dependent variable depends on or changes in response to another variable.
5. Inference is an act of reasoning or interpretation, not a fact.
6. Prediction is a guess about a future event.
7. Inference can be an interpretation of an observation.
8. A control is treated the same as the experimental group except for one independent variable.
9. The scientific method is the process used to test a hypothesis.
10. Observation is the process of noticing and describing events or processes.

For the critical - thinking part, the bird - watcher is making observations by carefully noting the bird's features.

Answer:

1. C. hypothesis
2. E. independent variable
3. F. observation
4. B. dependent variable
5. D. inference
6. G. prediction
7. D. inference
8. A. control
9. H. scientific method
10. F. observation

Critical Thinking: Observation. The bird - watcher is carefully noting the bird's color, shape, and other physical features, which is the process of observation.