Experimental Design and Cause-and-Effect

The purpose of experimental design is to create controlled conditions for an experiment to limit the exposure to outside interference and form a conclusion based on the hypothesis.

A scientific theory explains why things occur the way they do after significant repeated experiments, while a scientific law is a pattern established through an equation.

To design a good experiment, one needs to have background knowledge in the area of the experiment they wish to perform and ensure they are using the proper equipment.

Accuracy refers to how close the values collected are to the real value, while precision refers to how close all measurements are to one another.

The scientific method is a standard process that scientists use to record their experimental processes. It allows others to repeat the process and accept or reject the results of the experiment.

The five steps of the experimental design process are: define variables, formulate a hypothesis, design an experiment, assign subjects, and measure the dependent variable.

The dependent variable is the variable that is measured or observed and is affected by the independent variable.

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the experimenter.

Qualitative data provides descriptive information and can help in understanding the subjective aspects of the experiment.

Quantitative data provides numerical information and allows for statistical analysis and objective comparisons.