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Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of conducting a scientific experiment?
What is the term for the variable being manipulated in an experiment?
What is the next step after collecting data in a scientific experiment?
What is the purpose of a graph in a scientific experiment?
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What is the term for the variable being influenced by the independent variable in an experiment?
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What is the main purpose of a line graph in scientific experiments?
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What type of data is plotted on a line graph?
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What is the role of the x-axis in a line graph?
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What is the main difference between a line graph and a bar chart?
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What type of data can be represented on a bar chart?
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What does the height of the bar in a basic bar graph represent?
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What is the primary purpose of a pie chart?
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What type of data is typically displayed in a flow chart?
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What is the primary function of the hypothalamus in the ACTH negative feedback loop?
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What is the outcome when cortisol levels in the blood are high in the ACTH negative feedback loop?
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Study Notes
The Basics of Scientific Experiments
- A scientific experiment involves: making observations, formulating a hypothesis, designing and conducting an experiment, collecting and evaluating data, accepting or rejecting the hypothesis, and formulating a new hypothesis if necessary
Independent and Dependent Variables
- Independent variable (x): the cause, what is being manipulated to test a hypothesis
- Dependent variable (y): the effect, what is being influenced by the independent variable
- Example: researching how different genders respond to the sound of a crying baby, where gender is the independent variable and neural responses are the dependent variable
Types of Data
- Numerical data: data in the form of numbers
- Categorical data: non-numerical data, such as country names
- Data can be a combination of numerical and categorical data
Line Graphs and Tables
- Line graphs and tables are used to record independent and dependent variables
- Tables list x and y values next to each other separately
- Line graphs chart x and y values as data points (x, y) on a graph
- Line graphs compare numerical data and create a visual of trends
- A line graph has two axes: the x-axis (horizontal) for independent x values and the y-axis (vertical) for dependent y values
Interpreting Graphs and Charts
- Different types of data require different graphs and charts
- Line graphs are used for comparing strictly numerical data and are helpful when comparing small changes in a trend over time
- Bar charts are useful for comparing larger changes or differences in data among different groups and can be used with non-numerical data
- Pie charts are useful for comparing percentages
- Flow charts are helpful for comparing non-numerical concepts and showing cause and effect relationships
Line Graphs
- A line graph plots independent (x) and dependent (y) variables on a graph to create a visual trend
- The graph contains an x-axis and a y-axis
- Variables are represented as coordinate pairs, written as (x, y)
- Example: a student records the number of days with temperatures over 100°F each summer for five years and plots the data on a line graph to show the trend
Bar Charts
- A bar chart uses rectangular bars to represent different values
- The height of the bar is proportional to the value of the data represented
- Bar charts may plot data vertically or horizontally
- Example: a bar chart showing the average age of citizens in different American cities
Pie Charts
- A pie chart is used to compare percentages
- Each slice of the pie represents a percentage of a whole population or data set
- The size of the slice is the dependent variable (y)
- Example: a pie chart showing the US trade deficit by country
Flow Charts
- A flow chart is a diagram showing concepts or steps in a process in relation to one another
- Flow charts are helpful for simplifying complex relationships or procedures and showing cause and effect relationships
- Example: a flow chart showing the ACTH negative feedback loop
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Description
Learn the basics of interpreting scientific experiments and data. This lesson breaks down the fundamentals of science graphs, making it accessible to everyone.
