Scientific reasoning
54 flashcards covering Scientific reasoning for the ACT Science section.
Scientific reasoning is the process of using logic, evidence, and critical thinking to evaluate scientific information and draw conclusions. It involves skills like analyzing data from experiments, identifying patterns in graphs or tables, and assessing the validity of hypotheses. At its core, it's about asking the right questions—such as how variables interact or what evidence supports a claim—helping you make sense of the natural world in a methodical way. This skill is essential for everyday decisions and is a key part of scientific literacy.
On the ACT Science section, scientific reasoning appears in questions that test your ability to interpret data, evaluate experiments, and compare conflicting viewpoints from passages. You'll encounter multiple-choice questions involving charts, graphs, and research summaries, where common traps include misreading scales or being swayed by irrelevant details. Focus on understanding relationships between variables, spotting experimental flaws, and distinguishing facts from inferences to score well. A concrete tip: Always read questions carefully before examining the data to avoid overlooking key details.
Terms (54)
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Scientific Method
A systematic process for conducting investigations, involving steps such as making observations, forming a hypothesis, designing experiments, collecting data, and drawing conclusions to test ideas about the natural world.
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Hypothesis
A testable statement or prediction that explains an observed phenomenon and serves as a starting point for scientific investigation.
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Theory
A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.
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Independent Variable
The factor in an experiment that is deliberately changed or manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the outcome.
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Dependent Variable
The factor in an experiment that is measured or observed for changes, as it is expected to vary in response to the independent variable.
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Controlled Variable
A factor in an experiment that is kept constant to ensure that any observed changes are due solely to the independent variable and not other influences.
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Control Group
A group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment and is used as a baseline to compare with the experimental group.
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Experimental Group
A group in an experiment that is subjected to the variable being tested, allowing researchers to observe the effects of that variable.
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Observation
The act of gathering information using the senses or instruments, which forms the foundation for forming hypotheses and designing experiments.
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Inference
A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning, rather than direct observation, often used to interpret data in scientific contexts.
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Prediction
A forecast of future events or outcomes based on current data and patterns, which can be tested through further experimentation.
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Data
Information collected through observation or experimentation, which can be qualitative or quantitative and is used to support or refute hypotheses.
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Qualitative Data
Non-numerical information that describes qualities or characteristics, such as color or texture, often gathered through direct observation.
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Quantitative Data
Numerical information that can be measured and analyzed mathematically, such as temperature or weight, to identify patterns or trends.
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Graph
A visual representation of data using lines, bars, or points to show relationships, trends, or comparisons in scientific information.
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Line Graph
A graph that uses points connected by lines to display data changes over time or another continuous variable, helping to identify trends.
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Bar Graph
A graph that uses rectangular bars to compare quantities across categories, making it easy to see differences in data sets.
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Scatter Plot
A graph that plots individual data points on a coordinate plane to show relationships or correlations between two variables.
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Trend Line
A straight or curved line on a graph that best fits the data points, used to illustrate overall patterns or predict future values.
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Correlation
A mutual relationship between two variables, where changes in one are associated with changes in the other, but not necessarily causal.
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Positive Correlation
A relationship where both variables increase or decrease together, indicating that as one goes up, the other tends to go up as well.
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Negative Correlation
A relationship where one variable increases as the other decreases, showing an inverse association between the two.
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Causation
A direct link where one event is the direct result of another, requiring evidence beyond correlation to establish in scientific studies.
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Sample Size
The number of observations or participants in a study, where a larger size generally increases the reliability and generalizability of results.
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Bias
A systematic error in data collection or analysis that skews results, often due to flawed methods or preconceived notions.
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Confounding Variable
An extraneous factor that influences both the independent and dependent variables, potentially leading to incorrect conclusions in experiments.
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Validity
The extent to which an experiment measures what it is intended to measure, ensuring that results accurately reflect the hypothesis.
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Reliability
The consistency of results when an experiment is repeated under the same conditions, indicating that the methods are dependable.
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Mean
The average of a set of numbers, calculated by summing all values and dividing by the count, used to summarize central tendencies in data.
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Median
The middle value in a list of numbers arranged in order, which represents the central point and is less affected by outliers than the mean.
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Mode
The value that appears most frequently in a data set, helping to identify the most common occurrence in scientific measurements.
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Range
The difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set, providing a simple measure of the spread or variability.
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Standard Deviation
A measure of how much the values in a data set deviate from the mean, indicating the degree of variation or dispersion.
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Null Hypothesis
A statement in hypothesis testing that assumes no effect or no difference exists, which is tested to see if it can be rejected.
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Alternative Hypothesis
A statement that proposes an effect or difference does exist, serving as the counterpart to the null hypothesis in experiments.
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Statistical Significance
A result that is unlikely to have occurred by chance, typically determined by a p-value below a certain threshold, like 0.05.
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Direct Proportion
A relationship where two quantities increase or decrease at a constant rate, meaning one is a constant multiple of the other.
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Inverse Proportion
A relationship where one quantity increases as the other decreases, such that their product remains constant.
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Slope
The measure of the steepness of a line on a graph, calculated as the change in the dependent variable divided by the change in the independent variable.
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Extrapolation
Extending a trend line beyond the range of collected data to make predictions, which can be less reliable than interpolation.
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Interpolation
Estimating values within the range of existing data points, based on the pattern observed in the data.
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Experimental Error
Inaccuracies in measurements or procedures that affect results, which must be minimized through careful technique and controls.
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Random Sampling
A method of selecting participants or items where each has an equal chance of being chosen, reducing bias in scientific studies.
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Peer Review
The process where experts evaluate scientific work before publication to ensure accuracy, validity, and relevance.
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Falsifiability
The ability of a hypothesis or theory to be tested and potentially proven wrong through evidence, a key aspect of scientific reasoning.
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Photosynthesis
The process by which green plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, a fundamental biological reaction.
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Natural Selection
The mechanism of evolution where organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
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pH Scale
A measure from 0 to 14 that indicates the acidity or basicity of a solution, with 7 being neutral, affecting chemical reactions in science.
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Ecosystem
A community of living organisms and their physical environment, interacting as a system through energy flows and nutrient cycles.
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Plate Tectonics
The theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into plates that move and interact, causing geological events like earthquakes.
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Common Trap: Correlation and Causation
Mistakenly assuming that because two variables are correlated, one causes the other, which requires additional evidence to confirm.
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Strategy for Graph Interpretation
Examine the axes, identify trends, and consider the scale to accurately read and analyze data presented in scientific graphs.
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Worked Example: Identifying Variables
In an experiment testing plant growth under different light levels, light level is the independent variable and growth height is the dependent variable.
If growth increases with more light, it shows a positive correlation, but check for other factors like water.
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Worked Example: Hypothesis Testing
If a hypothesis states that fertilizer increases plant height, an experiment compares treated and untreated plants to see if results support it.