Scientific Skills

Positive correlation

Negative correlation

No correlation

Inverse relationship

It can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'

It is based on personal opinion

It is testable through experimentation

It is as broad and vague as possible

Secondary variable

Dependent variable

Controlled variable

Random variable

A list of the steps followed

A discussion of the errors and limitations of the experiment

The raw data collected in a table

The graph showing the results

Listing all the things that went right.

Identifying specific weaknesses and proposing concrete ways to reduce their impact.

Explaining the theory behind the experiment.

Changing the hypothesis to match the results.

The same student gets the same results again.

The experiment can be completed in under ten minutes.

Different researchers can obtain the same results using the same method.

The hypothesis is proven correct.

It connects every single data point exactly.

It allows for the identification of trends and the estimation of values through interpolation.

It makes the graph look more professional without adding scientific value.

It proves that there are no errors in the data.

The ball is still accelerating and hasn't reached terminal velocity yet.

The viscosity of the oil is not constant at the surface.

The oil level will rise, changing the displacement volume.

The parallax error is greatest at the surface of the liquid.

$y$ is inversely proportional to $x$.

$y$ is directly proportional to $x$.

$y$ is directly proportional to the square of $x$.

$y$ is inversely proportional to the square of $x$.

A disc soaked in a known powerful antibiotic.

A disc soaked in sterile distilled water.

An empty agar plate with no bacteria.

A disc soaked in the most expensive brand of soap.

$5\%$

$15\%$

$50\%$

$150\%$

Continuous data

Discrete data

Linear data

Calculated data

Total sum

Change in a quantity

Density

Constant value

$0.004$

$0.00456$

$0.00457$

$0.005$

Directly proportional

Linear relationship

Exponential relationship

Inversely proportional

$2$

$5$

$10$

$0.2$

Discrete

Continuous

Qualitative

Ordinal

$y \propto x$

$y \propto \sqrt{x}$

$y \propto x^2$

$y \propto 1/x$

$y$ vs $x$

$\ln(y)$ vs $\ln(x)$

$y$ vs $x^2$

$y^2$ vs $x$

$\pm 0.2$ s

$\pm 0.01$ s

$\pm 0.02$ s

$\pm 4.0$ s

It is always more expensive

It can record data automatically and with higher resolution

It makes the experiment shorter

It proves the hypothesis more easily

Decide who is more famous and believe them

Both should repeat their experiments and compare methods

Assume both are wrong

Flip a coin to decide which result is correct

The object is moving at a constant speed

The object is accelerating

The object is stationary (not moving)

The object is returning to the start

The length of a string

The number of children in a family

The mass of a rock

The time taken to run $100$ m

Set A, because the results are more consistent (higher precision).

Set B, because it covers a wider range of values.

Set B, because the average is likely to be closer to the true value.

Both are equally reliable because they were done in the same lab.

A reference to specific data points or the gradient of the graph to support the claim.

A list of all the equipment used in the experiment.

A description of how the student felt during the experiment.

The names of the other students in the lab group.

The discrepancies in the results can be explained by the random uncertainties.

There is a major systematic error in the experimental design.

The results are completely invalid and the experiment must be redesigned.

The accepted value in the literature is likely incorrect.

The 'teacher effect' is a confounding variable that could explain the difference in results.

The students in the two classes might have different names.

The experiment was not conducted in a laboratory setting.

The teaching method was not patented before the experiment started.

Delete it immediately to make the graph look better.

Include it in the average to ensure the data is honest.

Investigate if a specific error occurred during that trial; if so, exclude it and note the reason.

Change the value of the outlier so it fits the trend of the other data points.

Tree rings are not affected by temperature, only by rainfall.

The relationship between the proxy and temperature must be assumed to have remained constant over time.

It is impossible to date tree rings accurately beyond $100$ years.

Proxy data is qualitative and cannot be converted into numerical values.

It makes the soil richer and easier to plant in

It removes the nutrient-rich topsoil, reducing crop yields and land productivity

It creates more space for farm animals to run

It increases the amount of water stored in the ground

Working as fast as possible to beat other scientists

Being honest and following ethical principles in all aspects of scientific work

Always being the first person to discover something new

Only working on projects that are guaranteed to succeed

The researcher knows everything about the participant

The participant agrees to take part in a study after being told about all risks and benefits

The participant is forced to sign a document they don't understand

The government gives permission for the study to happen

It will eventually run out

It produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions

It is much more expensive to maintain

It can only be used in one country

To stop using all forms of electricity generated by nuclear power

To prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology while promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy

To move all nuclear waste to a different country

To keep the location of all nuclear power plants a secret

Deleting all the data after the experiment is finished

Removing personally identifiable information from a dataset so that the individuals cannot be identified

Translating names into a different language to hide their origin

Publishing the names of the participants to give them credit for the study

It produces fresh water but consumes massive amounts of energy and produces toxic brine as a byproduct

It makes the ocean too fresh, which kills the saltwater fish

It is too cheap to implement, so people waste water

It only works in cold climates where the salt can be frozen out

A smartphone that can be used for both calling and texting.

Nuclear technology, which can be used for zero-carbon energy or for creating devastating weapons.

A car that can run on both gas and electricity.

A microscope that can see both cells and atoms.

It makes it easier for people to steal ideas and get famous.

It levels the playing field for researchers in developing nations and accelerates the pace of global problem-solving.

It reduces the amount of paper used in printing journals.

It prevents the government from knowing what scientists are doing.

It means we will never run out of the first technology.

It can force future generations to deal with the negative consequences of an inferior or harmful technology (like fossil fuels).

It makes the first technology much cheaper for everyone.

It ensures that scientists always have a job maintaining old tech.