HSC Investigating Science flashcards
HSC Investigating Science · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Hypothesis
- A testable and falsifiable statement that predicts the relationship between variables in an investigation, allowing it to be supported or rejected by evidence.
- Independent variable
- The factor that an investigator deliberately changes or manipulates in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
- Dependent variable
- The factor that is measured or observed in an experiment; it responds to changes in the independent variable.
- Controlled variable
- Any factor other than the independent variable that is kept constant across experimental groups to ensure a fair test.
- Reliability
- The degree to which repeated measurements under the same conditions produce consistent results; improved by repetition and averaging.
- Validity
- The extent to which an experiment measures what it is intended to measure and the conclusions are justified by the data collected.
- Accuracy
- How close a measured value is to the true or accepted value; affected mainly by systematic error.
- Precision
- How close repeated measurements are to each other, regardless of whether they are close to the true value; affected by random error.
- Control group
- A group in an experiment that receives no treatment or a placebo, providing a baseline for comparison with the experimental group.
- Primary data
- Data collected firsthand by the investigator through direct observation, measurement, or experimentation for a specific investigation.
- Secondary data
- Data obtained from existing sources such as published literature, databases, or government records rather than collected directly by the investigator.
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation ordered by frequency and wavelength, from radio waves to gamma rays.
- Spectroscopy
- A technique that identifies substances by analysing the unique wavelengths of light they absorb or emit, producing a characteristic spectral signature.
- Telescope aperture
- The diameter of a telescope's light-collecting opening; a larger aperture improves light-gathering power and resolving power.
- Adaptive optics
- A technology using deformable mirrors to correct atmospheric distortion in real time, sharpening images from ground-based telescopes.
- Interferometry
- A technique that combines signals from multiple telescopes to simulate a larger aperture, greatly improving resolution.
- Doppler effect
- The change in observed wavelength or frequency of waves when a source moves relative to an observer; redshift indicates motion away.
- Redshift
- The increase in wavelength of light from an object moving away from the observer, used to measure cosmic expansion and distance.
- Digital sensor
- A device that converts light intensity into electrical signals using an array of pixels, enabling digital image capture and analysis.
- Radio telescope
- An instrument that detects long-wavelength radio emission from celestial objects, allowing observation through dust clouds that block visible light.
- Anecdotal evidence
- Evidence based on personal accounts or isolated observations rather than controlled studies; it is unreliable for establishing cause and effect.
- Correlation
- A statistical relationship in which two variables change together; it does not by itself establish that one variable causes the other.
- Confirmation bias
- The tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information that supports existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.
- Peer review
- A process in which independent experts evaluate a research manuscript's methods, analysis, and conclusions before it is published.
- Placebo effect
- A measurable improvement in a participant's condition caused by expectation or belief rather than by an active treatment ingredient.
- Ad hominem fallacy
- A logical error in which a claim is rejected by attacking the character or motives of the person making it rather than the evidence.
- Burden of proof
- The obligation on the person making a claim to provide sufficient evidence to support it, rather than on others to disprove it.
- Reproducibility
- The ability of independent researchers to obtain consistent results by repeating an experiment or analysis using the same methods and data.
- Informed consent
- A voluntary agreement by a research participant after being fully informed of the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and right to withdraw.
- Precautionary principle
- The principle that precautionary measures should be taken when an activity threatens serious harm, even if cause and effect is not fully established.
- Conflict of interest
- A situation in which financial or personal interests could bias a researcher's design, analysis, or reporting; disclosure and oversight reduce its influence.
- Risk assessment
- The evaluation of the probability of a harmful event occurring combined with the severity of its potential consequences.