How Science Works
Precision
How small a measurement is.
Millimetres are more precise than
centimetres because they are smaller.
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Accuracy
How close a measurement is to its true
value.
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Random errors
Errors caused by factors we can’t
control, like tiny temperature changes
in a room. They can also happen if
you make a mistake – like pushing the
stopwatch button too early.
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Systematic errors
Errors caused by inaccurate
equipment, equipment that doesn’t
zero properly or by problems with a
method.
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Reliability
If someone else can repeat your
measurements and get the same
results then your results are reliable.
Carrying out repeat measurements
checks the reliability of your results.
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Independent variable
The variable you change to see what
happens.
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Dependent variable
The variable that you measure.
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A fair test
An investigation or experiment where
only the independent variable has
been allowed to affect the dependent
variable. This means only changing
one variable and keeping everything
else the same.
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Validity
Your results must be valid if you are
going to be able to draw a conclusion
from them. To get valid results you
need to carry out a fair test.
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Continuous variables
Variables that can have any
numerical value. You should use a
line graph to show this type of data.
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Categoric variables
Variables that are described by
labels. You should use a bar chart to
show this type of data.
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