Scientific Method Vocabulary Worksheet

Press Print worksheet to match twelve scientific method terms, from question and hypothesis to conclusion, to their meanings.

A sample is on the sheet. What you type replaces it.

What you type stays in your browser. Nothing is sent to us.

NameDateMade at homeroomtools.comDraw a line from each one on the left to its partner on the right.Scientific method vocabularyquestionobservationhypothesispredictionexperimentvariablecontrolproceduredataanalysisconclusionscientific methoda factor that can differ or bechangeda proposed answer that testingcan back or rejecta forecast of how a test will turnoutan untreated run of a test, keptas a yardsticka way of learning about nature bytesting ideassomething noticed by looking ormeasuringa judgment reached once theresults are inwhat the whole study is trying toanswera test run under set conditions tocheck an ideathe steps of a test, listed in orderrecorded facts, counts andreadings from a testa close, part-by-part study ofwhat was found
NameDateMade at homeroomtools.comDraw a line from each one on the left to its partner on the right.Scientific method vocabularyAnswer keyquestionobservationhypothesispredictionexperimentvariablecontrolproceduredataanalysisconclusionscientific methoda factor that can differ or bechangeda proposed answer that testingcan back or rejecta forecast of how a test will turnoutan untreated run of a test, keptas a yardsticka way of learning about nature bytesting ideassomething noticed by looking ormeasuringa judgment reached once theresults are inwhat the whole study is trying toanswera test run under set conditions tocheck an ideathe steps of a test, listed in orderrecorded facts, counts andreadings from a testa close, part-by-part study ofwhat was found
More options

Next step Next: scientific method word search

All 36 terms

Steps of an investigation 12

  • analysis A close, part-by-part study of what was found. Example: working out the average height of each tray and comparing the three.
  • conclusion A judgment reached once the results are in. Example: "The plants with the most light grew tallest, so the results support the hypothesis."
  • control An untreated run of a test, kept as a yardstick. Example: a tray left in ordinary classroom light, to compare with the other trays.
  • data Recorded facts, counts and readings from a test. Example: the height of every plant, written down each morning.
  • experiment A test run under set conditions to check an idea. Example: growing three trays of bean plants under 4, 8 and 12 hours of light a day.
  • hypothesis A proposed answer that testing can back or reject. Example: "Bean plants use light to grow, so more hours of light make them taller."
  • observation Something noticed by looking or measuring. Example: "The plant by the window has darker leaves."
  • prediction A forecast of how a test will turn out. Example: "If a plant gets 12 hours of light a day, then it will be the tallest after two weeks."
  • procedure The steps of a test, listed in order. Example: "1. Fill nine pots with the same soil. 2. Plant one bean in each pot."
  • question What the whole study is trying to answer. Example: "Do bean plants grow taller with more hours of light?"
  • scientific method A way of learning about nature by testing ideas. Example: ask a question, form a hypothesis, test it, study the data, then draw a conclusion.
  • variable A factor that can differ or be changed. Example: light, water, soil and warmth can each differ from one plant to the next.
Show all 36 terms (24 more)

Variables and fair tests 12

  • bias A one-sided pull that skews a result. Example: rounding up the height of the tray you hoped would win.
  • blind test A test that hides from subjects what they get. Example: tasters compare two drinks poured into unmarked cups.
  • control group The subjects left untreated on purpose. In a test of a plant food: the plants that get plain water.
  • control variable A factor held the same throughout. In the bean test: the soil, the pots and the water are alike for every plant.
  • dependent variable The outcome measured to see an effect. In the bean test: the height of each plant.
  • experimental group The subjects that get the treatment. In a test of a plant food: the plants that get the plant food.
  • independent variable The one factor changed on purpose. In the bean test: the hours of light each tray gets.
  • placebo A dummy treatment with no active ingredient. Example: a sugar pill that looks just like the real one.
  • reliability How closely repeated readings agree. Example: a ruler that gives the same height for one plant three times in a row.
  • replication Doing a whole study over as a check. Example: another class grows beans the same way and compares its heights with yours.
  • sample size How many subjects or readings a study has. Example: nine bean plants make a sample size of 9.
  • validity How truly a measure reflects the thing studied. Example: for a question about growth, a plant's height has validity; the color of its pot has none.

Data, evidence and theories 12

  • data table Rows and columns that hold recorded values. Example: one row for each plant and one column for each day.
  • empirical evidence Support gained by observing or testing. Example: the measured heights of the plants, not a feeling about which tray did best.
  • inference An idea reasoned out from what was observed. Example: "The soil is dry, so nobody has watered this plant today."
  • line graph A chart of plotted values joined in order. Example: one plant's height marked for each day, with the marks joined.
  • outlier A reading far out of line with the rest. Example: among heights of 12, 13, 13, 14 and 31 centimeters, the 31 is an outlier.
  • peer review A check of new research by other scientists. Example: before a journal prints a study, other researchers read it and look for mistakes.
  • qualitative data Observations described in words, not numbers. Example: "The leaves are pale green and feel soft."
  • quantitative data Observations recorded as numbers or amounts. Example: "The plant is 14 centimeters tall and has 6 leaves."
  • raw data Readings as collected, before any processing. Example: the full list of daily heights, before any average is worked out.
  • scientific law A statement of a pattern that nature follows. Example: the law of conservation of energy.
  • scientific model A simplified stand-in for a real system. Example: a globe stands in for Earth.
  • scientific theory A broad explanation backed by repeated tests. Examples: the germ theory of disease and the theory of plate tectonics.

How this list was compiled: Term list chosen for this site on 2026-10-09. Each meaning is written in our own words and was checked that day against the entry for the term in Wiktionary, the free dictionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/), whose text is under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license, and against the entry in the Cambridge Dictionary (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/). Eleven terms have no entry in the second dictionary or none in either (scientific method, experimental group, sample size, scientific theory, scientific law, scientific model, qualitative data, quantitative data, empirical evidence, raw data, data table) and were read in the articles Scientific method, Treatment and control groups, Sample size determination, Scientific theory, Scientific law, Scientific modelling, Qualitative property, Quantitative research, Empirical evidence and Raw data of English Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/), whose text is under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. Control was read in the article Scientific control as well, the two kinds of variable in Dependent and independent variables, blind test in Blinded experiment, replication in Reproducibility and line graph in Line chart. The examples are our own; most follow one made-up class test of bean plants and light, and its figures are invented for the example. The answers under the tool about groups, kinds of data, theories and laws follow the articles Treatment and control groups, Qualitative property, Scientific theory and Scientific law. Licence: own work

How it works

This scientific method vocabulary worksheet opens on twelve terms to match to their meanings: question, observation, hypothesis, prediction, experiment, variable, control, procedure, data, analysis, conclusion and scientific method. Two more sets cover variables and fair tests, then data and theories.

Read the full guide

A scientific method vocabulary review worksheet

In Set, All of them mixes twelve terms from the three sets on one sheet. Variables and fair tests prints independent variable, dependent variable, control variable, control group, experimental group, placebo, sample size, bias, replication, reliability, validity and blind test. The third set runs from inference and peer review to scientific law, outlier and line graph.

Scientific method vocabulary worksheet cards

In Answer by, Cut and paste prints the meanings as cards to cut out along dashed lines and paste beside each term, a few pairs to a page.

  • Under the tool each term has an example; most come from one class test, bean plants grown under different hours of light.

Questions and answers

Is there a free printable scientific method vocabulary worksheet?

Yes. Every sheet on this page is free to print on Letter or A4, with its answer key as the last page.

What is the difference between a control group and an experimental group?

The experimental group gets the treatment being tested. The control group gets a placebo, a standard treatment or no treatment at all, so the two groups can be compared.

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

Qualitative data are observed and described, not measured with a number: the stem leans toward the window. Quantitative data are counts and measurements: three of the nine beans sprouted in the first week.

What is the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?

A law states what happens, drawn from repeated observation, and offers no explanation. A theory explains why, and has been tested again and again. A theory does not turn into a law as evidence grows.

More tools

Show 7 more

Browse Handwriting