practical terms

A measurement result is considered accurate if it is judged to be close to the true value.

Marking a scale on a measuring instrument. This involves establishing the relationship between indications of a measuring instrument and standard or reference quantity values, which must be applied. For example, placing a thermometer in melting ice to see whether it reads 0 °C, in order to check if it has been calibrated correctly.

Information, either qualitative or quantitative, that has been collected

The difference between a measured value and the true value.

These are values in a set of results which are judged not to be part of the variation caused by random uncertainty.

These cause readings to be spread about the true value, due to results varying in an unpredictable way from one measurement to the next. Random errors are present when any measurement is made, and cannot be corrected. The effect of random errors can be reduced by making more measurements and calculating a new mean.

These cause readings to differ from the true value by a consistent amount each time a measurement is made. AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15. Copyright © 2015 AQA and its licensors 71 of 179 Sources of systematic error can include the environment, methods of observation or instruments used. Systematic errors cannot be dealt with by simple repeats. If a systematic error is suspected, the data collection should be repeated using a different technique or a different set of equipment, and the results compared.

Any indication that a measuring system gives a false reading when the true value of a measured quantity is zero, eg the needle on an ammeter failing to return to zero when no current flows.

Data that have been shown to be valid.

A fair test is one in which only the independent variable has been allowed to affect the dependent variable.

A proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations.

The quantity between readings eg a set of 11 readings equally spaced over a distance of 1 metre would give an interval of 10 centimetres.

Precise measurements are ones in which there is very little spread about the mean value. Precision depends only on the extent of random errors – it gives no indication of how close results are to the true value.

A prediction is a statement suggesting what will happen in the future, based on observation, experience or a hypothesis.

The maximum and minimum values of the independent or dependent variables. For example, a range of distances may be quoted as either: ‘from 10 cm to 50 cm’ or ‘from 50 cm to 10 cm’.

A measurement is repeatable if the original experimenter repeats the investigation using same method and equipment and obtains the same results.

A measurement is reproducible if the investigation is repeated by another person, or by using different equipment or techniques, and the same results are obtained

This is the smallest change in the quantity being measured (input) of a measuring instrument that gives a perceptible change in the reading.

A line graph, not necessarily on a grid, that shows the general shape of the relationship between two variables. It will not have any points plotted and although the axes should be labelled they may not be scaled.

This is the value that would be obtained in an ideal measurement.

The interval within which the true value can be expected to lie, with a given level of confidence or probability eg “the temperature is 20 °C ± 2 °C, at a level of confidence of 95%

Suitability of the investigative procedure to answer the question being asked. For example, an investigation to find out if the rate of a chemical reaction depended upon the concentration of one of the reactants would not be a valid procedure if the temperature of the reactants was not controlled.

A conclusion supported by valid data, obtained from an appropriate experimental design and based on sound reasoning

These are physical, chemical or biological quantities or characteristics.