Anomalies and Outliers Flashcards

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Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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What is an anomalous result in a science experiment?

It is a result that does not fit the pattern or trend of the other results.

What is an outlier in a set of data?

It is a result that is much bigger or much smaller than the rest of the data.

How can you spot an anomalous result on a graph?

It is a point that is far away from the line of best fit or from the main group of points.

Give one common reason why an anomalous result might occur.

It might be due to a mistake when measuring, such as reading the scale wrong.

What should you do if you notice an anomalous result while you are still collecting data?

Repeat that measurement to see if you get a more similar value to your other results.

Should you remove anomalous results from your results table?

No. You should keep them in the table but you may leave them out of calculations if you can explain why they are wrong.

How can a single outlier affect the mean (average) of your results?

It can pull the mean up or down, so the mean may not match what most of the data shows.

Why is it important to look for anomalies before drawing a conclusion?

Because anomalies can give a false idea of the pattern and may lead you to a wrong conclusion.

How does repeating measurements help you decide if one result is anomalous?

If the repeats are close together but one result is very different, that odd result is likely to be anomalous.

When might you treat an outlier as a real result, not an error?

When you have no clear reason to think it is wrong and repeat tests give similar values.