Which term describes conducting multiple trials of measurements or observations in a scientific investigation?

• A. Observation
• B. Conclusion
• C. Repetition
• D. Experiment

Answer: (C)

Repeated trials of measurements or observations are called repetition. This practice makes results more trustworthy because random errors can vary from one measurement to the next, so taking several measurements and comparing them (or averaging them) reduces the impact of a single unusual result. Repetition also shows whether findings are consistent across trials, which helps you judge the precision and reliability of the data. This differs from a single recorded observation, and it fits into the larger process of an experiment, which is the whole plan to test a question and collect data. For example, measuring a object's length three times with the same ruler helps ensure you didn’t read the measurement incorrectly and gives a clearer sense of the true length.