What term refers to the collection, measurement, and analysis of data in an experiment?

The term that refers to the collection, measurement, and analysis of data in an experiment is indeed focused on "data collection." This process involves systematically gathering information that is relevant to the variables being tested within an experiment. It serves as the foundational step that enables researchers to obtain factual evidence and draw conclusions based on empirical data.

In scientific research, data collection can include quantitative measurements, such as weights, volumes, and temperature recordings, as well as qualitative observations, which capture characteristics that are not easily quantifiable. The collected data is essential for validating or refuting the hypotheses formulated at the beginning of the study.

Other terms like hypothesis, observation, and experimentation are integral to the scientific method, but they serve different roles. A hypothesis represents a testable prediction, observation refers to the act of perceiving and noting phenomena, and experimentation is the broader process that encompasses the entire methodology, including the protocols for collecting data. Thus, when focusing specifically on the aspect of gathering and analyzing data, "data collection" is the correct and most precise term.