OpenSciEd 7.5 Ecosystem Dynamics Practice Test

Criteria are the standards you use to judge or decide something. They tell you what counts as acceptable or successful, giving you a clear way to evaluate or compare options. For example, when judging a model of ecosystem dynamics, you might use criteria like accuracy of predictions, alignment with observed data, and clarity of reasoning. These criteria act as a checklist to determine if the work meets the expected quality. A constraint is a limiting factor that restricts what you can do, not a measure of quality. A trend is a pattern or direction over time. A dependent variable is what you measure in response to another factor, not a standard of judgment.