Creating a Testable Problem Statement and Effective Variables

​How to create a testable problem statement

Mrs. Hernandez

Multiple Select

Select all testable questions

• Which color are hummingbirds most attracted to?

• Which color do boys like the most?

• How heavy is my basketball?

• How much water can a juice jug hold?

• Which brand of baking soda will make bread dough rise faster?

Multiple Select

Select all the testable questions

• Which brand of toilet paper will be stronger?

• Which kind of food do dogs like?

• When is the next holiday?

• Which fruit will deer eat the most, bananas, apples, or strawberries?

• How many footballs fit in one bag?

Multiple Choice

Identify the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE in the following question:

Does the amount of light affect the rate of growth of a plant?

• Rate of growth

• Soil the plants grow on

• Amount of sunlight

• Amount of water

Multiple Choice

Identify the DEPENDENT VARIABLE in the following question:

Does the amount of sunlight affect the growth rate of plants?

• Amount of water

• amount of soil

• Growth rate

• Number of leaves

Multiple Choice

Identify the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE in the following question:

Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve?

• size of the sugar cube

• amount of water

• time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve

• temperature of water

Multiple Choice

Identify the DEPENDENT VARIABLE in the following question:

Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve?

• temperature of water

• time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve

• amount of water

• size of the sugar cube

Multiple Choice

Is this a testable question?

What makes plants grow best?

• Yes

• No