Scientific Method

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a key expectation for students during laboratory field investigations?

• To memorize scientific facts without questioning

• To use scientific processes to solve investigative questions

• To avoid making decisions outside the classroom

• To focus only on individual work

Open Ended

Why is it important to use scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills both inside and outside the classroom?

Fill in the Blanks

A variable that does not change is called a

.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a dependent variable?

• A variable that stands alone and causes change.

• A subject or group not tested for the dependent variable.

• A variable that depends on other factors and is affected by the independent variable.

• A variable that does not change.

Multiple Choice

Sam wanted to know if the color of the chair you sat in when taking a test affected your test grade. What is the dependent variable.

• Color or chair
• Grade on test
• Age of students

Multiple Choice

Three baseball players investigate to see who can throw a baseball the farthest. They mark off an area on the playground for their investigation. Which should they keep constant? (Same)

• height of the players

• color of the baseball

• order in which the players throw

• spot from which the players throw

Multiple Select

Which of the following are components of the scientific method?

• Hypothesis

• Interpretation

• Control

• Conclusion

Multiple Choice

Which step comes immediately after 'Hypothesis' in the scientific method?

• Conclusion

• Procedure/experiment

• Interpretation

• Observe & record

Open Ended

How does the process of forming a hypothesis help guide the rest of the scientific method?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following skills will you use to solve investigative questions during laboratory field investigations?

• Critical thinking skills

• Memorization

• Guesswork

• Ignoring evidence

Open Ended

How can using scientific reasoning and problem solving help you make informed decisions outside the classroom?

Open Ended

How should you record the information?

Multiple Choice

Avi is comparing two brands of batteries. He uses two identical flashlights to see which battery lasts longer. What is the best reason for this experiment to be repeated?

• to check whether the results are consistent

• to make sure the flashlights were not broken

• to check that no one turned off one of the flashlights

• to make a prediction about a different brand of battery

Multiple Choice

To be sure you are testing to see how fertilizer affects growth, you must keep the other possible factors the same. You might set up one trial, using the same soil and type of plant. each plant is given the same amount of sunlight and water and is kept at the same temperature. There are called ________________.

• constants

• controls

• bias

• variables

Multiple Choice

Mickey observed that his cat had more energy after eating a new type of cat food one night.  How can he verify that this new cat food really does improve his cat's energy?

• By collecting more data of the cat's energy with new and old food over several days
• By creating a hypothesis that the new food has more carbohydrates
• Collect more data, but use more of the old cat food than the new cat food
• Change the amount of water the cat gets with both types of food