Scientific Method Quiz

Which is the best definition for an independent variable?

• The variables that you need to keep the same for each test. 
• The  variable that you are measuring
• The variable that you are changing or comparing.
• The answer to your testable question

Which is the best definition for dependent variable? 

• The variables that you need to keep the same 
• The  variable that you are measuring
• The variable that you are changing or comparing.
• The answer to your testable question

When a scientist is listening to the sounds that whales make, he is _____.

• making a hypothesis

• doing an experiment

• making an observation

What does a good scientific conclusion include?

• The correct answer to the experiment, and proof that you did everything correctly and an explanation of how you got the correct answer.

• A statement about whether or not the hypothesis was supported with evidence from the results and ideas for improving the procedure and a summary of what you learned.

Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis.

If more salt is added to water then the water will take longer to boil because salt causes the water to need more heat to boil.

• More heat is needed.

• Amount of salt

• Time to boil

• None of these

When you explain the things you observe, you are making a(n):

• observation

• inference

• qualitative

• quantitative

These involve numbers, or an amount. Seeing that you have 2 text messages on

your phone is a(n):

• observation

• inference

• qualitative observation

• quantitative observation

These involve descriptions that cannot be expressed with numbers. Noticing that a bike is blue or that a grape tastes sour are examples of a(n):

• observation

• inference

• qualitative observation

• quantitative observation

Which of the following could be described as an OBSERVATION based on this picture?

• The red object in the picture is approximately twice the size of the gray object above it.

• The duck is about to smash the computer.

• The duck is angry or frustrated.

• The sun is positioned to the right, outside of the frame of the picture.

Which of the following could be described as an INFERENCE based on this picture?

• The duck like creature appears to have two different colored feet: one orange and one yellow.

• The duck is angry or frustrated and is about to smash the computer with the mallet.

• The red object to the right is approximately twice the height of the gray object above it.

• The duck like creature to the left has a blue top (shirt).