Scientific Methods Quiz Practice

Check all that apply concerning theories and laws.

• Laws predict what happens, not why.
• Theories are broad explanations of a set of phenomena based on a large body of scientific evidence.
• Theories explain "why."
• Both are widely accepted in the scientific community.
• With new evidence, theories can be revised.

Why is it important to follow the procedure for an experiment exactly as it says?

• For validity, so you can trust the results.
• You don't have to follow the procedure correctly.

What kind of observational data involves numbers and often instruments?

• qualitative
• inference
• quantitative
• assumption

Why must findings/conclusions by one group of scientists be replicated by other scientists?

• To make the research more complicated
• To allow scientists to publish more papers quickly
• To prove that the original scientists are smarter than others
• To confirm that the results can be trusted

Why must experiments be repeated?

• so that the constants remain the same
• so that you can change the independent variable
• so that you can form a proper hypothesis
• so you know you can trust the validity of the conclusion(s)

To have valid results how many independent (manipulated) variables must an experiment have?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4 or more

A question to be considered or solved by science is:

• a problem
• a hypothesis
• an observation
• an inference

Why do we need a control group in an experiment?

• to make certain all things are kept the same except the independent variable
• to follow the procedure correctly
• to analyze the data
• as a comparison

Why do we need constants (controlled variables) in an experiment?

• to have a normal group to compare results to
• to make certain all things are kept the same except the independent variable
• to follow the procedure correctly
• to analyze the data

What is the purpose of having only one independent variable in a controlled experiment?

• To make the experiment easier to perform

• To allow for more data to be collected

• To make the experiment more interesting

• To ensure that the results are due to the variable being tested