Analyzing Data and Graphs in Science

Which of the following is the best definition of a variable in a scientific investigation?

• A tool that is used to measure data in an experiment

• A factor that can be changed in an experiment

• A type of graph that is used to display results

• A conclusion that is drawn from the collected data

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

What does the term "empirical evidence" mean in science?

• Evidence that is based on personal opinions and beliefs

• Evidence that is collected through observation or experiment

• Evidence that is found in textbooks and articles

• Evidence that cannot be measured or observed directly

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which phrase should you use when your experiment’s results do not match your hypothesis?

• Results prove that the hypothesis is correct

• Results fail to support the given hypothesis

• Results guarantee that the hypothesis is true

• Results ignore the original hypothesis completely

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

What is the main purpose of conducting repeated trials in a scientific study?

• To make the experiment more interesting for students

• To increase the reliability of the experiment results

• To use more materials during the experiment

• To finish the experiment faster than before

Why are hypotheses valuable in scientific investigations, even if they are not supported by the data?

• They always prove a scientific theory to be true

• They can lead to further investigations and questions

• They are never used again in any experiment

• They are only for decoration in science reports

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following is the best example of using logical reasoning in a scientific investigation?

• Guessing the results without using any data

• Drawing conclusions based on the collected data

• Ignoring the data that was collected in the lab

• Copying someone else’s results for your report

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A student collects data on the temperature of water at different times of the day. Which type of graph would best display this data?

• A bar graph that shows the temperature at each time

• A line graph that shows the temperature over time

• A pie chart that shows the temperature distribution

• A scatter plot that shows the temperature points

If a class is testing how the amount of sunlight affects plant growth, which is the independent variable?

• The amount of sunlight given to each plant

• The height of the plant after it grows

• The type of soil used for each plant

• The amount of water given to each plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A student wants to test if the type of music affects how fast a plant grows. She sets up three groups of plants, each exposed to a different type of music, and measures their growth over two weeks. What is the dependent variable?

• The type of music played for each group of plants

• The amount of water given to each group of plants

• The growth of the plant measured over two weeks

• The type of plant used in each group of the experiment

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

You are given a table showing the number of hours students studied and their test scores. What is the best way to determine if there is a relationship between the two variables?

• Draw a scatter plot to show the relationship between them

• Make a pie chart to show the percentage of each score

• Write a paragraph to describe the data in the table

• Use a Venn diagram to compare the two variables

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1