Facts and observations
A scientist writes, "The jar contains 250 mL." Identify the type of data.
Quantitative Data
A student notices muddy paw prints and concludes a dog came inside. Name the thinking skill
Inferring
Someone believes a favorite cereal brand must be healthiest without checking its ingredients. Identify
the bias
Personal
Name the process of asking scientific questions and using evidence to investigate them
Scientific Inquiry
A student changes the slope of a ramp and measures car travel distance. Name the independent
variable
Slope of ramp/steepness
A student writes, "The sponge feels soft." Identify the type of data
Qualitative Data
Based on a forecast, a student says school may close tomorrow. Name the thinking skill.
Predicting
Someone assumes all families follow the same holiday traditions as their community. Identify the bias
Cultural
Name a testable proposed answer to a scientific question
hypothesis
Does a scientific law mainly explain a cause or describe a consistent natural pattern?
"The blue notebook is the nicest one." Identify the type of statement
Subjective
Every bird is an animal. A robin is a bird. Therefore, a robin is an animal. Identify the reasoning.
Deductive reasoning
One paper towel brand gets twice as much water as the others during an absorbency test. Identify the
bias.
Experimental
Name the information collected in an investigation and one complete run of a test
data/evidence
A student makes a clay volcano to represent a real volcano. What tool is being used?
making models
"There are 18 chairs in this room." Identify the type of statement.
Objective
Several tested metal objects conduct heat. A student suggests that metals generally conduct heat.
Identify the reasoning.
Inductive
A student asks for evidence before believing a surprising science claim. Name the attitude
Skepticism
A class compares patterns in a table, then explains what the results suggest. Name these two actions
Analyzing evidence/data; drawing a conclusion
What is evidence, and how can research help before an experiment
Evidence is information supporting a claim; research provides relevant background information
A student reads a thermometer and records the temperature. Name the action and the type of data.
Observing; Quantitative Data
Explain how an inference differs from a prediction.
An inference interprets clues about what may be happening or may have happened; a prediction forecasts
what may happen next
A researcher hides results that disagree with the hypothesis. Which principle is violated, and how should
it be corrected?
Ethics; report the results honestly, including results that do not support the hypothesis
Why should researchers share their results and explain their methods?
Answer:
True or false: A theory becomes a law after enough testing. Explain
False. Theories and laws have different purposes. Both are supported by evidence.