Questions and Hypotheses
Variables
Types of Information
Experimental Control Groups
Conclusions
100
A testable scientific question must include these 2 types of variables.
An independent and a dependent variable.
100
This is the only variable that is deliberately changed in each set-up of the experiment.
Independent Variable
100
This is information you gather with your senses while performing an experiment.
Qualitative
100
What gets changed in the experimental control group? Nothing Everything Some Things
Nothing
100
What is the first thing you should include in a conclusion?
Your hypothesis- restated.
200
A well-written hypothesis will not only answer the question and include the variables. It should also include an _____ and a ____________.
An IF and a THEN
200
These are variables that are kept CONSTANT in each set-up of the experiment.
Controlled Variables.
200
This is numeric data that you gather during experimentation.
Quantitative
200
What was the experimental control group in your Senses and Response Lab?
The set-up for which ALL SENSES could be used.
200
What is the second thing you should include in a conclusion?
A statement telling if you accept or reject your hypothesis.
300
Write a hypothesis to the following question: How does the amount of candy you give your students affect their attentiveness in class?
If you give students more candy, then they will be less attentive.
300
Identify the dependent variable in the following hypothesis: If the students play with the cat hanging out at the school more, then the cat will spend more time at the school.
Amount of time the cat spends at school
300
List 2 types of quantitative information you might collect while answering the following scientific question: How does the amount of water that bean plants receive affect their growth rate?
Amount of water given to plants Height of bean plants Depth of the soil the plants are in
300
Which group serves as the experimental control group in the following example. A scientist wonders how the amount of tv a 13 year old watches affects their brain development. Two hours is the recommended maximum time watching tv. She allows one group 20 minutes, another group 2 hours and a third group 6 hours of tv per day.
The group that is allowed to watch 2 hours.
300
What is the third thing you should include in a conclusion?
Data or information collected during the experiment that will support your conclusion.
400
Read the following hypothesis. Write the scientific question that it answers. If students complete more homework assignments, then they will learn more.
How does the amount of homework completed by students affect the amount that they learn?
400
List 3 controlled variables for the following scientific question: How does the number of energy drinks that a student consumes affect the amount of sleep they are able to get at night?
Type of energy drinks they consume Time that the energy drinks are consumed Age of the students consuming the drinks
400
List 2 types of qualitative information you might collect while answering the following scientific question: How does the amount of water that bean plants receive affect their growth rate?
Color of leaves Water overflows when applied Leaves wilting
400
What would serve as an experimental control group when testing the following question: Your corn plants need 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimum growth. How will changing the amount of sunlight they receive affect their growth.
A group of plants which receives 6 hours of direct sunlight.
400
What is missing from the following conclusion: Corn plants that received 3 hours of sunlight grew an average of 2 meters tall. Those that received 6 hours of sunlight grew an average of 2 1/2 meters tall. A third group which received 9 hours grew 3 meters tall.
They hypothesis was not restated. They hypothesis was not accepted or rejected.
500
Explain why the following question is not testable. Does a full moon make students crazy??!!
It is a yes/no question.
500
Explain the importance of having controlled variables in a scientific experiment.
By controlling variables we can be more assured that any change in the dependent variable is due only to the independent variable.
500
Why is it important to collect qualitative information while answering the following scientific question: How does the amount of water that bean plants receive affect their growth rate?
It may help in the analysis of the data. It may explain something peculiar or identify experimental error. For example, if the scientist notices a discoloration of the water applied to a certain group of plants and then they all die, he may assume that the water was the cause.
500
What is the purpose of the experimental control group in an experiment?
It serves as a basis for comparison. A group that all the other groups can be compared to.
500
Why is it important to include so much information in the conclusion of an experiment?
It serves as a summary of the experiment/research. This allows other scientists to quickly review the overall idea and outcome of the experiment.
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