Testable Questions
What makes something a scientific testable question?
1. Compares two or more situations
2. Can be answered by a test or experiment
What is a hypothesis?
An educated guess about what the answer to a testable question is.
What is the manipulated variable?
The variable that the scientist controls and changes.
What is the responding variable?
The variable that changes as a result of the scientist controlling something.
What is a constant variable?
The variable that the scientist makes sure stays the same
What makes a question un-testable?
1. Asks for an opinion
2. Asks for an explanation
3. Can be easily answered without an experiment
What format should you write your hypothesis in?
If-then-because
How many variables should be manipulated during an experiment?
1
How can we be sure that we are only measuring the responding variable?
By only changing one thing in our experiment at a time
How many constant variables should be in an experiment?
As many as possible
Aine notices that she can throw a Master Ball farther than an Ultra Ball. Write a testable question to go with this scenario.
How do different types of Pokeballs affect how far they can be thrown?
Cauley notices that students who read more do better on spelling tests. He asks himself, “Does reading more help someone become better at spelling?” Write a hypothesis based on his question.
If someone reads more, then they will be better at spelling because they see how words are spelled more often.
Amare asks, “Which type of music helps students get their work done quicker?” What is the manipulated variable?
The type of music
Apollo asks, “Do students with dogs run faster than students with cats?” What is the responding variable?
Running faster
Isaiah is running an experiment to see which brand of basketball dribbles the best. What are 2 things he needs to keep constant in his experiment?
1. Court/surface material
2. Time spent dribbling
3. Same amount of air
4. Same skill level
Colin notices that he has more energy for soccer practice when he eats hot lunch. Write a testable question to go with this scenario.
How does the temperature of food affect your energy levels?
Emma notices that her heart beats faster when she runs faster. She asks “How does running faster affect a person’s heart rate?” Write a hypothesis based on her question.
If you run faster, then your heart will beat faster because it needs to send more blood to your muscles.
Nate asks, “Which cleaning product kills the most bacteria?” What is the manipulated variable?
The type of cleaning product
Sofia asks, “Do students do better on tests if they take them on the computer or on paper?” What is the responding variable?
Test scores
Ben wants to know if students who sleep more get better grades. What are 3 things that he needs to keep constant in his experiment?
1. Sleeping conditions
2. Everyone does the same thing before sleep
3. Bed time or wake-up time
4. Same tests
5. Same study hall
Zev notices that he gets better grades when he studies by re-writing his notes. Write a testable question to go with this scenario.
Does writing down information while studying affect your grades?
Dash notices that the more he does crossword puzzles, the faster he can solve brain puzzles. He asks “Does solving more crosswords affect how fast you can solve a brain puzzles?" Write a hypothesis to answer his question.
If you solve more crosswords, then you will be able to solve brain puzzles faster because you are exercising your brain more.
Olivia asks, “Do students score higher on tests if they take them in the morning or the afternoon?” What is the manipulated variable?
Time of day you take a test
Amelia asks, “Do students who wear glasses read faster?” What is the responding variable?
Reading speed
Eloise wants to know if kids who hang out in the library after school get more homework done than students who hang out in Woodman. What are 4 things that she needs to keep constant in her experiment?
1. Amount of time in each place
2. Time of day
3. Same homework assignments (difficulty)
4. Amount of people being tested
5. Same day