What is a controlled experiment?
Correct Answer: Possible/suggested responses: 1) A controlled experiment is an experiment in which
the scientist changes/manipulates only one thing to observe and measure the effects of that one
change. 2) A controlled experiment is an experiment that is conducted under a setting that is
“controlled” by the scientist with the least possible influence from outside factors. 3) A controlled
experiment compares an experimental group with a control group in the exact same conditions with the
one exception of a special/different treatment given to the experimental group.
What is a hypothesis?
Correct Answer: A hypothesis is the predicted answer to the scientist's testable scientific question,
based on observations, prior knowledge, and background research.
Yahya wants to find out if the location of basketball court (indoor vs. outdoor) affects the
percentage of 3 point shots he makes. What is the IV and DV in Yahya's experiment?
Correct Answer: Independent Variable (IV): location of basketball court (indoor vs. outdoor) Dependent
Variable (DV): percentage of 3 point shots Yahya makes
Which of the following is NOT a testable question format?
Why does (IV) affect (DV)?
Calculate the average number of minutes Reina plays her Xbox over the course of the week.
Correct Answer: 51.4 minutes
Victoria wants to find out what type of bread (store bought vs. homemade) takes longer to mold.
She uses the article, "How Do Preservatives Prevent Mold" as part of her background research.
Use the article (http://www.livestrong.com/article/546469-how-do-preservatives-prevent-mold/) to
write a hypothesis for Victoria.
Correct Answer: Suggested/Example hypotheses: 1) If we use/buy store bought bread, then it will take
longer to mold than homemade bread, because according to How Do Preservatives Prevent Mold?,
"Preservatives like vinegar, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate inhibit the growth of molds and
other undesirables, so food stays edible for a longer period of time", and store bought bread contains
preservatives. 2) If we use/buy homemade bread, then it will take LESS time to mold than store bought
bread, because according to How Do Preservatives Prevent Mold?, "Preservatives like vinegar,
potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate inhibit the growth of molds and other undesirables, so food
stays edible for a longer period of time", and store bought bread contains preservatives. **As long as
you picked one category of IV (store bought vs. homemade), made an actual prediction about the
dependent variable for that specific category of IV (ex: store bought bread = more time to mold), and
selected a relevant quote from the article as your background research, you are in good shape!**
Where in your lab report do you discuss limitations and suggestions for addressing these
limitations?
Correct Answer: Conclusion
What are the parts of a scientific explanation?
Correct Answer: claim: answer to your testable question, evidence: data from your experiment,
reasoning: a link for your claim and evidence that incorporates background research and scientific
principles
List Ms. Shon's guidelines for writing an experimental procedure.
Correct Answer: When writing a procedure... Number steps; Start each step with a verb (action word list of examples follow); Include only ONE action in each step; Include measurements (size, how much,
how far, how many, etc.); Use pictures and labels for hard to explain parts; Use the present tense (fill,
place, measure, pour, etc.); Avoid transitional words or phrases (next, finally, in addition to, therefore,
however, etc.)
What do you think it means to "isolate" a variable in a controlled experiment?
Correct Answer: to change only one thing (independent variable) and keep everything else the same
in order to observe/separate a particular cause-and-effect relationship
What is a limitation in science?
Correct Answer: Limitations in science are parts of an experiment that keep the scientist from
producing fair and reliable data.
Which of the following is NOT a testable question format?
Correct Answer: Why does (IV) affect (DV)?
Paula wants to find out if the tempo of a song has an effect on heart rate. She selects 3 Rihanna
songs, one with a tempo of 86 bpm (bpm = beats per minute), 120 bpm, and 152 bpm. Write a
testable question for Paula.
Correct Answer: 3 possible/suggested responses: 1) What is the effect of the tempo of a Rihanna
song on heart rate? 2) What effect does the tempo of a Rihanna song have on heart rate? 3) How does
the tempo of a Rihanna song affect heart rate?
What is a "claim"?
Correct Answer: Possible/suggested responses: 1) A claim is the answer to a scientist's testable
question. 2) A claim is a conclusion that attempts to answer/address a scientist's testable question. 3) A
claim is an argument that attempts to answer/address a scientist's testable question.
Where do you make/write a tentative claim in your lab report?
Correct Answer: hypothesis
Where do you make/write a final claim in your lab report?
Correct Answer: conclusion part I: scientific explanation
What do you think it means to "control" the variables in an experiment?
Correct Answer: to change only one thing and keep everything else the same in order to
observe/separate a particular cause-and-effect relationship
What is the scientific method?
Correct Answer: Possible/suggested responses: 1) The scientific method is an organized method used
by scientists to find and gather evidence (data) to support a claim (argument) about what the scientist
observes. There are many versions of the scientific method, but all versions of the scientific method
involve trying to answer a testable question, and experimenting to find the answer. 2) The scientific
method is an organized method used by scientists to find and gather evidence (data) to support a claim
(argument), which is the proposed answer the scientist's testable question. All versions of the scientific
method involve trying to answer a testable question, and experimenting to find the answer.
How is the scientific method connected to a scientific explanation?
Correct Answer: Possible/suggested responses: 1) The scientific method provides the evidence for a
scientific explanation (C.E.R. --> E = evidence). 2) The goal of a scientist is to develop scientific
explanations to share with the scientific community, and the purpose of the scientific method is to gather
the "evidence" component of the scientific explanation.
What type of scientific investigation is needed to answer the testable question, "How does the
time of day affect the number of fish a penguin eats?"
Correct Answer: Field Investigation
What is sample size?
Correct Answer: the number or amount of things/actions/objects you measure in an experiment to
collect data; the bigger the sample size, the more reliable the data