Scientific Method

Question 1

What begins the scientific method?

Answer 1

Observation

Observation involves using your senses to perceive objects or events in the natural world.

Question 2

What do scientists create based on their observations?

Answer 2

Hypothesis

A hypothesis can be tested through experimentation.

Question 3

What happens to a hypothesis after an experiment if it is not supported by data?

Answer 3

It may be revised or discarded.

Question 4

What type of experiment must a hypothesis be tested in?

Answer 4

Controlled experiment.

Question 5

What is compared in a controlled experiment?

Answer 5

Control group and experimental group.

Question 6

How many factors may differ between the control group and experimental group?

Answer 6

Only one factor.

Question 7

Define Independent Variable.

Answer 7

The thing a researcher manipulates or changes in an experiment (tested in an experiment)

Question 8

What is measured in both groups of an experiment?

Answer 8

Dependent variable.

Question 9

What is the information collected in an experiment called?

Answer 9

Qualitative data.

Question 10

When numerical data is collected, what is it called?

Answer 10

Quantitative data.

Question 11

What may be used when the population size is too large for the experiment?

Answer 11

A sample.

Question 12

How must collected data be organized?

Answer 12

Into tables, charts, or graphs.

Question 13

What can a conclusion be formed from?

Answer 13

Many related hypotheses that have been tested.

Question 14

What must scientists do after completing their experiments?

Answer 14

Share their work with other scientists.

Question 15

Where may scientific work be printed?

Answer 15

In scientific journals or presented at scientific meetings.

Question 16

What is the scientific method?

Answer 16

A method for researching a problem, and devising a strategy for solving it.

Question 17

What is the first step of the scientific method?

Answer 17

Observation

Question 18

Why is determining the problem important?

Answer 18

It identifies exactly what you wish to learn and allows you to focus only on that material.

Question 19

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 19

An educated guess.

Question 20

What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis?

Answer 20

• It should answer the original question
• It should be testable.

Question 21

What is the purpose of designing an experiment?

Answer 21

To test the hypothesis and gather results that will either support or disprove it.

Question 22

What is the experimental group?

Answer 22

The group that has the factor being tested (Experimental Variable).

Question 23

What is the control group?

Answer 23

The group that is identical to the experimental group but lacks the experimental variable.

Question 24

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 24

The variable that is being observed or measured in an experiment.

Question 25

What do you call the information collected regarding the dependent variable?

Answer 25

Data.

Question 26

What should you do after conducting an experiment?

Answer 26

Draw conclusions from your data.

Question 27

What does it mean if a hypothesis is supported?

Answer 27

It should be repeated for validation, as repeatability is a foundation of the scientific method.

Question 28

What distinguishes a hypothesis from a theory?

Answer 28

A hypothesis is an educated guess supported by limited data, while a theory is a hypothesis supported by a lot of data and accepted as correct until disproven.

Question 29

True or False: A theory and a hypothesis are synonyms.

Answer 29

False.

Question 30

Fill in the blank: The scientific method is split up into ______ major steps.

Answer 30

five

Question 31

Define Dependent Variable.

Answer 31

The thing that is being measured.

Question 32

What is a theory?

Answer 32

A broad statement formed from many related hypotheses that have been supported ## Footnote Examples include the Big Bang Theory and Evolution Theory.

Question 33

What distinguishes a law from a theory?

Answer 33

A law describes what happens in nature, usually as a concise statement or mathematical relationship, while a theory explains why or how it happens, supported by evidence and reasoning.

Question 34

True or False: Theories can be observed directly.

Answer 34

False ## Footnote Theories are believed based on supporting evidence rather than direct observation.