Scientific Method and Experimental Design Test Questions

1. If you were testing how well different dish soap cleaned grease, the independent (experimental) variable
would be the:
a. dishes
b. water
c. dish soap d. types of grease
2. Which of the following questions would be an appropriate scientific question that could be tested by
experimentation?
a. Which type of bread goes moldy the fastest?
b. Where do we go when we die?
c. Is it a sin to transplant pig hearts into humans?
d. Are llamas less valuable than camels?
3. While performing an experiment, it is important to:
a. change the control setup
b. test many different variables at the same time
c. reach a conclusion
d. record observations and measurements
4. Which phrase describes a hypothesis?
a. reviewing information related to the problem
b. testing a factor, or variable, in an experiment
c. suggesting a solution to a problem after studying it carefully
d. performing a controlled experiment
5. An orderly, systematic approach to problem solving is called the:
a. experiment
b. science procedure
c. scientific method

d. hypothesis

6. If the forest is clear-cut (cutting down all the trees in an area of forest), then it will result in drier soils
because there will not be any trees to protect the soil from sunlight is an example of:
a. a theory b. a hypothesis c. an experimental question
d. a conclusion
7. In order for the conclusion of a scientific experiment to be convincing, the researcher must report adequate
evidence supporting or refuting the hypothesis. Scientific evidence should include the:
a. results from an experiment with just one trial.
b. results from only the trials that produced the expected results (the other bad data should be thrown out)
c. results from multiple trials of one experiment, including unexpected results
d. results from multiple different types of experiments, including unexpected results
8. Changeable elements of an experiment which can affect the outcome of the experiment if not carefully
controlled are called:
a. placebos
b. variables c. quantitative elements
d. control groups
9. Data such as 10 drops is referred to as ___________.
a. robust data
b. qualitative data
c. control data

d. quantitative data

10. The number of variables that should be allowed to change in a well designed, controlled experiment is:
a. none
b. 1
c. 2 or more
d. dependent on the type of experiment
11. The______________ variable is the variable you are observing and that changes in response to the
______________variable.
a. independent (experimental), dependent
b. dependent, independent (experimental)
c. dependent, control
d. independent (experimental), control.
12. Which one of the following is NOT an example of quantitative data?
a. number of flowers on a plant
b. size of a flower
c. height of a flower
d. color of a flower

140

Ice Cream Sales ($)

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
20

25

30

35

40

Temperature (degrees C)

13. Using the graph, estimate ice cream sales when the temperature was 25 degrees C:
a. approximately $30
b. approximately $40
c. approximately $60
d. impossible to determine
14. Using the graph, which of the following would be a good title for this graph?
a. Temperature and ice cream sales
b. Ice cream tastes better when its hot
c. The relationship between ice cream sales and temperature
d. The effect of ice cream sales on temperature
Version A Essay:
Examine the following and answer the questions (6 pts)

Bart believes that mice exposed to microwaves will

become extra strong (maybe he's been
reading too much Radioactive Man). He
decides to perform this experiment by
placing 10 mice in a microwave for 10
seconds. He compared these 10 mice to
another 10 mice that had not been
exposed. His test consisted of a heavy
block of wood that blocked the mouse food. He found
that 8 out of 10 of the microwaved mice were able to
push the block away. 7 out of 10 of the non-microwaved
mice were able to do the same.

Identify the1. Control Group

2. Independent Variable
3. Dependent Variable
4. What should Bart's conclusion
be?
5. How could Bart's experiment
be improved?

Version B Essay:
Examine the following and answer the questions (6 pts)

Krusty was told that a certain itching

powder was the newest best thing on the
market; it even claims to cause 50% longer
lasting itches. Interested in this product, he
buys the itching powder and compares it to
his usual product. One test subject (A) is
sprinkled with the original itching powder,
and another test subject (B) was sprinkled with the
Experimental itching powder. Subject A reported having
itches for 30 minutes. Subject B reported to have itches
for 45 minutes.

Identify the1. Control Group

2. Independent Variable
3. Dependent Variable
4. Explain whether the data
supports the advertisements
claims about its product.

Version C Essay:
Examine the following and answer the questions (6 pts)

Lisa is working on a science project. Her

task is to answer the question: "Does
Rogooti (which is a commercial hair
product) affect the speed of hair growth".
Her family is willing to volunteer for the
experiment.

Describe how Lisa would perform

this experiment.
In your description, identify the
following:
*control group
*independent variable
*dependent variable