Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions

How does a good experimental conclusion differ from an inference? A conclusion relates the evidence to the hypothesis and inference is a guess. A conclusion explains data and an inference is predicts what will occur next. A conclusion provides less information to the reader than an inference. A conclusion is proven to be correct; an inference is disproved by evidence.

A conclusion relates the evidence to the hypothesis and inference is a guess.

Mario performed an experiment to determine if photosynthesis was affected by the amount of light that a plant received. The data from his experiment are shown in the table below. What could he have done to increase the validity of his data? Reduce the number of plants. Remove the 1 hour group. Add a 0 hours control. Measure the oxygen in liters.

Add a 0 hours control.

The pH scale measures the acidity or the basicity of a solution. Solutions that have a pH below 7 are acids. Solutions that have a low pH are more acidic than solutions that have a higher pH. The graph below shows the pH of four common fruit juices. A student studying acidity of juices did a taste test and determined that the orange juice was the sweetest juice and the lemon and lime juices were the sourest. Based on this information, which is the best inference the student could make about acidity? Juices with more sugar content have a lower pH. Higher acidity causes juices to taste more sour. Juice that tastes sour has a higher pH than juice that tastes sweet. Lime juice tastes more sour than orange juice. Submitted

Higher acidity causes juices to taste more sour.

A geologist and a biologist performed an experiment together and examined the data. Each scientist formed a different conclusion. Both conclusions were supported by the evidence. How is this possible? Both conclusions are the same but have different wording. If more than one conclusion is supported, the hypothesis is invalid. There can be alternate explanations for the same evidence. Each conclusion is based on different data.

There can be alternate explanations for the same evidence.

Francis was recording plant heights for an experiment. Each time that she took a measurement, she wrote it down. Then, she measured the plant again and compared the new measurement to the one that she had recorded in her notebook. What was she most likely trying to do? revise her hypothesis check her memory make the data more valid form a conclusion

make the data more valid

For a conclusion to be accepted by the scientific community, the data must be accurate, free from error, and...? reproducible. varied. unique. surprising.

reproducible.

Why are graphs useful when interpreting data? They make trends in the data easier to see. They are easier to create than data tables. They take the place of pictures in a report. They can be used to show additional data.

They make trends in the data easier to see.

Maria wanted to learn more about the birds that visit her backyard. She installed several bird feeders and offered a variety of bird seed mixes in order to attract a mix of species. For a month, she observed the bird feeders three times a day for an hour each day and counted the types of birds that she saw. Then, she made a pie chart to represent her findings. What is the most likely reason that she chose a pie chart? To show the total number of birds that she observed. To show the number of times that each bird visited the feeders. To show which bird species were most common. To show how the bird species changed over time.

To show which bird species were most common.

What is the best definition of a conclusion? a written description of events that occurred during an experiment an act of recognizing and noting an occurrence by using the senses a possible explanation of a scientific question based on observation an explanation that uses data to support or reject a hypothesis

an explanation that uses data to support or reject a hypothesis

How can evidence from an experiment be explained in relationship to the hypothesis? as a prediction as a question as an inference as a conclusion

as a conclusion