formulating scientific questions quiz
A scientist conducted an investigation about the effects of diet on disease resistance in rats and made surprising observations. The mice with a genetic ear mutation seemed to show similar patterns of resistance compared to mice with normal ears. Based on this information, what will most likely occur? She will perform a second investigation on the role of certain genes in disease resistance. She will revise her hypothesis to pertain to mutations rather than diet, and update her data accordingly. She will use this information to determine that her original question was nonscientific, so she will revise it. She will determine that her hypothesis was invalid because resistance must be genetic.
She will perform a second investigation on the role of certain genes in disease resistance.
The human genome project identified the sequence of base pairs in human DNA and identified several genes. Which question would least likely lead to a scientific investigation based on these findings? Are certain humans more likely to develop genetic diseases? How can DNA be used to identify criminals? Can drugs be developed to target certain genes? Should there be laws to protect DNA information?
Should there be laws to protect DNA information?
Why is this considered a nonscientific question? "What color is a great horned owl?" The question reflects an opinion. The question addresses a gap in knowledge. The question does not require testing to answer. The question asks about phenomena that cannot be measured.
The question does not require testing to answer.
A question about a moral issue: is answered by examining facts rather than opinions. is generally considered a scientific question. cannot be answered with scientific methods. cannot be debated through discussion.
cannot be answered with scientific methods.
Which question about dinosaurs is a scientific question? Should scientists try to clone dinosaurs from DNA remains? Is the skeletal structure of a tyrannosaurus or brontosaurus more interesting? How big was the average velociraptor? Why do people believe that dinosaurs existed?
How big was the average velociraptor?
Amy was observing the growth of five kinds of flowering plants on a windowsill. She noticed that some of the flowers on some of the plants turned toward the sun during the day, but the flowers on other plants did not turn toward the sun. She asked the following question. "Why do living things sometimes change direction?" Why is Amy's question not a very good scientific question? It is too broad. It is based on her opinion. It depends on moral judgments. It leads to a hypothesis that can be tested.
It is too broad.
Which question could be tested in a scientific manner? What causes some people to be color-blind? Why should people be nice to other people? Why is the color purple better than the color red? What are the best shoes to wear when exercising?
What causes some people to be color-blind?
Is this a good scientific question? "Is the lifespan of snowshoe hares, which are white in the winter and brown in the summer, affected by levels of winter snowfall?" Yes, because the question is specific. No, because the question cannot be tested in a laboratory. Yes, because the question has already been answered. No, because the question does not lead to a hypothesis.
Yes, because the question is specific.
What is a scientific question? a question that is asked by scientists only a question that is based on observations and that is testable a question that is broad and that reinforces existing knowledge a question that has a simple answer that doesn't need to be tested
a question that is based on observations and that is testable
Most scientific questions are based on: opinions. hypotheses. observations. experimental data.
observations.
A scientist asks a question and discovers that increased temperature decreases the number of offspring that an organism produces. Then, the scientist asks a new question about the impact of climate change on the species because: the scientist's first question was not a scientific question. the scientist modified the hypothesis for the investigation. the results of the investigation led to new scientific questions. questions about the impact of temperature reflect an opinion.
the results of the investigation led to new scientific questions.