Scientific Method Test - Ecology 22-23

Scenario:

A student investigated the effect of aged-grass compost (fertilizer made from decaying plant material) on the growth of bean plants.  She thought that the compost would provide extra nutrients and make plants grow faster.  Thirty bean seeds were divided into three groups and planted in different flats (boxes with individual pots).  All seeds germinated after 12 days and were allowed to grow for five days.  The flats were each given the same amount of water and light.  Flat A was then fertilized with 3-month-old compost; Flat B was given 6-month-old compost; and Flat C was given no compost.  At the end of 14 days the height of each plant was measured in centimeters.

Based on the data provided from the scenario, what type of graph would you construct if you were graphing and table above.

• pie graph

• bar graph

• line graph

• scatter plot graph

Which of the following would best describe what an Independent Variable is?

• Part of the experiment that does not receive what you change

• Part of the experiment that you change (manipulate)

• The results from the experiment that you measure

• The parts of the experiment that do not change for each item tested.

Which of the following would best describe what Constant is?

• Part of the experiment that does not receive what you change

• Part of the experiment that you change (manipulate)

• The results from the experiment that you measure

• The parts of the experiment that do not change for each item tested.

Which of the following would best describe what a Dependent Variable is?

• Part of the experiment that does not receive what you change

• Part of the experiment that you change (manipulate)

• The results from the experiment that you measure

• The parts of the experiment that do not change for each item tested.

Which of the following would best describe what a Control is?

• Part of the experiment that does not receive what you change

• Part of the experiment that you change (manipulate)

• The results from the experiment that you measure

• The parts of the experiment that do not change for each item tested.

Which of the following would be the best title for this experiment?

• Beans

• The effects of flat growth

• The effects of aged-grass compost on bean plant growth

• Bean Scenario

Scenario:

A student investigated the effect of aged-grass compost (fertilizer made from decaying plant material) on the growth of bean plants.  She thought that the compost would provide extra nutrients and make plants grow faster.  Thirty bean seeds were divided into three groups and planted in different flats (boxes with individual pots).  All seeds germinated after 12 days and were allowed to grow for five days.  The flats were each given the same amount of water and light.  Flat A was then fertilized with 3-month-old compost; Flat B was given 6-month-old compost; and Flat C was given no compost.  At the end of 14 days the height of each plant was measured in centimeters.

Which of the following would be a constant for this experiment?

• Compost Age

• Flats

• Individual Plants

• Amount of Water

The x axis is located on the

• bottom (horizontal) of the graph

• side (vertical) of the graph

• top of the graph

• x axis in not important to worry about

Even intervals mean

• Random labeling of numbers (ex. 1, 4, 9, 20, 25) or items on the graph

• Numbers or items (ex. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) are evenly spaced

• All the plotted dots are connected by a line

Collected data that is measured is called

• Binary Data

• Quantitative Data

• Qualitative Data

• Constant Data