Unit 1 Lesson 1 &2

Which of the following is an example of a scientific claim?

• Numbers have symbolic meaning beyond their mathematical sense.

• According to data collected over the past hundred years, the global temperature of Earth is rising.

• One can determine the exact location of water underground by feeling the aura of the water with a forked stick. .

• The future can be predicted by studying the position of the planets relative to the stars at a given moment

The sixth-grader in this figure is displaying a trait that scientists must use in their work. Which trait does this figure best represent?

• curiosity

• objectivity

• skepticism

• logical reasoning

What limits what scientists can study in their work?

• They can study only the events that take place on Earth.

• They can study only phenomena that they can observe or model. .

• They can investigate only questions that they were the first to ask.

• They can investigate only the areas of science in which they are experts

Which of the following is a way pseudoscience differs from science?

• Pseudoscience does not follow the scientific method.

• Pseudoscience is limited to phenomena people can observe.

• Pseudoscience systematically studies natural events and conditions.

• Pseudoscience uses a large body of empirical evidence to make explanations.

What is the term for the cumulative body of observations on which scientific explanations are based?

• peer review

• pseudoscience

• logical reasoning

• empirical evidence

A researcher is trying to find information on the effects of computers on education. What source has the least validity?

• a paper in a professional education journal written by a scientist

• a story in a magazine written by a technology teacher with 20 years of experience

• a newspaper article by a journalist who cites the work of an educational researcher

• an article on the Internet by a scientist who did one study and used a small sample size

Scientific investigations involve many steps and processes. Which characteristics define a laboratory experiment?

• hypothesis, models, and calculations

• test variables, data, and uncontrolled conditions

• data, conclusions, and unregulated environment

• independent and dependent variables, data, and controlled conditions

Why might a scientist decide to do a laboratory experiment instead of fieldwork?

• to include a larger number of variables

• to make observations under natural conditions

• to make observations in a controlled environment

• to have a smaller sample size to observe and experiment on

Repetition is an important element of a good scientific investigation. Which data table has places to record information for repeated trials?

• 
• 
• 
• 

New experimental data does not support a currently accepted hypothesis. Which course of action should the researcher take?

• Do the experiment until the results support the hypothesis.

• Change the data to fit the hypothesis.

• Form a new hypothesis and plan a new experiment.

• Change the procedure to obtain the desired outcome.