Research Methods Pre/Post Assessment

What is the primary purpose of scientific inquiry?

• To memorize science facts

• To explore questions and seek evidence-based answers

• To create complicated theories

• To repeat what scientists have done before

What is an important benefit of giving students autonomy in research?

• It guarantees perfect results

• It reduces the need for background research

• It encourages curiosity and ownership of learning

• It limits creativity and exploration

Which of the following is the best example of a strong hypothesis?

• I think plants are cool.

• If plants receive more sunlight, then they will grow taller.

• Water is good for plants.

• Plants might grow somehow.

What is the purpose of a control variable in an experiment?

• To confuse the results

• To test something new

• To keep conditions constant for comparison

• To change the outcome

What is an independent variable?

• The result you measure

• The variable that stays the same

• The variable you change on purpose

• The number of repeated trials

What is a dependent variable?

• The variable that you measure

• The part of the experiment that you change

• A random factor

• The background research

What does it mean that science is iterative?

• It never makes mistakes

• It is based on repeating and improving investigations

• It is always done by professionals

• It does not need to be revised

Why is scientific communication important?

• To confuse non-scientists

• To share ideas, methods, and findings clearly

• To brag about results

• To reduce collaboration

Why should procedures in a lab report be detailed and replicable?

• So others can copy without understanding

• So others can repeat the experiment accurately

• So the student can remember what they did

• So the paper looks longer

Which of the following best shows the purpose of data analysis?

• Ignoring outliers to get a clean result

• Guessing the outcome based on opinion

• Interpreting results to support or reject a hypothesis

• Writing more conclusions