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How to Write a Testable Question
Tamara Helfer, 2012 Sequoia Science Explorations
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Sometimes scientists just like to explore…
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Exploring or making observations often makes scientists curious
about specific questions.
To answer these questions, most scientists carry out investigations.
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What is a “Testable Question?”
A testable question is one that can be
answered by designing and conducting
an experiment.
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Testable questions are always about
changing one thing to see what the
effect is on another thing.
What is a “Testable Question?”
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Sample Testable Question
Does changing the height of the ramp
affect
the speed of a car going down the ramp?
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Testable Question Formats
• Does changing _______ affect _______?
• How does changing _____ affect _____?
• If I change ______, will it affect ______?
In a scientific experiment, these two blanks have special names:
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What is a variable?
A variable is something that can CHANGE.
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Testable Questions have two parts:
• An independent variable
• A dependent variable
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What is an Independent Variable?
• The variable that will be changed by you – the scientist.
A good experiment has only one independent variable!
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What is a Dependent Variable?
• The variable that is being measured in your experiment
• The response to the change you make using the independent variable.
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Testable Question Formats
• Does changing _______ affect _______?
• How does changing _____ affect _____?
• If I change ______ will it affect ______?
independent variable
independent variable
independent variable
dependent variable
dependent variable
dependent variable
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Example: • Does changing the height of the ramp
affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?
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What is the independent variable?
• Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?
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• Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?
Independent Variable
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What is the dependent variable?
• Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?
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• Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?
Dependent Variable
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Another Testable Question
• Does changing the amount of light affect the growth rate of plants?
Identify the INDEPENDENT variable Identify the DEPENDENT variable
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Another Testable Question
• Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve?
Identify the INDEPENDENT variable Identify the DEPENDENT variable
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Review: Testable Questions
Testable Questions need 2 parts:
(1) _____________ variable
(2) _____________ variable
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Review: Testable Questions
Testable Questions need 2 parts:
(1) Independent variable
(2) Dependent variable
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Is this a Testable Question?
What makes plants grow best?
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How to Turn a General Question into a Testable Question
First, read the question carefully.
What makes plants grow best?
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Next, think of a cause and an effect related to your question.
What makes plants grow best?
In this case, the idea is that you can change
something to affect something about how a plant grows.
How to Turn a General Question into a Testable Question
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What makes plants grow best?
What are examples of things you can change?
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What makes plants grow best?
Examples: -Amount of water -Amount of light -Soil type
What are examples of things you can change?
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What makes plants grow best?
What specific effects can you look for?
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What makes plants grow best?
Examples: -Height of plant -Speed of growth
What specific effects can you look for?
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Finally, plug the cause and the effect into the format…
“What is the effect of ____ on ____?”
The cause goes in the first blank, and the effect
goes in the second blank. So a testable question looks like this: “What is the effect of soil type on plant height?”
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Controls are all the factors in your experiment that
you want to remain constant. “What is the effect of soil type on plant height?”
Controls for the plant experiment: – type of plant – growing conditions (sunlight, temperature, etc.) – amount of water – type of container
Controls
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Here’s another example... Is it Testable?
How does a paper airplane fly?
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Let’s Make the Question Testable!
• Decide what you are going to change (independent variable)
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Let’s Make the Question Testable!
• Decide what you are going to change (independent variable)
For example: • Size of the plane • Style of the plane • Type of paper
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• Decide what you are going to measure (dependent variable)
Let’s Make the Question Testable!
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• Decide what you are going to measure (dependent variable)
For example: • Distance the plane will fly • Length of time the plane stays in the
air
Let’s Make the Question Testable!
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Make the Question Testable
• Now select one independent variable and one dependent variable
• Put them together to create the testable question:
“How does the type of paper affect the distance a paper airplane flies?”
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What are the controls?
“How does the type of paper affect the distance a paper airplane flies?”
Controls: • Style of airplane • Flying conditions (wind) • How you throw the
airplane
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Final Thoughts
• Keep your experiment simple and clear
• Check out the library or our web links for ideas
• Don’t wait! Some projects take time to do.