Transcript How to Write a Testable Question

Testable Research
Questions
What is a
“Testable Question?”
A testable question is one that can be
answered by designing and conducting
an experiment.
A Testable Research
Question
• Ask about objects, organisms, and events in the
natural world.
• Connect to scientific concepts rather than to
opinions, morals, feelings, or personal beliefs.
• Can be answered or investigated through
experiments, surveys or observations.
• Lead to gathering evidence and using data to
explain how the natural world works
• Do NOT relate to the supernatural or to nonmeasurable phenomena
• MUST Have a IV, DV and a Control
Testable Questions have
• A responding variable
(Dependent)
• A manipulated variable
(Independent)
• Controlled variables
What is a
Manipulated Variable?
• The single condition that
will be changed in an
experiment
What is a
Responding Variable?
• The condition that will be
measured in an experiment
Controlled Variables?
• The conditions that are
kept the same
(unchangeable) in an
experiment
Testable Question #1
• Does changing the height of the
ramp affect the speed of the
car going down the ramp?
Testable Question #1
Manipulated
Variable
• Does changing the ____________
affect the ______________ going
down the ramp?
Responding
Variable
Testable Question #2
• Does changing the amount
of light affect the growth
rate of plants?
Underline the MANIPULATED variable
Box in the RESPONDING variable
Testable Question #3
• Does the temperature of
water affect the time it
takes a sugar cube to
dissolve?
Underline the MANIPULATED variable
Box in the RESPONDING variable
Testable or Not Testable
Review
• Testable Questions need 2 parts
– Independent variable
– Dependent variable
Testable Question Formats
manipulated
variable
responding
variable
• Does changing _______ affect _______?
manipulated
variable
responding
variable
• How does changing _____ affect _____?
manipulated
variable
responding
variable
• If I change ______ will it affect ______?
manipulated
variable
responding
variable
• What effect does ______ have _______?
How to Turn a
Non-Testable Question
into a Testable Question
Step 1: Read the question carefully.
Which brand of shoe makes you run
faster Nike or New Balance?
How to Turn a
Non-Testable Question
into a Testable Question
Step 2: Determine the cause and the effect
in the question.
Which brand of shoe makes you run faster
Nike or New Balance?
In this case, the idea is that the brand of
shoe causes your speed to change.
So, the shoe brand is the cause, the speed
that you run is the effect.
How to Turn a
Non-Testable Question
into a Testable Question
Step 3: 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 the correct testable question looks like…
“What is the effect of shoe brand on running
speed?”
Sample Problem 1
Non-Testable:
Does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
cause the atmosphere to warm?
Testable:
What is the effect of carbon dioxide
on atmosphere temperature?
Sample Problem 2
Non-Testable:
Is achievement in school higher when
students are tested frequently?
Testable:
What is the effect of testing on
student achievement?