Asking Testable Scientific
Questions
Questions can be divided into two categories: Causal and
Existence. Scientists ask causal questions when trying to understand the world.
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Causal Questions are
Testable. |
Existence Questions (Not
great in science…) |
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Testable questions begin with: How, What, If, Does and I Wonder.
These questions can be addressed through scientific experiments.
Scientifically testable questions are centered on objects and phenomena in
the natural world. In an experiment, one variable is changed and a second
variable is measured in response.
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Existence questions usually begin with “Why” and they generally require
recall of factual information.
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Testable Questions… v
ask about objects,
organisms, and events in the natural world. v
can be answered through
investigations that involve experiments, observations, or surveys. v
are answered by
collecting and analyzing evidence that is measurable. v
relate to scientific
ideas rather than personal preference or moral values. v
do not relate to the
supernatural or to nonmeasurable phenomena. Keep in mind that true cause and effect is very
difficult to prove. In fact, scientists often employ statistical methods to show
cause and effect. |
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