CTJan27 Online JMSS Exam Prep - Scientific Non-Scientific Questions, Hypotheses and Variables

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CTJan27 Online JMSS Exam Prep - Scientific Non-Scientific Questions, Hypotheses and Variables

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Multiple Choice

Which characteristic is essential for a question to be classified as scientific?
It must reference a supernatural or unobservable concept.
It must be testable and measurable through observation or experimentation.
It must ask about a topic related to human history.
It must be based solely on philosophical theories.
Why is the question, "Is stealing always morally wrong?" classified as non-scientific?
It requires observation of the natural world.
It establishes a clear relationship between two variables.
It is too easy to answer definitively.
It deals primarily with ethical judgments and morality.
A scientific question typically aims to establish a measurable relationship between which two components?
Independent (manipulated) and dependent (measured) variables.
Historical events and future predictions.
Spiritual awareness and human consciousness.
Personal opinion and general belief.
What is the primary function of a scientific hypothesis?
To summarize the findings after an experiment is complete.
To declare a widely accepted fact or law of nature.
To ask the initial question that guides the research.
To provide a specific, testable prediction based on the scientific question.
Which of the following statements represents a valid scientific question?
Is the color blue inherently superior to the color red?
Do all animals have souls that continue after death?
How does the intensity of light affect the growth rate of corn seedlings?
What is the best political system for a democracy?
The question, "Does the existence of guardian angels protect travelers?" is non-scientific primarily because it:
Relies on untestable, supernatural concepts.
Is already widely accepted as true.
Can be answered using historical data.
Requires complex mathematical calculations.
Which phrasing is an example of a properly formulated scientific hypothesis?
Does increasing temperature speed up chemical reactions?
Temperature has an effect on reaction speed.
If the temperature of the liquid is increased, then the chemical reaction rate will increase.
Chemical reactions should happen faster if they are heated up.
Scientific inquiry is fundamentally limited to studying phenomena that occur within the scope of the:
Philosophical theories of right and wrong.
Subjective interpretation of human thought.
Beliefs defined by cultural traditions.
Natural world that can be observed and measured.
Why is the statement, "Maybe if we add more salt, the water will boil faster," considered a poor scientific hypothesis?
It asks a question instead of making a prediction.
It is too easy to disprove.
It involves natural variables.
It is vague and does not state a precise, testable prediction.
To be considered scientific, a question must contain variables that are:
Agreed upon by the majority of people.
Hidden from all forms of measurement.
Observable and quantifiable (measurable).
Based on ancient wisdom or texts.
Which question falls into the non-scientific category of subjective opinion?
Which flavor of ice cream tastes the most delicious?
Does consuming caffeine change a person's heart rate?
Do different tire pressures affect vehicle gas mileage?
How does humidity influence metal corrosion?
How does a scientific hypothesis relate to the initial scientific question?
The hypothesis must contradict the question entirely.
The hypothesis is a generalized statement unrelated to the question.
The hypothesis is a focused, predictive statement derived directly from the question.
The hypothesis is the final, confirmed answer to the question.
For a hypothesis to be truly testable, what must be possible during the experimentation phase?
It must be possible to collect data that could potentially show the prediction is false.
The experiment must prove the hypothesis is correct every time.
The experiment must be conducted without any variables changing.
The experiment must be extremely cheap and simple to execute.
Which factor makes the question, "Should society invest more resources into combating poverty than space travel?" non-scientific?
It involves mathematical calculations.
It addresses verifiable natural resources.
It requires judgments about societal values and policy (ethics).
It links two observable outcomes.
Which structural component is characteristic of a well-formed scientific question but not a hypothesis?
It relates two variables to each other.
It must be about the natural world.
It is phrased to seek information (ends with a question mark).
It involves manipulating a variable.
The transition from a broad scientific question to a specific hypothesis involves:
Eliminating all variables that cannot be controlled.
Replacing all variables with philosophical concepts.
Focusing the inquiry into a precise, predictable relationship between variables.
Finding a generalized statement of truth.
Consider this hypothesis: "If the amount of sunlight is reduced, then the production of oxygen by plants will decrease." What quality makes this a good scientific hypothesis?
It is a general statement about plants.
It establishes a clear, causal link between two measurable variables.
It addresses a philosophical problem.
It is already a known scientific law.
A student asks, "Are people fundamentally good or fundamentally evil?" Why is this question outside the scope of science?
It concerns the natural physical processes of the body.
It cannot be answered using statistical analysis.
It relies on subjective definition and moral philosophy rather than empirical measurement.
It involves historical data that is too vast to analyze.
What element must be present in a scientific question to ensure it is focused on empirical evidence?
A reference to divine intervention or luck.
An appeal to authority or popular consensus.
The ability to collect measurable data that supports or refutes the outcome.
A link to a controversial or emotional topic.
Which statement correctly identifies the relationship between a scientific question and a non-scientific question?
Scientific questions require subjective interpretation, while non-scientific questions require evidence.
Non-scientific questions always deal with history, while scientific questions deal with the future.
Both types of questions are testable, but only scientific questions are universally accepted.
Scientific questions are based on testable variables in the natural world, while non-scientific questions are based on belief, ethics, or opinion.
In a scientific experiment, the variable that the scientist intentionally changes or manipulates is known as the:
Dependent variable
Controlled variable
Independent variable
Extraneous variable
Which variable in an experiment is the measurable outcome or effect that is observed to change in response to the manipulation of the independent variable?
Confounding variable
Standardized variable
Dependent variable
Independent variable
Variables that are kept consistent or unchanged throughout the entire experiment to ensure that only the independent variable affects the dependent variable are called:
Operational variables
Outcome variables
Hypothesis variables
Controlled variables
A scientist studies if the amount of sunlight affects how quickly sunflowers grow. In this study, the "speed of growth" is which type of variable?
Independent variable
Controlled variable
Abstract variable
Dependent variable
What is the primary purpose of creating an operational definition for a variable in a scientific experiment?
To make the hypothesis sound more complex.
To explain the history of the concept being studied.
To specify exactly how the variable will be measured or manipulated.
To summarize the findings in the conclusion.
A definition is considered 'operational' only if it specifies the necessary steps or tools needed to:
Make the concept observable and measurable.
Discuss potential errors.
Analyze the collected data statistically.
Prove the hypothesis true.
Why is repeatability crucial to the scientific process, and how do operational definitions support it?
They guarantee the results will be positive.
They simplify the abstract concepts being tested.
They help the scientist remember what they studied.
They reduce ambiguity, allowing other scientists to replicate the experiment precisely.
If the abstract concept being studied is "aggressiveness," which of the following is the best operational definition?
Whether the person feels aggressive internally.
The number of times a person pushes a button labeled "attack" in a 15-minute game simulation.
The person’s inherent tendency toward conflict.
How angry a person looks when they talk.
A researcher wants to study if "cold temperatures" affect reaction time. Which option is the most precise operational definition for the independent variable, "cold temperatures"?
Placing subjects in a climate-controlled room set precisely to 10°C for 30 minutes.
Placing the participants in a room that feels chilly.
Temperatures between 0°C and 10°C.
Temperatures below what is comfortable.
Operationalizing the Independent Variable (I.V.) focuses on transforming the variable into:
A theoretical prediction.
Quantifiable, repeatable levels of manipulation.
A mathematical equation.
A statement of correlation.
An experiment tests how different types of music affect students' test scores. If the Independent Variable is "Type of Music," which choice represents a correctly operationalized I.V.?
Music that students reported liking.
Loud music versus quiet music.
Any genre of music played in the background.
Three conditions: 1) Silence, 2) 70 dB Classical Music, and 3) 70 dB Heavy Metal Music.
When operationalizing the independent variable, the scientist must clearly specify the exact:
Background knowledge required for the study.
Levels, quantities, or conditions being applied or manipulated.
Conclusion drawn from the results.
Type of data analysis used.
In an experiment testing the effect of exercise intensity on heart rate, the conceptual independent variable is "Exercise Intensity." How is this variable most clearly operationalized?
The subject's perceived effort on a scale of 1 to 10.
The subject feels like they are running fast.
Running on a treadmill set to 12 km/h for 10 minutes.
The duration of the exercise session.
Operationalizing the Dependent Variable (D.V.) requires transforming the observed outcome into:
A broad descriptive summary.
The theoretical meaning of the outcome.
Concrete, objective, and measurable data points.
A set of future predictions.
If a researcher is studying the effect of water salinity on plant growth (D.V.), the best operational definition for "plant growth" would be:
Asking a subject to rate the plant's appearance on a scale of 1 to 5.
The total mass of the plant in grams after drying.
The height change of the main stem measured in centimeters using a ruler after 7 days.
Observing if the plant looks tall and healthy after two weeks.
A student wants to measure how different energy drinks affect a student's "alertness" (D.V.). Which operational definition is most scientifically valid?
The number of correct responses the student provides in a 5-minute cognitive reaction test.
The time it takes for the student to finish their test.
The average number of yawns observed during the class period.
The student's subjective feeling of wakefulness.
Which characteristic is essential for a dependent variable's operational definition to be useful in data collection?
It must be easy for the researcher to calculate.
It must describe a change that is likely to happen.
It must perfectly align with the hypothesis.
It must specify a quantifiable unit of measurement.
When operationalizing a Controlled Variable (C.V.), the definition must specify:
The exact value or condition that will be maintained consistently across all groups.
The specific time the experiment will be concluded.
The necessary manipulation to show an effect.
How the variable will be altered in the control group.
In an experiment testing the effect of fertilizer type on bean plant height, the controlled variable "Water Amount" must be operationally defined. Which definition is appropriate?
The plants are watered frequently.
Each plant receives exactly 100 mL of distilled water every morning at 8:00 AM.
Watered when the researcher remembers to do it.
The plants are given enough water to keep the soil moist.
An experiment investigates how viewing time of a cartoon (I.V.) affects children's memory (D.V.). Which choice correctly operationalizes *both* the I.V. and the D.V.?
I.V.: Short time vs. long time; D.V.: How well the kids remember the plot.
I.V.: Child watches the cartoon for exactly 10 minutes or 30 minutes; D.V.: Score on a 15-question multiple-choice quiz about cartoon details.
I.V.: The child watches the cartoon for 5 minutes; D.V.: The child's overall mood afterward.
I.V.: Whether the child likes the cartoon; D.V.: The number of details recalled.
Why are precise, measurable definitions necessary for independent and dependent variables in a scientific experiment?
They allow the researcher to hypothesize about the results later.
They help determine the cost of the experiment.
They ensure the experiment can be repeated exactly by other scientists.
They ensure the results sound more technical and impressive.
Which statement best describes the purpose of an operational definition in scientific inquiry?
It explains why the variable was chosen for the experiment.
It specifies exactly how a variable is measured, manipulated, or observed.
It is a general statement about what the variable conceptually represents.
It defines a variable based only on historical scientific consensus.
A scientist is testing if different amounts of fertilizer affect the height of tomato plants. If the abstract independent variable is "Amount of Fertilizer," which choice represents a correctly operationalized independent variable?
The plants' ability to grow tall and healthy.
5g, 10g, and 15g of Miracle-Gro added to the soil every Monday.
The type of soil used in the pots.
The overall happiness of the plants (high, medium, low).
In an experiment testing how the amount of sleep affects memory, the abstract dependent variable is "Memory Performance." Which choice provides the best operational definition for this dependent variable?
The emotional reaction of the participants to the test.
How tired the participants feel the next morning.
The percentage of words correctly recalled on a standardized 20-word list.
The time it takes to complete a complex puzzle.
Which of the following examples is NOT an operational definition because it cannot be directly measured or manipulated?
Defining temperature by the reading on a standardized thermometer.
Determining concentration by the number of moles per liter.
Defining "intelligence" as how smart a person feels.
Measuring time using a stopwatch calibrated to milliseconds.
In the experiment comparing fertilizer amounts on tomato plant height, the amount of sunlight is a controlled variable. How should the scientist operationally define this controlled variable to ensure consistency?
Keep the plants in a sunny room.
Ensure the plants receive the perfect amount of light.
Placing all plants 50 cm away from a 100-watt full-spectrum LED light source for 14 hours daily.
Provide different light exposure to see which works best.
An investigation studies if listening to classical music while studying improves test scores. Students listen to 0 hours, 30 minutes, or 60 minutes of Mozart during a 1-hour study session. Their test score is measured as the percentage grade on a subsequent math quiz. What is the operational definition of the Independent Variable (I.V.)?
The time duration of classical music exposure (0 hours, 30 minutes, or 60 minutes) during the study session.
Whether or not the students feel relaxed while studying.
The percentage grade achieved on the math quiz.
The type of music played (Mozart).

Easy Questions

Operationalizing a variable means defining it so it becomes [blank][blank]_.
Operationalizing the Independent Variable describes how the scientist will [blank][blank]_ it.
What specific kind of data point results from operationalizing the Dependent Variable?
Operational definitions must include specific steps or [blank][blank]_ to ensure repeatability.
The operational definition for a Controlled Variable explains how it will be kept [blank][blank]_.

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CTJan27 Online JMSS Exam Prep - Scientific Non-Scientific Questions, Hypotheses and Variables

Multiple Choice

Easy Questions