How to Write a Testable Question

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How to Write a Testable Question
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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 have

• A responding variable
• A manipulated variable
• Controlled variables

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What is aManipulated Variable?

• The single condition that will be changed in an
  experiment

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What is aResponding Variable?

• The condition that will be measured in an
  experiment

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Controlled Variables?

• The conditions that are kept the same
  (unchangeable) in an experiment

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Testable Question 1

• Does changing the height of the ramp affect the
  speed of the car going down the ramp?

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Testable Question 1
Manipulated Variable

• Does changing the ____________ affect the
  ______________ going down the ramp?

Responding Variable
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Testable Question 1

• CONTROLLED VARIABLES
• Same car
• Same ramp surface
• Surface the car roll onto

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Testable Question 2

• Does changing the amount of light affect the
  growth rate of plants?

Underline the MANIPULATED variable Box in the
RESPONDING variable
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Testable Question 2

• List the CONTROLLED variables
• _______________________
• _______________________
• _______________________
• _______________________

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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
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Testable Question 3

• List the CONTROLLED variables
• _______________________
• _______________________
• _______________________
• _______________________

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Testable or Not Testable Review

• Testable Questions need 2 parts
• _____________ variable
• _____________ variable

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Testable Question Formats

• Does changing _______ affect _______?
• How does changing _____ affect _____?
• If I change ______ will it affect ______?
• What is the effect of ______ on _______?

manipulated variable
responding variable
manipulated variable
responding variable
manipulated variable
responding variable
responding variable
manipulated variable
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How to Turn aNon-Testable Questioninto a
Testable Question

• Step 1 Read the question carefully.
• Which brand of shoe makes you run faster Nike or
  New Balance?

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How to Turn aNon-Testable Questioninto 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.

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How to Turn aNon-Testable Questioninto 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?

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Teacher Led 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?

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Teacher Led Problem 2

• Non-Testable
• Is achievement in school higher when students are
  tested frequently?
• Testable
• What is the effect of testing on student
  achievement?

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Is it Testable?Why or Why not?

• How does a paper airplane fly?
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________

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Lets Make the Question TESTABLE!

• Decide what you are going to measure (responding
  variable)
• For example
• Distance the plane will fly
• Length of time the plane stays in the air

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Make the Question Testable

• Now select one manipulated variable and one
  responding variable
• Put them together to create the testable question

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Make the Question Testable

• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________

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Make it Testable!

• Will a rocket go higher?
• Think about variables that could be manipulated
• ____________________________
• ____________________________
• ____________________________

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Will a rocket go higher?

• Will a rocket go higher?Now what can be measured
  (responding variable)
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________

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Will a rocket go higher?

• Write your testable question and label the
  manipulated and responding variables
• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________

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Make it Testable!

• Will dogs wag their tails?
• Think about variables that could be manipulated
• ____________________________
• ____________________________
• ____________________________

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Will dogs wag their tails?

• Now what can be measured (responding variable)
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________

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Will dogs wag their tails?

• Write your testable question and label the
  manipulated and responding variables
• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________

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Make it Testable?

• Does laundry detergent make dirty white clothes
  clean?
• Think about variables that could be manipulated
• _______________________________
• ________________________________
• ________________________________

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Does laundry detergent make dirty white clothes
clean?

• Now what can be measured (responding variable)
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________

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Does laundry detergent make dirty white clothes
clean?

• Write your testable question and label the
  manipulated and responding variables
• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________

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Make it Testable?

• Do batteries make flashlights light up?
• Think about variables that could be manipulated
• ________________________________
• ________________________________
• ________________________________

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Do batteries make flashlights light up?

• Now what can be measured (responding variable)
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________

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Do batteries make flashlights light up?

• Write your testable question and label the
  manipulated and responding variables
• __________________________________________________
  __________________________________