Scientific Method Quiz

Last updated · -23 min play time

Do you know how science is done? Find out by taking this quiz.


Eugene has a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and taught both general biology and nutrition. Several of his publications have appeared in peer-reviewed journals. He revises chapters, produces, edits, and proofreads materials for college textbooks.

Most importantly he loves learning about biology. Learning and making connections among the disparate pieces of information he finds is one of his passions. Another passion is sharing and discussing this information with others.

Scientific Method Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 4.5K Plays · 2 Comments

Question 1

Science is based on _____.

  • A
    faith
  • B
    evidence
  • C
    authority
  • D
    force

Question 2

How does a hypothesis differ from a theory?

  • A
    A theory is not falsifiable; a hypothesis is falsifiable.
  • B
    A theory and a hypothesis are different terms for the same thing.
  • C
    A theory is a fact; a hypothesis is a comprehensive explanation.
  • D
    A theory is a comprehensive explanation of a phenomenon; a hypothesis is a generalized statement that can be used to generate testable predictions.

Question 3

Which of these is a prediction?

  • A
    My car is too old to function properly.
  • B
    What is wrong with my car?
  • C
    My car's battery is dead.
  • D
    If my car does not start and I recharge the battery then my car will start.

Question 4

Why does good experimental design include a control group?

  • A
    A control group can be used to determine how an experimental animal will respond to a particular environmental factor.
  • B
    A control group minimizes the role of chance in an experiment.
  • C
    A control group minimizes the influence of sampling error.
  • D
    A control group provides something to which to compare to the treatment group.

Question 5

To be scientifically valid, a hypothesis must be _____.

  • A
    phrased as a question
  • B
    based on faith
  • C
    testable and falsifiable
  • D
    repeatable

Question 6

Four groups of mice consume different amounts of sweetener in their food. The control group is the one that receives _____.

  • A
    20 mg/day of sweetener
  • B
    no sweetener
  • C
    milk instead of water
  • D
    10 mg/day of sweetener

Question 7

Which of the following is a type of sampling error?

  • A
    Using sulfuric acid when the experimental protocol requires the use of acetic acid.
  • B
    Taking a random sample.
  • C
    Failing to include a control group when conducting an experiment.
  • D
    Utilizing only a very few experimental subjects.

Question 8

What step occurs after a theory has been developed?

  • A
    Nothing, the theory is a proven fact.
  • B
    Constant retesting of the theory.
  • C
    Acceptance of the theory as unchangeable.
  • D
    The awarding of a Nobel prize to the developers of the theory.

Question 9

In science, predictions may be tested by _____.

  • A
    observation, only
  • B
    experimentation, only
  • C
    deferring to authority
  • D
    observation or experimentation

Question 10

When conducting an experiment, which of the following would be considered an error of technique?

  • A
    Testing more than one variable at a time.
  • B
    Adding hydrochloric acid when the experimental protocol called for adding water.
  • C
    Having a control.
  • D
    Having a large sample size.

Question 11

To be scientifically valid, the results of an experiment must be _____.

  • A
    falsifiable, only
  • B
    repeatable
  • C
    testable, only
  • D
    testable and falsifiable

Question 12

If a prediction is falsified, then _____.

  • A
    the prediction should be tested by observation
  • B
    a new prediction can be made and tested
  • C
    the experiment must have been too complex
  • D
    the experiment must have had too large a sample size

Question 13

Which of the following is the first step in scientific inquiry?

  • A
    Pose a question.
  • B
    Construct a theory.
  • C
    Develop a prediction.
  • D
    Construct a hypothesis.

Question 14

When following the scientific method, data analsysis follows _____.

  • A
    development of a hypothesis
  • B
    collecting data obtained from the experiment
  • C
    development of a prediction
  • D
    development of a hypothesis

Question 15

Which of the following unites all of biology into a single comprehensive science?

  • A
    Cell Theory
  • B
    Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
  • C
    Endosymbiotic Theory
  • D
    Evolution

Question 16

The results of an experiment can be used to _____.

  • A
    generate new hypotheses
  • B
    support an untestable hypothesis
  • C
    prove a hypothesis
  • D
    prove a theory

Question 17

It is dark in your room and you want to see where things are so you flip the light switch. What have you just done?

  • A
    Shown your friend how messy your room is.
  • B
    Applied the scientific method to solving a problem
  • C
    Wasted electricity
  • D
    Proven the flipping a light switch will turn on a light.

Question 18

If in general blood pressure increases with age, then blood pressure is the _____ variable and age is the _____ variable.

  • A
    independent; dependent
  • B
    independent; independent
  • C
    dependent; dependent
  • D
    dependent; independent

Question 19

The step of the scientific method that follows the posing of a questions is _____.

  • A
    researching what others have learned
  • B
    conducting an experiment
  • C
    constructing a theory
  • D
    developing a hypothesis

Question 20

Which of the following is outside the realm of science?

  • A
    Belief
  • B
    Biology
  • C
    Physics
  • D
    Astonomy

Comments (2)

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@amelian i agree ughh

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its stupid and it has nothing to do what I did in my class

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