BIOL 1107L
Scientific Investigation
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
PRE-LAB OBJECTIVES
These objectives should be completed and entered into your laboratory notebook before
coming to lab. This information is expected to be in your notebooks during notebook checks.
Introduction
1. What is the scientific method?
2. List and describe the components of the scientific method.
Ex. 1.1 A
3. What are some characteristics of good scientific questions?
4. Evaluate questions 1 - 5 on page 2. Is each of these a good or bad scientific question? Why or
why not?
Ex. 1.1B
5. What is a hypothesis?
6. What are some characteristics of a good hypothesis?
7. Can a hypothesis be proven? Why or why not?
8. Can a hypothesis be rejected? Why or why not?
9. Describe how hypotheses can be tested.
10. Do the Application section on page 4—write a hypothesis for both questions. Choose two
statements from 1-5 in the second half of the exercise and follow the directions.
Ex. 1.2
11. Define the following terms and identify these elements in the soybean experiment shown
on page 5.
a. dependent variable
b. independent variable
c. controlled variable
d. level of treatment
e. replication
f. control
12. How are the control and controlled variable different?
13. Define procedure and discuss why it is important for a scientific experiment.
14. Define prediction and write a good prediction statement (make up your own example).
15. How is the prediction statement used to reject or support the hypothesis?
16. Compare the prediction statement from the soybean experiment with the following
hypothesis: Sulfur dioxide reduces soybean reproduction.
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BIOL 1107L
Scientific Investigation
Ex. 1.3—We are doing something different from what is listed in the lab manual. Come to
class prepared to exercise.
17. Define the following for this experiment:
a. dependent variable
b. independent variable
c. controlled variable
d. control
e. level of treatment
f. replication
Ex. 1.4
18. When should data from an experiment be presented in a table?
19. When should data be presented on a graph?
20. When is it appropriate to use a line graph?
21. When is it appropriate to use a bar graph?
Note: If further graph/table practice is desired, see pp. 22-27 (optional exercise). If additional
practice is desired with the scientific method see ‘Questions for Review’ pp. 20-21 (optional
exercise).
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