Place this worksheet on page 19 of your notebook.
Variables Practice: Independent and Dependent
For each statement below, underline the independent variable and circle the dependent variable.
1. Students watched a cartoon and then rated how funny they thought the cartoon was.
2. One group of students studied with the TV on. Another group of students studied in silence. Students were then given a quiz to check for understanding.
3. Some students believe that if they drink a glass of milk before bed, it will make them sleep longer.
Practice: Experimental and Control Groups
For each statement below, underline the experimental group and circle the control group.
1. A student wants to test if giving dogs a toy to play with makes their tail wag more. He gives dog toys to one group, while another group of dogs does not get any toys. He counts the number of times each dog wags its tail.
2. Mr. Bullis wants to know if he gives teachers candy, it will make them smile more. He gives half the teachers candy and the other half get nothing. He then records the number of times the teachers smiled.
3. A scientist thinks that ducks swim faster when they are in cold water. He tests two groups of ducks, one in cold water and one in room temperature water. He records how fast they swim.
4. Some teachers think that students learn best in rooms with carpet. They teach the same lesson, but one class is in a carpeted room and the other is not. They give a test and compare the results.
Practice: Observation or Inference
For each statement decide if it is an observation or inference. Circle your answer.
1. The container is filled to the 350 mL mark with water. Observation Inference
2. The sun rose at 6:54 am. Observation Inference
3. The caterpillar did not eat the moth because it is not a carnivore. Observation Inference
4. Sound travels faster through the desk than through the air. Observation Inference
5. When the power is turned on, the game lights up an plays a song. Observation Inference
6. The plant on the left is growing more because it has been receiving more water. Observation Inference
Practice: Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observations
Place an “X” in the blank beside the observations that are Quantitative.
______1. The gummy worm lengthened by 2 centimeters.
______2. When aluminum foil was placed in the blue chemical, the foil turned reddish brown.
______3. The patient complained of aches and pains.
______4. The balloon increased in size from 10 cm to 14 cm.
______5. The temperature of the classroom was 210C.
______6. The leaves on the second plant were green, while the leaves on the first plant were turning brown.
______7. The fingerprint examiner matched 12 points of comparison.
______8. Transitional metals form compounds that are colored.