The independent variable is the amount of testing. The dependent variable is student achievement.

1. Identifying a Problem/
Questions

2. Identifying a Problem/
Questions
• Your first step is to determine a
problem or question so that you know
what you want to test.
• What do you want to know or explain?
– Use observations you have made to write
a question that addresses the problem or
topic you want to investigate.

3. The following is the criteria
for a good testable question:

4. The following is the criteria
for a good testable question:
• The question does not begin with "why"

5. The following is the criteria
for a good testable question:
• The question does not begin with "why"
• usually begins with "how", "what if" or "does“

6. The following is the criteria
for a good testable question:
• The question does not begin with "why"
• usually begins with "how", "what if" or "does“
• centers on objects, organisms and events in
the natural world

7. The following is the criteria
for a good testable question:
• The question does not begin with "why"
• usually begins with "how", "what if" or "does“
• centers on objects, organisms and events in
the natural world
• connects to scientific concepts rather than
opinions, feelings, or beliefs

8. The following is the criteria
for a good testable question:
• The question does not begin with "why"
• usually begins with "how", "what if" or "does“
• centers on objects, organisms and events in
the natural world
• connects to scientific concepts rather than
opinions, feelings, or beliefs
• lends itself to a testable hypothesis

9. The following is the criteria
for a good testable question:
• The question does not begin with "why"
• usually begins with "how", "what if" or "does“
• centers on objects, organisms and events in
the natural world
• connects to scientific concepts rather than
opinions, feelings, or beliefs
• lends itself to a testable hypothesis
• can be answered through investigations that
involve experiments, observations, or
surveys

10. The following is the criteria
for a good testable question:
• The question does not begin with "why"
• usually begins with "how", "what if" or "does“
• centers on objects, organisms and events in
the natural world
• connects to scientific concepts rather than
opinions, feelings, or beliefs
• lends itself to a testable hypothesis
• can be answered through investigations that
involve experiments, observations, or
surveys
• are answered by collecting and analyzing

11. How to Write
a
Testable
Question

12. What is a “testable question?”

13. What is a “testable question?”
• A testable question is one that can
be

14. What is a “testable question?”
• A testable question is one that can
be
answered by designing and conducting

15. What is a “testable question?”
• A testable question is one that can
be
answered by designing and conducting
an experiment.

16. How do you write a testable
question?
• Testable questions always have the
same format…
• How does ___Independent
Variable____
affect __Dependent
Variable___?
• FYI… When determining whether a
question is testable always identify the
independent and dependent variables
first.

17. Independent vs. Dependent
Dependent
Independent Variable
Variable
• the variable that is • is the response
varied or that is measured
manipulated by the
researcher • Answers the
• answers the question “What do I
question "What do I observe?”
change?"

18. How to Turn a Non-Testable
Question into a Testable

19. How to Turn a Non-Testable
Question into a Testable
• Step 1: Read the question carefully.

20. How to Turn a Non-Testable
Question into a Testable
• Step 1: Read the question carefully.

21. How to Turn a Non-Testable
Question into a Testable
• Step 1: Read the question carefully.
• Which brand of shoe makes you run
faster Nike or New Balance?
• Put your heads together and discuss…
– What‛s the independent variable?
– What‛s the dependent variable?

22. Turning a Non-Testable
Question into a Testable
• Step 2: Determine the independent
and the dependent variable in the
question.
• Question: Which brand of shoe makes
you run faster Nike or New Balance?
• – Independent variable (What‛s being
changed
on purpose?): brand of shoe
• – Dependent variable (What‛s being
measured?): how fast you run

24. Step 3: Plug the variables into the
‘How does ____ affect ____?’
format…

25. Step 3: Plug the variables into the
‘How does ____ affect ____?’
format…
How does independent variable

26. Step 3: Plug the variables into the
‘How does ____ affect ____?’
format…
How does independent variable
affect dependent variable?

27. Step 3: Plug the variables into the
‘How does ____ affect ____?’
format…
How does independent variable
affect dependent variable?
How does the brand of running
shoe affect how fast you run?

28. Practice Problem 1

29. Practice Problem 1
• Non-Testable question:

30. Practice Problem 1
• Non-Testable question:

31. Practice Problem 1
• Non-Testable question:
• Does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
cause the atmosphere to warm?

32. Practice Problem 1
• Non-Testable question:
• Does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
cause the atmosphere to warm?

33. Practice Problem 1
• Non-Testable question:
• Does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
cause the atmosphere to warm?
– Independent variable: Carbon dioxide

34. Practice Problem 1
• Non-Testable question:
• Does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
cause the atmosphere to warm?
– Independent variable: Carbon dioxide
– Dependent variable: Atmospheric
temperature

35. Practice Problem 1
• Non-Testable question:
• Does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
cause the atmosphere to warm?
– Independent variable: Carbon dioxide
– Dependent variable: Atmospheric
temperature

36. Practice Problem 1
• Non-Testable question:
• Does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
cause the atmosphere to warm?
– Independent variable: Carbon dioxide
– Dependent variable: Atmospheric
temperature
Now write the above question in a

37. Practice Problem 1 Answer
• Non-Testable:
Does carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere cause the atmosphere to
warm?
• Testable:
How does the amount of carbon
dioxide affect atmospheric
temperatures?

38. Practice Problem 2
• Non-Testable:
Is achievement in school higher when
students are tested frequently?
• Put your heads together discuss what
the variables are…
– Independent Variable:
– Dependent Variable:

39. Practice Problem 2
• Non-Testable:
Is achievement in school higher when
students are tested frequently?
• Testable:
How does the amount of testing
affect student achievement?