Name: 
 

7th and 8th Grade Scientific Method Review



Completion
Complete each statement.
 
 
Unscramble the letters to form the correct term for each definition.
 

 1. 

iicitfcens oherty: an attempt to explain a pattern in nature ____________________
 

 

 2. 

ccefiiinst awl: a rule to explain a pattern in nature ____________________
 

 

 3. 

nastscotn: the variables in an experiment that stay the same ____________________
 

 

 4. 

eifl eeiccns: the study of living systems ____________________
 

 

 5. 

nienfrcees: attempts at explanations of what is seen ____________________
 

 

 6. 

itaccril ignkhitn: using knowledge and thinking skills to decide if you agree with an explanation ____________________
 

 

 7. 

aibvrale: the factor that can be changed in an experiment ____________________
 

 

 8. 

ocnroledlt xermeentip: observing the effect of one thing while keeping all other things constant ____________________
 

 

 9. 

ssyhtpoeih: a prediction about a problem that can be tested ____________________
 

 

 10. 

inccese: a process used to investigate the world around you ____________________
 

 

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 11. 

____ is a process used to investigate the world around you.
a.
Drawing conclusions
c.
Cataloging
b.
Memorizing
d.
Science
 

 12. 

A collection of structures that relate to one another is a ____.
a.
sequence
c.
model
b.
system
d.
hypothesis
 

 13. 

A hypothesis is a reasonable and educated ____.
a.
test
c.
guess
b.
scientist
d.
experiment
 

 14. 

A ____ is a prediction about a problem that can be tested to find out if it is true or not.
a.
theory
c.
comparison
b.
control
d.
hypothesis
 

 15. 

To test a hypothesis, a scientist could conduct a(n) ____.
a.
observation
c.
environment
b.
experiment
d.
inference
 

 16. 

Scientists can organize their observations using ____.
a.
charts
c.
tables
b.
graphs
d.
all of these
 

 17. 

____ is the application of knowledge learned through science.
a.
Testing
c.
Observing
b.
Experimenting
d.
Technology
 

 18. 

Scientists use technology to ____.
a.
draw conclusions
c.
solve specific problems
b.
recognize problems
d.
create new theories
 

 19. 

____ models are concepts that describe how someone thinks about something in the natural world.
a.
Idea
c.
Physical
b.
Computer
d.
none of these
 

 20. 

The results of an experiment must be ____.
a.
reproducible
c.
kept secret
b.
unreproducible
d.
accepted right away
 

 21. 

The ability to use knowledge to decide if you agree with an explanation is called ____.
a.
science
c.
inferring
b.
critical thinking
d.
observing
 

 22. 

Scientific ____ are used in evaluating advertisements.
a.
theories
c.
hypotheses
b.
processes
d.
variables
 

 23. 

Inferences or ____ of what is observed help scientists modify an experiment or procedure.
a.
tests
c.
questions
b.
explanations
d.
contrasts
 

 24. 

A rule that describes a pattern in nature is called a(n) ____.
a.
scientific law
c.
hypothesis
b.
scientific theory
d.
inference
 

 25. 

One of the reasons for using models is to ____.
a.
communicate
c.
save time, money, and lives
b.
test predictions
d.
all of the above
 

 26. 

The process of learning more about the natural world is ____.
a.
an experiment
c.
a hypothesis
b.
a control
d.
science
 

 27. 

Experiments and investigations must be ____.
a.
approved
c.
repeatable
b.
unreproduceable
d.
accepted
 

 28. 

A prediction about a problem that can be tested is a(n) ____.
a.
hypothesis
c.
dependent variable
b.
independent variable
d.
control
 

 29. 

It is important to ____ when drawing conclusions from scientific information.
a.
keep notes
c.
talk to others
b.
make up your mind
d.
keep an open mind
 

 30. 

The factor being measured in an experiment is the ____.
a.
hypothesis
c.
variable
b.
scientific law
d.
control
 

 31. 

A variable in an experiment that stays the same is a(n) ____.
a.
independent variable
c.
constant
b.
dependent variable
d.
control
 

 32. 

Science cannot answer questions about ____.
a.
distance
c.
politics
b.
temperature
d.
the natural world
 

 33. 

Models can do all of the following EXCEPT ____.
a.
make a hypothesis
c.
test predictions
b.
communicate
d.
save time, money, and lives
 

 34. 

Limitations of models include ____.
a.
ability to communicate
c.
the tendency to change
b.
the ability to test predictions
d.
the ability to save time
 

 35. 

Models can be used to describe which of the following environments?
a.
the floor of the ocean
c.
space
b.
volcanoes
d.
all of the above
 

 36. 

Scientific ____ must be supported by observations and results from many investigations and are not absolute.
a.
constants
c.
systems
b.
theories
d.
laws
 

 37. 

The three branches of science are ____, Earth, and physical.
a.
space
c.
life
b.
physics
d.
chemistry
 

 38. 

Another term for technology is ____.
a.
applied science
c.
comparison
b.
controlled experiment
d.
sequence
 

 39. 

When designing an experiment, the first step is to ____.
a.
draw conclusions
c.
recognize a problem
b.
form a hypothesis
d.
test a hypothesis
 

 40. 

When conducting an experiment, the last step is to ____.
a.
analyze the data
c.
form a hypothesis
b.
draw conclusions
d.
recognize a problem
 

 41. 

A camera is an example of ____.
a.
an experiment
c.
technology
b.
a robot
d.
a scientific method
 

 42. 

To evaluate the observations you make, you must use ____.
a.
a hypothesis
c.
measurements
b.
critical thinking
d.
models
 

 43. 

Scientists must be impartial and not base their conclusions on ____.
a.
opinions
c.
models
b.
evidence
d.
experiments
 

 44. 

To ____ means to draw a conclusion based on something you observe.
a.
guess
c.
model
b.
control
d.
infer
 

 45. 

____ materials are designed to get you to buy a product or service.
a.
Model
c.
Observed
b.
Scientific
d.
Advertising
 

True/False
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
 

 46. 

All important scientific discoveries are made by professional scientists.
 

 47. 

Scientific models have two basic types.
 

 48. 

Variables are those factors that can be changed in an experiment.
 

 49. 

When observing and recording the results of an experiment, observations may include both measurements and descriptions.
 

 50. 

Using scientific methods means doing a professional experiment.
 

 51. 

Laboratory safety is not an important concern for scientists.
 

 52. 

If the results of a study do not support a hypothesis, it means that the experiment failed.
 

 53. 

Scientific models are often used to help scientists understand a problem.
 

 54. 

Computer models can be touched.
 

 55. 

Einstein's idea model for his theory of relativity was also built as a physical model.
 

 56. 

Once a scientific model has been created, it cannot be changed.
 

 57. 

Although people of different races, sexes, and cultures have made scientific discoveries, they have all been adults, older than you.
 

 58. 

The only way to test a hypothesis is by conducting a controlled experiment.
 

 59. 

An important part of planning an experiment is determining the materials needed.
 

 60. 

Data tables help you to organize your observations and test results.
 

 61. 

Data are always numerical measurements.
 

 62. 

A hypothesis is a decision based on the results of the experiment.
 

 63. 

If it takes more than a few experiments to find the answer to a particular problem, it means that the scientist has failed and is not a very good researcher.
 

 64. 

It is often necessary to look at the same problem in different ways in order to find an answer.
 

 65. 

Models may change as new discoveries are made.
 



 
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