OSAT OSAT Scientific Inquiry and Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?
- A law is more certain than a theory
- A theory explains phenomena while a law describes a pattern (Correct answer)
- A law is based on experiments; a theory is based on observation
- A theory becomes a law after enough evidence
Correct answer: A theory explains phenomena while a law describes a pattern
A scientific theory explains why or how phenomena occur, while a law describes what consistently happens under certain conditions.
Question 2: A researcher uses a random sample to select study participants. The PRIMARY purpose of random sampling is to:
- Reduce the cost of the study
- Ensure the sample represents the population (Correct answer)
- Increase the speed of data collection
- Eliminate the need for a control group
Correct answer: Ensure the sample represents the population
Random sampling ensures every member of the population has an equal chance of selection, improving representativeness.
Question 3: During peer review, other scientists evaluate a study before publication mainly to:
- Speed up the publication process
- Verify findings and identify errors or flaws (Correct answer)
- Promote the researcher's reputation
- Ensure the study uses expensive equipment
Correct answer: Verify findings and identify errors or flaws
Peer review is a quality-control process where experts check methodology, data, and conclusions for validity.
Question 4: If experimental data does NOT support a hypothesis, a scientist should:
- Discard the data
- Modify the data to fit the hypothesis
- Revise or reject the hypothesis (Correct answer)
- Immediately publish negative results as errors
Correct answer: Revise or reject the hypothesis
Unsupported hypotheses should be revised or rejected; negative results are still valuable scientific information.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?
- The temperature of water is 98°C
- The mass of a rock is 250 grams
- The color of a chemical solution turned blue (Correct answer)
- The volume of gas produced is 45 mL
Correct answer: The color of a chemical solution turned blue
Qualitative data describes characteristics or qualities (like color) rather than numerical measurements.
Question 6: A controlled experiment comparing a new drug to a placebo should include which essential element?
- A very large budget
- A control group receiving the placebo (Correct answer)
- Multiple independent variables
- Only qualitative measurements
Correct answer: A control group receiving the placebo
A control group receiving the placebo provides a baseline to compare against the experimental treatment group.
Question 7: The ability to apply scientific findings from a sample to a broader population is called:
- Replication
- Generalizability (Correct answer)
- Operationalization
- Calibration
Correct answer: Generalizability
Generalizability refers to the extent that study results can be applied to populations beyond the study sample.
OSAT OSAT Scientific Inquiry and Principles 3
Which of the following best describes the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?