Testable Question

Once you have an idea, you need to figure out what question you want to find an answer to. A testable question is very specific and identifies the element you’ll be testing and the element you’ll be changing. These different elements are called variables and there are three types:

• The variable you change is the independent variable
• The variable you want to measure is the dependent variable
• All the other variables you keep the same are your control variables.

So, your testable question would look something like this:

If I change (independent variable) how will that change (dependent variable)?

Learn more about variables, why they are important, and how to control them here [link].

Example:

For example, let’s say you want to test which snowboard wax makes riders go the fastest. You would test different waxes and see how they affect rider speed, or maybe even invent your own new type of wax (learn about conducting a fair test for an innovation project here). Your testable question might look like:

“If I change the types of wax how will that change my speed (km/hr)?”

Think about your idea and what you specifically want to test:

• What will you change?
• What will you measure?
• And what variables will you keep controlled and the same?

Write your answers to these questions in your logbook. If necessary, you can improve your testable question once you do some research, start testing, and mess around to see what works and what doesn’t!

Remember: Pick a question that interests you – something you want to find an answer to! The more it matters to you, the more fun you’ll have doing your project and the better it will be.