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Multiple Choice
What scientific skill is a researcher using when she listens to the sounds that whales make?
A
Hypothesis formation
B
Experimentation
C
Prediction
D
Observation
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of observation: Observation is a fundamental scientific skill where researchers gather information using their senses, such as sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell, to study phenomena in the natural world.
Identify the action described in the problem: The researcher is listening to the sounds that whales make, which involves using the sense of hearing to collect data.
Relate the action to the scientific skill: Listening to whale sounds is an example of observation because the researcher is directly perceiving and recording sensory information without manipulating variables or testing hypotheses.
Differentiate observation from other scientific skills: Hypothesis formation involves proposing explanations based on observations, experimentation involves testing hypotheses under controlled conditions, and prediction involves forecasting outcomes based on prior knowledge or data. None of these involve directly perceiving sensory information as described in the problem.
Conclude that the correct scientific skill being used is observation, as it aligns with the act of listening to and gathering sensory data from whale sounds.