4
QuizMultiple Choice

Scientific Measurement

Question 4 • (Rogowski)WCA 4321 Environmental Science 1st 9 weeks 26-27

Scientists take scientific measurements carefully in order to ensure their reliability and validity. Which of the following is an example of measurement bias in scientific measurement?

Answer
A
a scale that reads zero when nothing is on it
B
a stopwatch that stops immediately when the stop button is clicked
C
a balance that always reads .01 g
D
measuring your height in your bare feet

Explanation

Measurement bias occurs when an instrument consistently gives readings that are off by a fixed amount. A balance that always reads 0.01 g when it should read zero has a systematic error, so its measurements are biased. The other choices describe a properly functioning scale or stopwatch, or a consistent way to measure height.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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