Final answer:
The weakest research question is 'C. What type of flower grows best in a Pacific Northwest garden?' due to its limited scope. Strong research questions prompt further investigation and have broader implications, as demonstrated by questions that consider environmental factors and long-term effects on ecosystem health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The weakest research question among the options provided is C. What type of flower grows best in a Pacific Northwest garden? This question is considered weak because it is very specific and localized in nature, thus limiting its scope for broader scientific inquiry. Scientific questions should ideally prompt further investigation and lead to more comprehensive understanding, such as examining ecological impacts or relationships. For instance, a broader question could be, “How do different gardening practices in the Pacific Northwest affect local ecosystem services like pollination or soil health?” This question encourages a deeper dive into the function and interdependencies within an ecosystem.
To illustrate the process of refining a scientific question, consider a researcher studying a wildflower population with a uniform distribution. A refined question prompted by such a finding could be, “What environmental factors contribute to the uniform distribution of this wildflower species in the meadow?” This allows the researcher to delve deeper into ecological interactions and patterns. Similarly, when managing weeds, questions like “How does the long-term application of a particular weed management strategy affect soil health and biodiversity?” are valuable because they consider the broader implications and long-term effects.