Definitions
A question that can be answered with data from the experiment.
Testable question
Constants
All the things that stay the same in a controlled experiment.
The group that does not recieve a change and is used to compare.
Control Group
Plant Growth Experiment:
Scenario: Sarah is conducting an experiment to see how different amounts of water affects plant growth.
What is the independent variable and dependent variable in this scenario?
Independent Variable: Amount of sunlight
Dependent Variable: Height of plants
Plant Experiment:
Scenario: Emma is testing how different fertilizers affect plant growth. There are three groups:
1. Group A: seeds watered with tap water
2. Group B: Seeds watered with distilled water.
3. Group C: Seeds watered with rainwater.
What is the independent variable, the dependent variable, and the control group?
Independent Variable: type of fertilizer
Dependent Variable: Plant growth
Control Group: Group C; they are given NO fertilizer (rain water is natural)
The one thing that changes in an experiment.
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
The thing you measure in an experiment.
All the things that stay the same in a controlled experiment.
Constants
Video Games:
Scenario: Tom is tracking how his daily practice affects his game scores.
What is the dependent variable and independent variable?
Independent Variable: hours spent practicing a day
Dependent Variable: game score
Exercise:
Scenario: A gym teacher is studying how different exercises affect heart rate. Students are divided into three groups:
Group A: does jumping jacks for 5 mins
Group B: sits quietly for 5 minutes
Group C: Runs in place for 5 mins
What is the independent variable, dependent variable, and control group?
Independent Variable: Type of exercise
Dependent Variable: Heart Rate
Control Group: Group B
The thing you measure in an experiment
Dependent Variable
Control Group
The group that does not receive a change and is used to compare.
Conclusions we draw from our observations and background knowledge.
Inference
Ice Cream Sales Experiment
Scenario: An ice cream shop is studying how temperature affects their daily sales.
What is the independent variable and what is the dependent variable?
Independent Variable: Daily Temperature
Dependent Variable: Number of ice creams sold
Screen Time and Sleep Quality
Scenario: A sleep researcher is studying how screen time before bed affects sleep quality. Participants are divided into 3 groups:
Group A: No screen time for 2 hours
Group B: Uses screen time 2 hours before bed
Group C: Uses screen time for 1 hour before bed
What is the independent variable, dependent variable, and control group?
Independent Variable: amount of screen time before bed
Dependent Variable: Sleep quality
Control Group: Group A (no screen time for 2 hours)
Information gathered by noticing facts using your five senses.
Observation
Inference
Conclusions we draw from out observations and background knowledge.
Independent Variable
the one thing that changes in an experiment.
Reading Speed Experiment:
Scenario: Maya is measuring how the number of pages she reads daily impacts her reading.
What is the independent variable and dependent variable?
Independent Variable: Number of pages read daily
Dependent Variable: reading speed (words per minute)
Social Media Usage
Scenario: A counselor is studying how social media usage affects mood. Participants are grouped as followed.
Group A: Uses social media for 2 hours daily
Group B: Uses social media for 30 minutes daily
Group C: No social media use
What is the independent variable, dependent variable, and control group?
Independent Variable: amount of daily social media use
Dependent Variable: Mood (measured by a questionnaire)
Control Group: Group C; no social media use
Plant experiment:
Scenario: A gardener is observing how watering frequency impacts plant health.
What is the independent variable and what is the dependent variable?
Independent Variable: Number of times watered per week
Dependent Variable: Plant health
Chewing gum and test performance
Scenario:
A school psychologist is researching if chewing gum affects test performance. Students are divided into three groups:
What is the independent variable, dependent variable, and control group?
Independent Variable: Type of gum chewed
Dependent Variable: Test performance/scores
Control Group: Group C