Definitions
Define controlled experiment.
An experiment where no variables are changed, except one thing.
In an experiment where you are changing the temperature of water to see what happens to the gummy inside of it...
Is the temperature of the water the dependent or independent variable?
Independent Variable
In an experiment where we test if adding fertilizer to soil makes plants grow quicker than in regular soil...
Is the plant with fertilizer the experimental or controlled group?
Experimental Group
You notice that plants seem to grow faster in some areas of your garden than others. You wonder if temperature might be affecting their growth. You predict that if you expose two identical plants to different temperatures, the one in warmer conditions will grow faster. You set up two potted plants of the same type and size. One plant is placed in a sunny spot, while the other is placed in a shaded area. You measure the temperature of each location. Over the course of a few weeks, you measure the height of each plant and record the temperature each day. You create a graph showing the growth of both plants over time. You notice that the plant in the sunny area grew faster. You conclude that temperature does indeed affect plant growth. The plant in the warmer location grew taller. Your hypothesis was supported by the data.
What is the Hypothesis?
You predict that if you expose two identical plants to different temperatures, the one in warmer conditions will grow faster.
What is the first step of the scientific method?
Question
Define data.
The information gained from observing and testing an experiment.
In an experiment where you are changing the temperature of water to see how much a gummy inside of the water will grow or shrink...
Is the amount the gummy changes the independent or dependent variable?
Dependent Variable.
In an experiment where we test if adding fertilizer to soil makes plants grow quicker than in regular soil...
Is the plant with the regular soil the control group or the experimental group?
It is the control group.
You notice that sometimes you remember things better when you're listening to music. You wonder if music can improve memory. You predict that if students study while listening to classical music, they will remember information better compared to studying in silence. You gather a group of students and divide them into two groups. One group studies with classical music playing in the background, while the other group studies in silence. After a week of studying, you give both groups a memory test. You measure how many correct answers each student gets. You compare the average scores of the two groups on the memory test and analyze if there is a significant difference. You conclude that studying with classical music improved memory recall. The group that studied with music scored higher on the memory test.
What is the question?
You notice that sometimes you remember things better when you're listening to music. You wonder if music can improve memory.
What is the second step of the scientific method and what does it mean?
Hypothesis: an assumption, an idea that is proposed for the sake of argument so that it can be tested to see if it might be true.
Define quantitative data.
The value of data in the form of counts or numbers where each data set has a unique numerical value
In an experiment where you give plants different amounts of water to see how high they will grow...
Is how high they grow the dependent or independent variable? Explain why.
It is the dependent variable because it is the variable that changes as a result of the independent variable manipulation. It is what we are measuring or observing.
In this experiment there are two groups, a silent group and a group with a noisy environment. In an experiment where we are testing if increasing noise level effects test scores...
Would the group in the noisy environment be the experimental or control group? Why?
They would be the experimental group because we are changing the noise level.
You notice that sugar seems to dissolve faster in hot water than in cold water. You wonder if water temperature affects how quickly substances dissolve.You predict that if you place equal amounts of sugar in hot water and cold water, the sugar in hot water will dissolve faster. You set up two identical cups of water, one filled with hot water and the other with cold water. You add the same amount of sugar to each cup. You measure the time it takes for the sugar to completely dissolve in each cup of water and record your observations. You compare the time it took for the sugar to dissolve in the hot water versus the cold water and analyze whether there's a significant difference. You conclude that water temperature does affect how quickly substances dissolve. The sugar dissolved faster in the hot water, supporting your hypothesis.
What is the data.
You measure the time it takes for the sugar to completely dissolve in each cup of water and record your observations. You compare the time it took for the sugar to dissolve in the hot water versus the cold water and analyze whether there's a significant difference.
After analyzing the data, you use this step to decide if your hypothesis was supported or not.
Conclusion
Define qualitative data.
Data representing information and concepts that are not represented by numbers. Characteristics or qualities that changed.
In an experiment where you give plants different amounts of water to see how high they will grow...
Are the different amounts of water the dependent or independent variable? Explain why.
This is the independent variable. It is the variable you manipulate, control, or vary in an experimental study to explore its effects.
In this experiment there are two groups, a silent group and a group with a noisy environment. In an experiment where we are testing if increasing noise level effects test scores...
Would the group in the silent group be the control group or the experimental group? Why?
They would be the controlled group. We are not changing anything about them, so we can compare them to the group we are testing.
You notice that plants in your backyard seem to grow differently in different areas, possibly due to the type of soil. You wonder if soil type affects plant growth. You think that if you plant the same type of seeds in three different types of soil (clay, sandy, and loamy), the seeds planted in loamy soil will grow the best. You set up three identical pots and fill them with clay, sandy, and loamy soil. You plant the same type of seeds in each pot. You measure the height of the plants in each pot every week and record the growth over a period of time. You compare the growth of the plants in the three different soil types and analyze whether there's a significant difference in their heights. You conclude that soil type does affect plant growth. The plants in the loamy soil grew the tallest, supporting your hypothesis.
What is the question and the conclusion.
Question: You wonder if soil type affects plant growth.
Conclusion: You conclude that soil type does affect plant growth. The plants in the loamy soil grew the tallest, supporting your hypothesis.
What are the three phrases/parts that should be included when writing a hypothesis?
Give an example.
An if, then, and because part.
Example: IF I do ___, THEN _____ will happen BECAUSE _______.
Define hypothesis, and give an example using the 3 parts/phrases that make it up.
Hypothesis: an assumption, an idea that is proposed for the sake of argument so that it can be tested to see if it might be true.
Example: If I add salt to water and heat it up, then it think the salt will dissolve because the temperature that salt dissolves in water will be met.
In an experiment where you use different types of fertilizer to see which makes the plants grow the fastest...
What is the independent variable and what is the dependent variable?
The independent variable is the different types of fertilizer because it is what we are changing to observe an effect. The dependent variable is the speed at which the plants are growing because it is changing because of the independent variable. It is what we are observing/measuring.
In this study, we are determining if students with extra tutoring do better on tests. There are two groups. One comprises students who are given an extra tutoring program. The other group includes students who continue with their regular coursework without additional tutoring.
Which group is the control group and which group is the experimental group? Explain.
The control group is the group without tutoring because we are not changing anything with their group. The experimental group is the group that is given extra tutoring because we are giving them extra tutoring. Therefore we are changing the amount of help they are getting.
You notice that plants on your windowsill seem to lean toward the window. You wonder if plants actually grow toward the source of light. You hypothesize that if you place a potted plant in a room with a window, it will grow toward the window where the light is coming from. You select a potted plant with multiple stems and place it in the center of a room with a window on one side. You mark the initial direction of each stem. Over the course of several days, you observe the direction in which each stem of the plant is growing and measure any changes in orientation. You analyze the data by comparing the initial and final positions of each stem and determine if they have grown toward the window. You conclude that light does indeed affect the direction in which plants grow. The stems of the plant grew toward the window where the light was coming from.
What is the question, hypothesis, experiment, data, and conclusion.
Question: You wonder if plants actually grow toward the source of light.
Hypothesis: You hypothesize that if you place a potted plant in a room with a window, it will grow toward the window where the light is coming from.
Experiment: You select a potted plant with multiple stems and place it in the center of a room with a window on one side. You mark the initial direction of each stem.
Data: Over the course of several days, you observe the direction in which each stem of the plant is growing and measure any changes in orientation. You analyze the data by comparing the initial and final positions of each stem and determine if they have grown toward the window.
Conclusion: You conclude that light does indeed affect the direction in which plants grow. The stems of the plant grew toward the window where the light was coming from.
List the five steps of the scientific method in order!
Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Data, Conclusion