Stating the Problem as a
Testable Question
To begin your experiment, you must begin with a testable research question. You need to be able to design an investigation, make observations, and gather evidence to answer the question. Do not base your question on opinions or personal judgments.
Testable: Will M&M color dissolve faster in water or in vinegar?
Non-testable: Which color M&M tastes better?
Sometimes questions come from observations that you have made in the past.
Observation: I noticed crickets were chirping very loudly outside my window last night.
Testable: Do crickets chirp louder when the temperature is higher?
Testable vs. Non-testable
- Does the amount of fertilizer affect how tall a flower grows?
- Are roses prettier flowers than tulips?
- How can we make cut flowers stay fresher for a longer period of time?
- Can daisies grow in different types of soil?
- Do daffodils smell better than carnations?
Research
Once you have created a good testable question, you need to complete research over the topic to build your background knowledge. You should choose at least three reliable resources. Examples of resources are listed below:
- Encyclopedia
- Science magazines/ journals
- newspapers
- websites
- textbooks
- actual people who were present for an event or real scientists that specialize in the area of your topic
Make sure that you write the down the title of the book or article, the author’s name, and the year it was published. You will need this information for your bibliography. Also, if you use a website, be sure to copy the web address and the title of the article.
The number one rule in research is to give credit where credit is due. Do not use someone else’s words in your research paper. That is called plagiarism. It is against the law and the student code of conduct. Put all information into your own words. If you need to use the author’s exact words, be sure to put quotation marks around the words you use.
The majority of the information in your research should be in your words. You should not just copy and paste information from the internet into your paper.
Hypothesis
Once you have created your testable question and completed your research, you are ready to develop your hypothesis. This is an educated guess of what you think will happen in your experiment based on the background information you have acquired. This is not something random.
When you write a hypothesis, you should follow this format.
If (list what you think will happen as result of manipulating or changing your variable), then (what will happen as a result of the change) because (list the reasons or supporting information to back why you think something will happen.)
Examples:
If hot and cold water are placed in a freezer, then the cold water will freeze the fastest because the temperature will not have to change as much as the hot water.
If five colors of M&M’s are placed in vinegar and water then the M&M’s in the vinegar will lose their color the fastest because the vinegar will eat through the candy coating faster than the water.
Remember that your hypothesis will not always be correct and that is okay. It is what you think will happen before the experiment is performed.
Materials
Listing your materials for an experiment is an important part of an investigation.
- Materials = Supplies needed to conduct an experiment
- Materials should be displayed as a list.
- Materials lists should show exact quantities needed for an experiment.
- Materials lists should give exact measurements for an items that need to be altered or portioned out.
Example of a Materials List:
- 9 plastic cups (20oz. size)
- 3 of each type of seed – bean, pea, & squash
- 180g of potting soil – divided into 9 equal groups
- 140ml of water
- A lamp
- Location with exposure to sunlight.
Does this Materials list follow the above requirements? YES
--All necessary supplies are given. It is written as a list. Exact quantities and measurements are given. --
Procedures
Procedures are the step-by-step directions we use to complete an experiment. These steps should be very specific and should be followed in the order they are presented. It is very important to follow the steps exactly as they are written. Otherwise, you can mess up your experiment or cause a potentially hazardous situation.
It is very important that you know what to do in any experiment, so be sure to read your procedures before you begin the experiment. Remember, SAFETY FIRST!
Your materials list should be listed before your procedures. The procedures should be specific in explaining how you use each item.
Remember, when we practice using procedures in class, there will often be questions that should be answered as you go. These questions are meant to help you begin thinking about your experiment and teach you how to collect data. When you design your own experiment, you will not have to include the questions, just the steps required to execute the procedure.
Variables
The variable of an experiment is the item/process that is changed on purpose. You will also hear it called the independent variable or manipulated variable because the change is made on purpose and does not result from something else. You should only have one independent variable in an experiment. Otherwise, you will not know which variable is causing your results.
For example:
Will a football travel farther if it is filled with regular air or helium?
The independent variable in this experiment is the type of air that is placed in the ball.
Often, the independent variable will cause something else to change. This additional change is called the dependent variable or the responding variable.
The dependent variable in the question above is the distance traveled by the football. The reason it is dependent is because the distance will change as a result of changing the type of air.
Observations and Data Collection
Observations are made using our senses. We observe by seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling, and tasting (when approved only). We will often use tools to help us make observations as well.
Observations should be recorded with detail. It is important to be specific. This can be done by drawing and labeling pictures, by writing specifics of what was observed, or by writing specific measurements. You will often need to create charts and graphs to organize your data.
There are 2 types of observations.
QUALITATIVE observations are made when we use our senses. We record qualitative observations in words or through pictures.
QUANTITATIVE observations are made when we use tools and are recorded as numbers. It is very important that we include units of measure when we record quantitative observations (ex: 5cm)
QUALITATIVE:
QUANTITATIVE:
Conclusions
The conclusion is the explanation to your experiment. The conclusion should be one or more paragraphs. The conclusion should explain what happened in your experiment and why those things happened.
Examples of types of information to include in your conclusion are on the conclusion chart.
Your conclusion should follow the CER format.
C – Claim
State your claim. You will need to state whether or not your hypothesis was supported.
E – Evidence
Provide evidence (data) from your experiment that proves your claim.
R – Reasoning
Provide reasons why your experiment turned out the way it did. This should include information from your research, background experience, and inferences.