In this assignment you will be using the scientific method to develop your own experiment. You will not be conducting the experiment but you will develop one based on a hypothesis. You will submit a project containing the needed information outlined under the "Project" section.
The scientific method is a process used by scientists to develop experiments and test hypotheses. This process begins by making observations. The next step is to develop a question based on these observations, such as how something works.
Based on the question under investigation, a hypothesis is created. A hypothesis should be a prediction of what happens. It is written in an "if, then" format. An is designed to test a specific hypothesis. A scientific experiment should have an independent variable, dependent variable, and a control group. The independent experiment variable is what is changed in the experiment. The dependent variable is what is measured in the experiment.
A control group is a group in which the independent variable undergoes no change. The control group in an experiment serves as a baseline to measure the results of the experiment and can be very useful in isolating unknown factors which may influence the dependent variable.
Remember that a good experiment includes multiple repetitions for each experimental group.
Project:
Below are the instructions for each section of the project. For this assignment you will follow the steps of the scientific method and develop your own experiment.
You will need to include all of the following information:
Topic: Start by deciding what you would like to investigate. Your topic may be related to biology, the environment around you, or some other topic you are interested in.
Observations: Make a number of observations related to your topic. If the topic you chose isn't something you can observe around you then you may conduct research about your topic and record any noteworthy information. Include a paragraph describing your observations in your final submission.
Questions: Using your observations or research, think about your topic and ask some questions. Think about how it works or why it may behave a certain way. Come up with two or three questions about your topic.
Hypothesis: Use the questions you came up with to develop your hypothesis. This is a prediction of what you think will happen and should be able to be tested. A hypothesis is written in an "if, then" format. If this happens, then this will happen.
Experiment: Once you develop a hypothesis, think of how it could be tested in an experiment. What would you be testing? What would you measure? Remember that you need a control group. The purpose of this group is to serve as a reference that can be used to compare your experimental results to. This gives you something to compare with all the experimental groups and monitor any change. Record all of the following information about your experiment.
Independent Variable: This is what you are changing in the experiment.
Dependent Variable: This is what you are measuring.
Control Group: This is the group unaffected by the independent variable.
Experimental Groups: These are the groups affected by the independent variable and there should be multiple replications for each group.
Submission:
Be creative with how you present your information. This can be done in a list, in a chart, in paragraph form, or another way. Be sure to include your topic, observations, questions, hypothesis, and the details of your experiment. Be descriptive with your language in each section and use correct grammar.
