Scientific Method

After you write your problem and do your research what do you do next?

Write a hypothesis

Independent Variable

The variable that I CAN change in an investigation.

dependent variable

The variable that is measured. It responds to the change made by the experimenter.

control group

The group that does not get any changes. It is the "normal" I compare my results to it.

constants

What I need to keep the same in an experiment. I should have at least 3.

Use a bar graph to

compare data

Use a line graph

to show change over time

Eating breakfast in the morning increases the ability to learn in school. What is the IV?

Eating breakfast

Eating breakfast in the morning increases the ability to learn in school. What is the DV?

The ability to learn

Eating breakfast in the morning increases the ability to learn in school. What should stay constant?

The time they eat, the amount of food, the type of food

Eating breakfast in the morning increases the ability to learn in school. What is the control group?

Those that don't have time to eat breakfast in the morning

qualitative observations

observations made by the 5 senses. (seeing, feeling, touching, smelling, tasting.)

quantitative observations

An observation that deals with a number or amount

Hypothesis

An educated guess. Written as If..then...because

The format of a problem statement/testable question...

How does ___affect___?

Experimenting

when you are testing your hypothesis

Observe and analyze.

when you study the data from the experiment

Line graph

A graph that show changes that occur over time

bar graph

a graph that shows comparisons among two or more items

An example of when to use a bar graph

Favorite type of candy bar