Using The Scientific Method (Page 2 of 3) in pdf

Now, write down the BEST answer to the question. By best I mean what do you think is

the best answer. To me, the best answer to the question above is that - People may

prefer Pepsi over Coke. I picked it as the best answer because I prefer Pepsi over Coke.

A good hypothesis is simple and concise. Look at the answer you have written. Is it

wordy? Cluttered up with unnecessary adjectives? Confusing? Wishy washy? Reword as

needed to form a statement that is brief and understandable. "People may prefer Pepsi"

can become "People may prefer the taste of Pepsi more than the taste of Coke".

A good hypothesis uses clearly defined terms. If any of the terms you are using in your

hypothesis are ambiguous, either reword or include a brief clarification of what you

mean by the particular term. Long-lasting lip stick may last a long time. The word “long”

needs to be clarified. So my answer would become: Long-lasting lip stick may lasts a

long (six or more hours) time.

Now, just rewrite your answer in the proper – If…Then – format. "If _____[I do this] _____,

then _____[this]_____ will happen." If people prefer the taste of Pepsi more than Coke,

then when given blind samples they will choose Pepsi as the best tasting more than 50%

of the time. If I wear long lasting lip sticks, then the lip stick should last six or more hours.

Once you have your hypothesis formulated, write it in the appropriate place on the

Scientific Method Lab Sheet.

Step 3 – Testing Your Hypothesis

To test hypotheses, scientists conduct experiments. Design an experiment to test your

hypothesis. Your experiment should be able to be completed within 1 or 2 days. In

addition, your experiment needs to be repeatable. Write out a step-by-step procedure

for how you will conduct your experiment. Remember that your experiment needs to

be repeatable, so your step-by-step procedures need to be clear, detailed, and

complete.

You also need to think about how you will measure the success or failure of your

hypothesis. How will you determine what brand of soda people prefer or how long a lip

stick lasts. To make gathering data easier, prepare some type of data table for

recording your results.

As part of your experiment, identify the manipulated, responding, and controlled

variables of your experiment.

Manipulated (independent) variable is the variable that causes a change in another

variable (brand of soda or lip stick).

Responding (dependent) variable is the variable that changes in response to the

manipulated variable (taste preference or lasting time).

Controlled variables are variables within the experiment that could be changed but

are not changed (changing the Pepsi to Diet Pepsi or who is wearing the lip stick).

Using The Scientific Method Page 2