1. Introduction to Experimental Design
Adapted from © Amy Brown Science

2. What is Science? 2. Scientists:
The goal of science is to investigate and understand the natural world, to explain events in the natural world, and to use those explanations to make useful predictions.
1. Science deals only with the natural world.
2. Scientists:
…. collect and organize information in a careful, orderly way, looking for patterns and connections between events.
3. Scientists propose ___________ that can be ______ by examining evidence.
explanations
tested
4. Science is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.

3. Data is the information gathered from making observations.
How is Science Done?
Science begins with an __________.
observation
This is the process of gathering information about events or processes in a careful, orderly way.
Data is the information gathered from making observations.

4. There are two types of data:
Quantitative data are:
… numbers and are obtained by counting or measuring.
Qualitative data are:
… descriptions and involve characteristics that cannot be counted.

5. A hypothesis is a scientific explanation for a set of observations.
A hypothesis must be stated in a way that makes it “testable”. The hypothesis is just a possible answer to a question, and it must be thoroughly tested.

6. Scientific Method The scientific method is:
A series of steps used by scientists to solve a problem or answer a question.
The typical steps to the Scientific Method usually include:
Observation / Asking a Question
Form a Hypothesis
Design a Controlled Experiment
Record and Analyze Results
Draw Conclusions

7. Hypothesis: For example:
Step 1:
Observation / Asking a Question
Step 2: Form a Hypothesis
Hypothesis:
A possible explanation to the question or problem.
A problem or a question must first be identified.
It is simply a prediction and has not yet been supported or unsupported.
For example:
How much water can a root hair absorb?
Why does a plant stem bend toward the light?
What effect does temperature have on heart rate?
It must be stated in a way that is testable. A statement is considered “testable” if evidence can be collected that either does or does not support it.

8. Step 3: Designing a Controlled Experiment
1. The factors in an experiment that can be changed are called variables. Some examples of variables would be: changing the temperature, the amount of light present, time, concentration of solutions used.
2. A controlled experiment works with one variable at a time. If several variables are changed at the same time, the scientist would not know which variable is responsible for the observed results.
3. In a “controlled experiment” only one variable is changed at a time. All other variables should be unchanged or “controlled”.
4. An experiment is based on the comparison between a ____________ with an __________________.
control group
experimental group
a) These two groups are identical except for one factor.
b) The control group serves as the comparison. It is the same as the experiment group, except that the one variable that is being tested is removed.
c) The experimental group shows the effect of the variable that is being tested.

9. Example: In order to test the effectiveness of a new vaccine, 50 volunteers are selected and divided into two groups. One group will be the control group and the other will be the experimental group. Both groups were given a pill to take that was identical in size, shape, color and texture.
Even though the volunteers are given identical looking pills, the control group will not actually receive the vaccine.
Describe the control group.
Describe the experimental group.
What variables are kept constant?
What variable is being changed?
This group will receive the vaccine.
The size, shape, color, and texture of the pill.
Whether or not the pill contains the vaccine.

10. There are two variables in an experiment:
c) In the above example, what is the independent variable?
a) The independent variable is the variable that is deliberately changed by the scientist.
It is the addition of the vaccine to the pills that were given to the volunteers.
b) The dependent variable is the one observed during the experiment. The dependent variable is the data we collect during the experiment. This data is collected as a result of changing the independent variable.
d) In the above example, what is the dependent variable?
The observed health of the people receiving the pills.

11. Step 4: Recording and Analyzing Results
1. The data that has been collected must be organized and analyzed to determine whether the data are reliable.
2. Does the data support or not support the hypothesis?

12. Making a Data Table
As scientists collect data, it must be recorded in an organized fashion. Any time data is collected in an experiment, it is most often presented in a table. The data table must have a title, rows, columns, and heads. The title should be placed at the top and tells the observer what information is contained in the table. At the top of each column should be a “head” that tells you what information is in the column.

13. Example 1: Make a data table for the following information
The following data were collected for the growth of a plant.
On day 0, there was 0 growth.
On day 1, there was 2.0 cm of growth.
On day 2, there was 5.3 cm of growth.
On day 3, there was 6.1 cm of growth.
On day 4, there was 8.4 cm of growth.
On day 5, there was 11 cm of growth.
The growth of a plant in centimeters
Day
Growth 1 2 3 4 5
0 cm
2.0 cm
5.3 cm
6.1 cm
8.4 cm
11 cm
In the top row, place the title of your data table.
In the next row, place the two column heads. Usually, the independent variable is listed first (days here)
In the remaining rows, fill in the data.

14. Example 2: Make a data table for the following information
The number of cricket chirps was recorded on two different nights at various temperatures (Celsius). On night 1, the following data was obtained: Temp 16, cricket chirps 33; Temp 18, cricket chirps 38; Temp 20, cricket chirps 42; Temp 22, cricket chirps 46; Temp 24, cricket chirps 50.
On night 2, the following data was obtained: Temp 16, cricket chirps 32; Temp 18, cricket chirps 36; Temp 20, cricket chirps 41; Temp 22, cricket chirps 43; Temp 24, cricket chirps 51.
In the top row, place the title of your data table.
The number of cricket chirps recorded at
different temperatures
Night Night 2
In the next row, place the two column heads. Since data were collected on two different nights, you will need 4 columns.
Temp # Chirps
Temp # Chirps 16 18 20 22 24 33 38 42 46 50 16 18 20 22 24 32 36 41 43 51
In the remaining rows, fill in the data.

15. Making a Line Graph
Line graphs show data plotted as points that are connected by a line. Line graphs are often used to show change over time and can be used to compare two or more sets of data.
Before a line graph can be constructed, you must identify the two variables that will serve as x and y coordinates on the graph. These are called the “independent variable” and the “dependent variable”.
An easy way to remember this is to ask yourself the questions:
“What did I know before I did the experiment?” (independent variable)
“What did I learn by doing the experiment?” (dependent variable)
The independent variable is the one being manipulated or changed during the experiment. It is always placed on the x-axis or horizontal axis.
The dependent variable is the observed result of the independent variable being changed. The dependent variable is always placed on the y-axis or vertical axis.

16. Using the grid below, make a line graph using the information in example 1 from above.
First determine which variable to place on the horizontal (x) axis and which variable to place on the vertical (y) axis.
The Growth of Plants in Centimeters
Label each axis
appropriately.
Growth (cm)
Scale each axis
appropriately.
Title your graph.
Plot the points on the
graph.
Time (days)

17. Your graph should look like this:

18. Using the grid below, make a line graph using the information in example 2 from above.
First determine which variable to place on the horizontal (x) axis and which variable to place on the vertical (y) axis.
Number of Cricket Chirps Recorded at Various Temperatures
Label each axis
appropriately.
# cricket chirps
Scale each axis
appropriately.
Title your graph.
Plot the points on the
graph.
Since this graph will have two different lines, be sure to label each line.
Temp (°C)

19. Your graph should look like this

20. Line of best fit:
When you have a series of points that look to make a line, you need to calculate the equation of that line.
You can do this by hand and/or in a graphing calculator.
First, choose two points and find the slope. This is your value for m in y=mx +b
Next, pick a point to plug in to your equation for x and y to solve for b.
**You will receive an additional notes page for using a calculator.

21. Graphing norms: EVERY GRAPH needs: Title X- axis label X- axis units
Y- axis label
Y- axis units
Properly scaled axes

22. Step 5: Drawing Conclusions
The evidence from the experiment is used to determine if the hypothesis is supported or unsupported.
Experiments must be repeated over and over. When repeated, the results should always be the same before a valid conclusion can be reached.

23. Forming a Theory Theory:
A theory may be formed after the hypothesis has been tested many times and is supported by much evidence.
Theory:
A broad and comprehensive statement of what is thought to be true.
A theory is supported by considerable evidence.