Lesson 6- Scientific Inquiry

People conduct scientific inquiry by

gathering evidence about the natural
world and proposing explanations based
on this evidence. (p. 35)

1. Pose a question and define a problem

2. Research using appropriate reference materials

3. Develop a hypothesis
Parts of an Experiment
To test a hypothesis, you must design an
experiment that follows reliable scientific
principles (p. 37).

A reliable experiment includes:
1. An independent variable
2. A dependent variable
3. A controlled variable
4. Constants
The Pea Plant
We will use an example experiment to better
understand the parts of an experiment

We want to test how the amount of sunlight effects
the growth of pea plants. We use 20 pea plants.
They are all from the same seed pouch, the same
variety, the same age. We used the same soil, the
same sized pot and water them the same amount.
During the daylight hours, one group of 5 is
exposed to the full amount of sun, another group
of 5 is exposed to only 8 hours, and another group
of 5 is exposed to only 4 hours. One group of 5 is
exposed to no light.
Independent Variable
The one factor that is purposefully changed to
test a hypothesis (p. 37)

It is important to have only one independent
variable. If more than one factor is being
changed in an experiment, you will not know
whether the effect is caused by one or the other.

Pea Plant example:
The amount of sunlight the plants are exposed to
Dependent Variable
The factor that may change in response to
the independent variable (p. 37).

If the independent variable is the cause or
change, the dependent is the effect that
happens.

Pea plant example:
The amount of growth of the pea plants
Control (Group)
The control is the standard against which the
researcher compares the results from each
treatment group (level) in the experiment.

This is the variable that does not change.

Pea Plant example:
The group exposed to no sunlight
Constants
The factors in an experiment that do not
change

pea plant example:
factors like the amount of water the plants
receive, the soil type and amount, and the
temperature are all factors that should be
kept the same for all test subjects.