Research Skill

HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
 A hypothesis is a suggested explanation of a
phenomenon or reasoned proposal suggesting a
possible correlation between multiple phenomena.
EXAMPLE HYPOTHESIS
 If I add fertilizer to my plants, then they will grow
bigger.
 If I raise the temperature of a cup of water, then the
amount of sugar that can be dissolved in it will be
increased. 
EXAMPLE HYPOTHESIS
 A student is interested in designing several experiments to
test the factors that effect how quickly an Alka-Seltzer®
tablet dissolves in water (solution rate).
 Hypothesis that could be tested with an experiment. Be
sure each hypothesis is in the proper “If…, then…,
because…” format.
 Question: What effect does stirring have on solution
rate ?
 Hypothesis: If the water is stirred, then the tablet will
dissolve faster because stirring increases solution rate.
EXERCISE

Write the hypothesis for each case below ! Use

this format: If ... , then ...
 What effect does studying with music have on
student test scores ?
 What effect does food color have on the amount
of food fish eat ?
 What effect does light have on plant growth ?
Research Skill

VARIABLES IN EXPERIMENT
VARIABLES IN EXPERIMENT
 Control variable.
 Independent variable.
 Dependent variable.
CONTROL VARIABLE
 Variable that is kept the same (constants) in an
investigation so that the test is fair.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
 Variable that is changed in an investigation.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
 Variable that is measured in an investigation.
 As a result of changing independent variable.
HOW TO INVESTIGATE THE EXPERIMENT
 Hypothesis
 Variables
 Material and equipment
 Procedure/Method/Step
 Result
 Analysis result
 Conclusion