THEORY VS.

CONCEPT
Example Theories
Ecology:
•Resource competition
theory: Predicting how competition for
resources shapes population dynamics
and community composition.

•Island biogeography
theory: Modeling species richness and
extinction risk on islands based on size
and distance from mainland.
Biology
•Natural selection theory: Explaining
how heritable traits that enhance survival
and reproduction become more common
over generations.

•Endosymbiotic theory: Proposing that

mitochondria and chloroplasts originated
from engulfed bacteria that formed
symbiotic relationships with eukaryotic
cells.
Identify the Independent Variable and Dependent Variable using
a conceptual framework.
1. The Effect of Different Light Colors on Photosynthesis
Rate in Spinach Plants
2. Testing the Germination Rates of Seeds Under Different
Water Availability Conditions
3. Investigating the Effect of Temperature on the Heart Rate
of Daphnia
4. The Effects of Antibacterial Soap on Different Bacterial
Strains
5. Analyzing the Impact of Different Diets on the Growth and
Survival of Mealworms
 Photosynthesis
Light Colors
Rate

Water Availability Germination Rates

Conditions of Seeds

Daphnia’s Heart
Temperature
Rate

Antibacterial Soap Bacteria Strains

Growth and
Type of Diet Survival of
Mealworms