The Seven Steps Explained
1. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM: Select a topic that is interesting to you. State the problem that you wish to solve as a question.
Examples: What is the effect of salt water solution on the growth of a bean plant? What can we do to a pendulum to make it swing faster? What tooth paste brand protects teeth the best?
Record the discussions about this selection process in your log book.
2. MAKE OBSERVATIONS/RESEARCH THE TOPIC: Locate books and periodicals on the topic in your school or local library. Search the INTERNET for related web sites or contact experts in the field.
Examples: Contact Shaw's Garden, the Jewel Box or a local farmer about plant related topics. Contact your local dentist to get input about the tooth paste issue.
Record your in two places. First, record the information in your log book on the day you make contact. Write down all important information that you may wish to consider later in the activity. Next, record the important information about whatever reference you utilize on a bibliography card and keep it safe in the back of your log book.
3. WRITE A HYPOTHESIS: A hypothesis is a likely explanation of the problem. Some would call it an EDUCATED GUESS as to a solution to the problem or an answer to your question. It is an EDUCATED GUESS because of the research you have done about your topic.
EXAMPLE: Knowing that the weight of a pendulum with a longer string will have to cover the greatest distance while traveling, I believe that to make a pendulum swing faster, you will make the string shorter; and, to make a pendulum swing slower, you would make the string longer.
Putting too much salt on soil will prevent plants from growing.
Because of the ingredients in the compound, I believe tooth paste brand X will provide better protection than brand Z.
Record it all in your log book.
4. TESTING HYPOTHESIS/DESIGNING AND EXPERIMENT: The PROCEDURE is the step by step listing of each phase of the experiment. The PROCEDURE should be very simple to follow and very specific. Give attention to detail while giving step by step directions.
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VARIABLES- In an experiment, there are many things that could accidental be changed. Example: In a pendulum experiment, we could make pendulums with different size strings, we could change the amount of weight at the bottom of the string. We could change the height we swing the pendulum from from trial to trial. While counting how fast the pendulum swings, we could let the pendulum swing for different times or intervals. The weight, length of the string, how hard we swing the pendulum, how long we let it swing are all variables that could change the outcome of our experiment, or the total number of swing the pendulum makes.
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INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: In an experiment, only one Variable should be changed. All other variables should remain the same. The one variable you want to change to see if it changes the outcome of your activity is called the Independent Variable. Example: In the pendulum experiment, we want to see if changing the length of the string will make the pendulum travel faster or slower. So, we will swing a pendulum with a 15" string. Then we will swing a pendulum with a 20 " string. We want to see if this change makes a different in how fast the pendulum swings.
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Constant Conditions: In an experiment, all the variables that could be changed that are not the one you want to change for our test, are called constant conditions. All the variable that you must work to control during the experiment, making sure they do not change from on test to the next are called constant conditions. Example: In the pendulum experiment, we have decided to change the length of the string from 15" in one trial to 20" in the next. The length is our Independent Variable. All the other variable that we need to do exactly the same from test to test are called Constant Conditions. The time the pendulum swings. How hard we swing the pendulum. The amount of weight on the end of the pendulum for each swing. These are all things that need to be the same for each and every swing of the pendulum, so they are Constant Conditions.
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DEPENDANT VARIABLES: In an experiment, when you make a change for your independent variable, you would expect to see a change in the outcome of the activity. This new outcome is called the Dependant Variable. Example: If we swing a 15" pendulum for 15 seconds we may find that the pendulum swings 12 times in 15 seconds. (12 swings per 15 seconds would be the speed, always measuring speed using distance and time.) Each time we do this activity, we will end up with the same speed if all variable are kept the same. After having 10 trials, we would know that the speed is a consistent 12 swings per 15 seconds. Now, we can introduce the Independent Variable. We will change the string to be 20" long. Now, when we swing the pendulum with the new Independent Variable, a new outcome or speed. The pendulum will swing at 9 swings per 15 seconds. This new speed or result is called the Dependant Variable. As you change the Independent Variable in the middle of the Experiment, the Dependant Variable, or outcome, changes at the end of the experiment.
5. conclusion
For the Conclusion, state if your hypothesis was correct or incorrect. You either accept or reject the hypothesis. Also, make suggestions on where the experiment should go next. What is the next step you would like to try if you were going to move on with the project.