Science Inquiry Method

Problem: State the problem in the form of a question.

Background: Brief discussion of what you already know or could find out before doing the experiment. Include supporting information for your hypothesis.

Hypothesis: What you think the answer to the stated problem is? Write your hypothesis as an if-then statement.

Experimental Design:

Independent or Manipulated Variable - the variable you are going to change.

Dependent or Responding Variable – the variable that changes because of the manipulated variable.

Constants – Things that remain unchanged or are kept the same in the experiment.

Control Group – Standard for comparison, used to determine if changes occurred.

Materials: List all materials, equipment needed to test your hypothesis.

Procedure: List step by step the procedure to test your hypothesis. Includes multiple trials

Data: Provide a data table of the quantitative observations or a written description of the qualitative observations.

Analysis: Include any graphs or charts that will help others to interpret the data. Also include any mathematical calculations needed for the analysis process.

Conclusion: Write a summary statement that responds to or answers the question stated in the problem. Usually a cause and effect statement, indicating that when a certain change is made in the manipulated variable, a certain result is observed in the responding variable.

Extensions: In paragraph form indicate whether the hypothesis was supported and why. Discuss improvements and strengths of your experimental test, applications of the information or data and further questions that could be tested.