Example Worksheet
Steps: Problem
I try to start my car to get to work. My car will not start. Since I don’t know much about cars, I decide to try an easy
solution first.
Step 2: Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an educated guess. I do know that cars are necessary for cars to run and remember running the car last
time with the gas light on. I can either write the hypothesis as a statement or as an if, then sentence.
Gas will make my car run.
If I put gas in my car, then my car will start.
Step 3: Control the Experiment
Experimental group: To determine ask yourself what the hypothesis says you are doing as a way to get the car to start.
It says I am putting gas in my car, so a car with gas is the experimental group.
Control Group: This is required as a comparison to know if it was truly the gas that caused the result. We would have
the car without gas (this may have already been done before we added the gas)
Independent variable: To help find the independent variable ask yourself what is different between the experimental
and control group and what was manipulated (changed) to get a reaction or response.
In this case it is the gas.
Dependent variable: This is also called the responding variable and is a reaction to the manipulation. It is what you are
measuring at the end of the experiment. In this case we are hoping the car will start.
Control variables: These are all the other variables that should remain constant in your experiment. In this case you
may want to run more than one trial and keep the type of car, engine, gas, etc. constant.
We will then run our test, analyze results and make a conclusion.
Practice Problems
1.
Students that eat breakfast get better grades OR If students eat breakfast, then they get better grades.
Experimental Group:
Control Group:
Independent variable (manipulated)
Dependent variable (responding)
Control variables (list at least three)
A scientists believes she has found a cure for lung cancer in a new medicine called cancer be gone. She wants to
create a study to determine if this is true.
Hypothesis:
Experimental Group:
Control Group:
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Control variables
2. Eating cheese causes gas OR If cheese is eaten, the n people will get gas.
Experimental Group:
Control Group:
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable:
Control variables
3. Homework does not improve grades OR If homework is done, then grades do not change or improve.
Experimental Group:
Control Group
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Control Variable
4.
If people eat healthy, then they will live longer OR People that eat healthy live longer.
The above is the hypothesis. You need to analyze and find the following.
Experimental Group (which group are you interested in studying?)
Control Group (which group would you set up for a comparision)
Independent Variable (manipulated) (What are you changing to see if there is a result?) (Look at the first part of the
hypothesis in the if part of the sentence)
Dependent variable (responding). (What response if being measured?)
Control variables (what controls do you need in place to have a good study for comparison-there are many in this type of
experiment and not all of them are easily controlled)