EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Science answers questions with experiments

Begin by asking a question about
your topic
One that is testable with the materials at
hand
What is a good question for an
experiment?
DEFINE THE PROBLEM
Now we need a hypothesis to guide
our investigation.
What is a hypothesis?
Your best thinking about how the change
you make might affect another factor.
Tentative or trial solution to the question.
An if then statement.
No, It is NOT an educated guess!
The independent variable is the variable that is
purposely changed. It is the manipulated
variable.
The dependent variable changes in response to
the independent variable. It is the responding
variable.
Be sure to operationally define each variable.
Variables
Variables are things that change.

Constants in an Experiment
What are constants in an experiment?
Factors that are kept the same and not
allowed to change
The Control in an Experiment
What is a control?
The part of the experiment that serves as
the standard of comparison.
Why is a control necessary?
It is the unchanged part of the experiment
that detects the effects of hidden variables.
Materials and Procedures
A description of what you will use for your experiment, and
how you will do it.
Be sure to include:
Levels of the Independent Variable
Repeated Trials
Drawing of Apparatus


Levels of the Independent
Variable
How many different levels of the
independent variable should we test?
3 ? 5? 10? The more the better?
Repeated Trials
What are repeated trials?
The number of times that a level of the
independent variable is tested.
Why are repeated trials necessary?
They reduce the possibility of chance
errors affecting the results.
Drawing of Experiment
Include Labels
to clearly
identify the
important parts
of the
experimental
setup
Qualitative Observations and
Results
What are qualitative
observations?
They are what you perceive that
occurred during the course of your
experiment. They are
identification of trends in the data.
Quantitative Observations and
Results
What are quantitative observations?
Numbers in the form of raw data displayed
in data tables and graphs
Sample Data Table
Title: The Effect of the independent variable on the
dependent variable


Column for
independent variable
Column for
dependent variable
Column for derived
quantity

Label with units if
necessary
Label with units if
necessary multiple trials
included
Label with units if
necessary. Example
= average of trials
1 2 3
0 0 1 0 0
1 3 5 4 4
2 6 4 7 6
3 7 6 8 7
4 9 9 8 9


Whats wrong with this table?


1 2 3
14
17
14 15 14
17 18 16

8
10

10 11 11 8 6
7 6 8 7 4
4 3 5 4 2
0 0 1 0 0
Average temp. change
(
o
C)
Temp. Change of
water (
o
C) Trials
Number scoops of
calcium chloride
Whats wrong with this table?
The Effect of Various Amounts of Calcium Chloride on
the Temperature of Water


1 2 3
14
17
14 15 14
17 18 16

8
10

10 11 11 8 6
7 6 8 7 4
4 3 5 4 2
0 0 1 0 0
Average temp. change Temp. Change of
water Trials
Number scoops of
calcium chloride
Whats wrong with this table?
The Effect of Various Amounts of Calcium Chloride on
the Temperature of Water


1 2 3
14
17
14 15 14
17 18 16

8
10

10 11 11 8 6
7 6 8 7 4
4 3 5 4 2
0 0 1 0 0
Average temp. change
(
o
C)
Trials Number scoops of
calcium chloride
Constructing a Graph
What is the purpose of a graph?
Graphs communicate in pictorial form the
data collected in an experiment
Graphs
Title: The Effect of the independent variable on the dependent
variable
Independent Variable include
units and an appropriate scale
D
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a
n
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a
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Bar vs. Line Graphs - Which Should I Use?
The type of graph to use depends on the type of
data collected.
Discrete data are categorical like days of the week,
color, and brand of battery. Intervals between the
data have no meaning.
Continuous data are associated with measurements
involving a standard scale. Measurements should be
able to show a trend or relationship. Intervals
between data have meaning.
USE A BAR GRAPH
USE A LINE GRAPH
Two kinds of data: Discrete and Continuous
Constructing a Graph DRAW AND LABEL
AXES
X Axis - Independent Variable
Amount of Calcium Chloride (scoops)
Constructing a Line Graph - DETERMINE SCALES
FOR AXES
X: Largest value Smallest value = Range
10 scoops - 0 scoops = 10 scoops
10 scoops divided by 5 = 2 scoops
Y: Largest value Smallest value = Range
17
o
C 0
o
C = 17
o
C
17
o
C divided by 5 = 3.4 or ~ 5
o
C
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
5
10
15
20
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
I ncrease values on axes by 1, 2 ,5, 10 or
multiples of 10. There should be about
5 numbered subdivisions on each axis.
Constructing a Line Graph PLOT DATA PAIRS
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
5
10
15
20
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
.
.
.
.
.
.
Data Pairs
(0, 0)
(2, 4)
(4, 7)
(6, 10)
(8, 14)
(10, 17)
Constructing a Line Graph DRAW A
LINE-OF-BEST-FIT

0 2 4 6 8 10
0
5
10
15
20
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
.
.
.
.
.
.
Constructing a Line Graph TITLE THE GRAPH

0 2 4 6 8 10
0
5
10
15
20
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE
ON THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER
The title should state
the effect of the
independent variable
on the dependent
variable.

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Q1- What is wrong with this graph?
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
5
10
15
20
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS AMOUNTS
OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON THE
TEMPERATURE OF WATER
1 7 3 5 9
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Q2 - What is wrong with this graph?
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
4
7
10
14
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON
THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER
17
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Q3 - What is wrong with this graph?
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
5
10
15
20
Amount of calcium chloride
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON
THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Q4 - What is wrong with this graph?
0 5 10 15 20 25
0
2
4
6
8
Average Temp. Change (
o
C)
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON
THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER
10
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Q5 - What is wrong with this graph?
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
5
10
15
20
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON
THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Q6 - What is wrong with this graph?
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
5
10
15
20
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
.
.
.
.
.
.

0 10 20 30 40 50
0
10
20
30
40
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE
ON THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Q7 - What is wrong with this graph?
Analysis and Interpretation of
Results

This is where you describe in words
what is illustrated by your data as
shown in your table and graph

You also describe the meaning of the
results
Possible Experimental Errors
What factors in your
materials or procedure might
have had an impact on your
results?
Conclusion
Why or why not your results supported or
did not support the hypothesis.
Hypotheses are never wrong. They are
either supported or not supported.
Include reasons for the hypothesis to be
supported or unsupported.
Recommendations for Further
Experimentation
What are some practical applications
of your results?
What other questions that could be
tested arise from your results?
Writing A Statement of
the Problem for the
Experiment
It should state: The Effect of the Independent
Variable on the Dependent Variable.
What is a good statement of the problem
for The Helicopter?
What should it state?
What is the effect of wing length on time of descent?
More about our variables:

The independent variable is the variable that is
purposely changed. It is the manipulated variable.
The dependent variable changes in response to the
independent variable. It is the responding variable.
What is the Helicopter independent variable?
length of one wing as measured in centimeters
What is the dependent variable?
time of descent as measured in seconds
Title for the Helicopter
Experiment
The Effect of Wing Length on the Length
of Time the Helicopter Takes to Reach
the Ground
Another Look
at Our Hypothesis
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
If the length of the wings are increased,
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
then time of descent will increase.
Constants in an Experiment
Factors that are kept the same and not
allowed to change
What should be kept constant in theHelicopter?
CONSTANTS
Same structure of helicopters
Same dropping technique
Same dropping height
The Control in an Experiment
The part of the experiment that serves
as the standard of comparison.
What is a good control for the Helicopter?
CONTROL
Beginning length of wings (5 cm)
Levels of the Independent
Variable
How many different levels of the
independent variable should we test?
Enough to clearly illustrate a trend in
the data - 5cm, 6cm, 7cm, 8cm..
Repeated Trials
How many repeated trials are needed in the
Helicopter?
At least 3, then calculate an average value
for each level of the independent variable
Drawing of Experiment
Hold helicopter
in the middle
Drop from
same spot
each time
Qualitative Observations and Results
As we dropped the helicopter, we
observed that sometimes they
seemed to be affected by air
currents.
It appeared that helicopters with
longer wingspans took a greater
time to reach the ground
Quantitative Observations
Data Table and Graph
Sample Data Table
Title: The Effect of wing length on the time of descent
Wing Length
(cm)
Average Descent
Time (s)
Descent Time (s)
Trials

1 2 3
5
6
7
8
9
3 5 4 4
4 5 6 5
6 7 5 6
7 8 6 7
9 7 8 8
The Effect of Wing Length on Descent Time
5 6 7 8 9

4
5
6
7
8
Wing Length (cm)
.
.
.
.
.
The Effect of Wing Length on Descent Time
0 2 4 6 8 10
0
2
4
6
8
Wing Length (cm)
.
.
.
.
.
Analysis and Interpretation of
Results
While individual trial results showed some
variation; overall, as average wing length
increased from 5 through 9 centimeters,
average time of descent also increased
from 4 through 8 seconds.
This shows a direct correlation.

Possible Experimental Errors
Although the average results supported the
hypothesis, the individual trial results showed
some variation. Some possible reasons for this
could be due to air currents in the room or
reaction time differences between the timer
and the helicopter dropper.
Conclusion
The overall results supported the
hypothesis.
A possible reason for this could be
due to increased surface area of the
wing in contact with the air - allowing
for greater air support.
Recommendations for Further
Experimentation/ Practical Applications
Increased time of descent due to greater wing length
suggests that increased wing length could lead to
greater fuel efficiency of an actual helicopter.
Other experiments investigating factors that would
contribute to greater descent time might include:
making modifications in the shape of the wings,
changing the number of wing blades, and making folds
in the wing blades
Authors
Harry Dillner, Kathy Melvin


Delaware Science Olympiad