Mr. Mason’s Cruel Experiment (or Mason’s version of the scientific method…)

1. First step of any scientific investigation?

1. Observation

Some students do better in school than others

1. Observation Some students do better in school than others The students who do better also do more homework (positive correlation)

2.

2. Hypothesis More homework leads to higher student achievement

2. Hypothesis More homework leads to higher student achievement – Do not use phrases like “I think…” State your hypothesis as a positive statement, as though it is fact.

3.

3. Design experiment and do research Have others already studied this relationship? If so, how did they do it?

3. Design experiment and do research Have others already studied this relationship? If so, how did they do it? How do you measure student achievement? – Final grades? Test scores? Future jobs/income?

3. Design experiment and do research Have others already studied this relationship? If so, how did they do it? How do you measure student achievement? – Final grades? Test scores? Future jobs/income? Vary levels of treatment – Some with normal amount, some with a lot

3. Design experiment and do research Have others already studied this relationship? If so, how did they do it? How do you measure student achievement? – Final grades? Test scores? Future jobs/income? Vary levels of treatment – Some with normal amount, some with a lot Test null hypothesis – Give one class no homework at all

3. Design experiment and do research Have others already studied this relationship? If so, how did they do it? How do you measure student achievement? – Final grades? Test scores? Future jobs/income? Vary levels of treatment – Some with normal amount, some with a lot Test null hypothesis – Give one class no homework at all Keep all other variables constant

4.

4. Do the experiment

5.

5. Analyze data

6.

6. Conclusion and replication See if any conclusions can be drawn from data If it can, do the experiment again to make sure that results are consistent

7.

7. Communication

8.

8. Verification Have other scientists do your experiment. Results and conclusions are only considered valid if other people get the same results.