Define and Identify components of an experiment.

Q = List the steps of the scientific method? A = 1. State the Problem 2. Research 3. Hypothesis 4. Design Experiment to test Hypothesis 5. Experiment / Collect Data 6. Analysis 7. Share it

What do these two terms mean? Are they the same?

Validity = True/Accurate Reliability = Consistency

Why are these two concepts important to science? How do they effect designing an experiment?

 For any scientific claim to be accepted by the science community, the experiment findings should be both valid and reliable.  In other words, the experiment should be able to be tested by other scientist and they should have similar, repeatable results.

 The following slides will list some of the major components of an experimental design.

Controls = the group or component that will not have the independent variable tested on it. The experimental group’s results are compared to this data. Variable = The component of the experiment being tested.

You should have a control group for every variable being tested. There should be only one variable for any particular question being tested at a given time.

Data= Recording results (qualitative & quantitative) gained from the experiment. Trails= The number of times the experiment tests the variables. Sample Size = The number of subjects in the experimental group.

For data to be most reliable: Data should be recorded immediately Trails should be repeated several times Sample sizes should be large and random for the population being tested.

 Control Group = Group under “normal” circumstances or not being tested with the variables. The results from the variable will be compared to the control group’s results.  Experimental Group (Variable Group) = The group of the experiment being tested on. The part which prove/disprove the hypothesis.  Independent Variable = What you are testing with or the unknown part that does not change based on another component (e.g. Time).  Dependent Variable = What you are testing for (a result). This variable requires (is dependent) on the independent variable`

 Lisa is designing a science experiment. She wants to know if a new commercial hair product called “Big’Fro” affects the speed of hair growth” versus a brand of hair product that her family commonly uses. Her family has volunteered for the experiment. 1. Design a simple experiment of how Lisa could perform this experiment. 2. Identify the control group and the independent and dependent variables.

Define and Identify components of an experiment.