1. Step 2: Research your Question and Step 3: Form a Hypothesis
Scientific Inquiry Process
Created by: Mrs. Gismonde

2. Step 2: Research your Question
Sometimes your science teacher will give you the background information you need in order to complete your experiment.
This means you will not have to research your question. 
However, if you are experimenting at home or preparing for the science fair, you will need to conduct your own research.
Researching means to build your background knowledge on the key terms and concepts pertaining to your question.
Researching will also help you to design your experiment.
Researching will help you to make an educated guess as to the outcome of your experiment.

3. Identify keywords and concepts you need to research.
When you are preparing to start your research you should always make a plan.
The Plan
Identify keywords and concepts you need to research.
Make a list of questions using your keywords and concepts.
Examples of Starter Questions:
Who needs/discovered/invented______?
What causes _________?
Where does _______occur?
When does________ cause ______?
Why does __________ happen or occur?
How does ___________ happen or work?
Make a list of the formulas or equations (if any) that you will need to solve your question.

4. See it in action
Question: Does drinking milk help decrease the spiciness of jalapeños better then soda?
*Please Note:
You are not researching the answer to the question above.
Instead you are building your background knowledge to assist in creating your experiment.
The Plan:
Identifying keywords and concepts:
Keywords:
Spiciness
Milk
Jalapeños peppers
Soda
Concept:
Taste Buds

5. Which two questions above would not be relevant to your research? Why?
The Plan Continued…
2. Make a list of relevant questions using all of your keywords/concepts.
Example:
Who needs spiciness?
What causes spiciness to increase or decrease?
Where in the body does spiciness occur?
When does spiciness cause upset stomach?
Why do spicy foods taste hot on our taste buds?
How does the tongue detect spiciness?
Stop and Think:
Which two questions above would not be relevant to your research?
Questions #1 and #4
Why?
Both questions are not researchable. The answers will vary based upon personal experiences.

6. The Plan Continued…
3) Research and list any formulas that pertain to your question.
(This particular experiments does not require a formula)
A sample Background Research Plan Worksheet will now appear on your next click.
**To return to this PowerPoint, simply exit the PDF.
Tips:
While you are researching your background information it might also be helpful to:
Research the history of similar experiments performed by other scientists.
Network:
Not all information is found in books or on the internet Consider seeking advice from:
Scientists
Mentors
Teachers
Adults
Etc.

7. Begin Researching
After you create your research plan you will need to… Begin Researching 
It is suggested that you have at least three different sources.
Sources could include:
Books
Internet
Asking Experts
Carefully take notes.
Make sure to answer your research questions thoroughly.
Properly cite your sources and create a bibliography.
For more information on citing your sources click here.

8. What to do next? After you have completed your research you need to…
Step 3: Form a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a statement that explains what a person believes will happen in a particular experiment.
Having researched background information on your question, you will now be able to make an educated guess as to your experiments outcome.
You will be able to form a hypothesis.

9. Here are a few examples:
Testable Question: How does opening the kitchen faucet affect the flow of water ?
Research: Faucets are typically built with washers or a seal that close against a valve to restrict water flow. When the valve is turned on it allows water to flow from the pipes and through the faucet.
Hypothesis: If I open the kitchen faucet then it will begin the flow of water.
Testable Question: Do tomato plants need sunlight to grow?
Research: Green plants need sunlight in order to make chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the chemical that makes plants green and is formed through the process of photosynthesis. Without sunlight plants will eventually loose their green color and die.
Hypothesis: If a tomato plant is placed in a dark room then it will not grow.
Do you see a pattern within these hypotheses?

10. Hypothesis Most hypothesis are written in an…
If __________________, then________________ format.
Some scientists refer to this as the cause and effect relationship.
If I __(Cause)___, then __(Effect)___.
Example:
If I open the kitchen faucet (cause) then it will begin the flow of water (effect).
If plants need nitrogen to grow (cause) then those plants should grow taller (effect) than plants not given extra nitrogen.

11. produce larger tomatoes
Try It
Complete the following cause and effect sentence starters:
If I study for a test, then I will _____________.
If I spray fertilizer on my tomato plants, then they will ______________.
If I do 20 jumping jacks then my heart rate will ______________.
get an A
produce larger tomatoes
increase

12. However scientists do not have to follow the If_____, then ______ format.
A cause and effect hypothesis can be written without using the words if and then.
Examples:
As nitrogen levels are increased (cause) the plants will grow faster (effect).
Plants grow more with nitrogen (effect) because nitrogen is a nutrient that plants need (cause).

13. Hypothesis Pattern
A hypothesis will always state the cause first, then the effect.
The cause is known as the test variable
The effect is known as the outcome variable
The test variable will always cause a change in the outcome variable.

14. Remember… There is only one test variable within an experiment.
There can be multiple outcome variables within an experiment.
Example:
Hypothesis: If nitrogen levels are increased, then plants will grow faster.
Remember a hypothesis is written
If __(test variable)__, then __(outcome variable)___.
What is the test variable within the above hypothesis?
Nitrogen levels are increased
What is the outcome variable within the above hypothesis?
Plants will grow faster

15. Remember… We stated the outcome variable was: the plants grow faster.
How could you measure plant growth?
Possible answers:
Measuring plant height
Measuring the size of the leaves
Measuring the number of buds or flowers
There are multiple ways plant growth can be measured within this experiment. 

16. Putting It Together
In the last lesson we learned about different types of variables.
Click the picture of the rat to review the memory drug experiment.
Questions:
What was the test variable within this experiment?
the new memory drug.
What was the outcome variable within the experiment ?
the time it took to complete the maze.

17. Writing a Hypothesis
When your first learning how to write a hypothesis sometimes it’s easier to use the if____, then____ format.
Fill in the blanks
If a older rat is given _(test variable)_, then_(outcome variable)_.
You might have answered:
If an older rat is given the new memory drug, then the rat will decrease the time it takes to complete the maze.

18. Krusty’s Experiment
On the next slide you will read about an experiment performed by Krusty the clown.
Make sure to keep the following items in mind:
Question posed
Test variable
Outcome variable
Results/Conclusion
Hypothesis

19. Sneezing Powder Read the following paragraph:
Krusty the clown was told that Achoo brand of sneezing powder is the newest on the market. This powder claims to cause 50% longer sneezes. Interested in this product, he buys the sneezing powder and compares it to his old sneezing powder.
Test subject (A) is sprinkled with Krusty’s old sneezing powder.
Test subject (B) was sprinkled with the Achoo brand sneezing powder.
Results:
Subject A reported having sneezed 30 times.
Subject B reported to have sneezed 45 times.

20. Click here to review the paragraph.
Question #1
Review: What was Krusty’s initial question?
Will the new sneezing powder causes 50% more sneezes.
What was the test variable within this experiment?
Test subjects sprinkled with sneezing powder
Old sneezing powder was sprinkled on subject A
Achoo brand sneezing powder was sprinkled on subject B
New powder made subject B sneeze more
Click here to review the paragraph.

21. Sorry
Click here to try again Need Help? Click the picture below to read additional information on variables.

22. Click the beaker below to continue:
Great Job
Click the beaker below to continue:

23. Click here to review the paragraph.
Question #2
2) What was the outcome variable within this experiment?
Test subjects sprinkled with sneezing powder
Old sneezing powder was sprinkled on subject A
Achoo brand sneezing powder was sprinkled on subject B
New powder made test subjects sneeze more
Click here to review the paragraph.

24. Sorry
Click here to try again Need Help? Click the picture below to read additional information on variables.

25. Click the beaker below to continue:
Great Job
Click the beaker below to continue:

26. Click here to review the paragraph.
Question # 3
3) Identify the control group within Krusty’s experiment:
Test subjects sprinkled with sneezing powder
Old sneezing powder was sprinkled on subject A
Achoo brand sneezing powder was sprinkled on subject B
New powder made test subject B sneeze more
Click here to review the paragraph.

27. Sorry
Click here to try again Need Help? Click the picture below to read additional information on variables.

28. Click the beaker below to continue:
Great Job
Click the beaker below to continue:

29. Click here to review the paragraph.
Question # 4
4) Write a hypothesis describing what Krusty expected to happen within his experiment.
Format:
If __________________,then______________.
Possible Answer:
If the new sneezing powder is inhaled then it will make the person sneeze more then the old sneezing powder.
Click here to review the paragraph.

30. Click here to review the paragraph.
Question # 5
5) What should Krusty’s conclusion be?
Possible answers:
The new sneezing powder did cause test subject B to sneeze 50% more times then test subject A.
Therefore the Achoo powder fulfilled its advertising claims.
Click here to review the paragraph.

31. Mini Assessment:
On a lined piece of paper answer the following questions:
Why is it important to research your question?
Take the following questions and turn them into a hypothesis:
2. Question: What effect does amount of water have on plant growth?
Hypothesis:
3. Question: What effect does using plant food (Miracle Grow) have on plant growth?

32. Try it at home Locate a magnet at your house.
Find three of the following items at your house:
Wood
Paper
Plastic
Pie tin
Metal
Steel
Write a hypothesis about the magnets and the materials you found around at your house.
Take your magnet and see if the magnet sticks to these items.
After analyzing your data change you hypothesis if needed.

33. The End

34. Bibliography
Bollinger, D. (n.d.). Review Sheet: Experimental Design and Scientific Method . Retrieved June 2011, from The Earth to Class, Lamont- Doherty Earth Observatory:
Experimental designs. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2011, from
Identify the controls and variables. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2011, from
Southwest Center for Education and the Natural Environment . (n.d.). Retrieved June 2011, from Scientific method:
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2011, from Homer Simpson:
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2011, from Krusty the Clown:

35. Sneezing Powder Read the following paragraph:
Krusty the clown was told that Achoo brand of sneezing powder is the newest on the market. This powder claims to cause 50% more sneezes. Interested in this product, he buys the sneezing powder and compares it to his old sneezing powder.
Test subject (A) is sprinkled with Krusty’s old sneezing powder.
Test subject (B) was sprinkled with the Achoo brand sneezing powder.
Results:
Subject A reported having sneezed for 30 minutes.
Subject B reported to have sneezed for 45 minutes.
Return to Question 1
Return to Question 2
Return to Question 3
Return to Question 4
Return to Question 5

36. Review Review the following paragraph:
Dr. Smith wants to examine whether a new drug increases the maze running performance of older rats.  Just like humans, older rats show signs of poor memory for new situations.  Dr. Smith teaches two groups of older rats to find a piece of cheese in the maze.  One group of are rats given the new drug while they are learning the maze.  The second group is not given the drug.  After one week of learning the maze, he retests the rats and records how long it takes them to find the cheese.
Click here to return