Scientific Method Students are so sleepy in the

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Scientific Method

Scientific Method

Students are so sleepy in the morning when they arrive to school that teachers

Students are so sleepy in the morning when they arrive to school that teachers wanted to find out the best way to give students energy. Some teachers suggested we provide coffee while some teachers said energy drinks such as Red Bull would be more effective. The teachers would then rate how energetic their students were after drinking the various beverages.

Step 1 • Problem/Purpose – the reason for experiment and research • Example –

Step 1 • Problem/Purpose – the reason for experiment and research • Example – Students are sleepy in the morning when they arrive to school

Step 2 • Background Information/Research – knowledge about the topic that is gathered or

Step 2 • Background Information/Research – knowledge about the topic that is gathered or collected • Example – What causes students to be sleepy? How much sleep are they getting? Why is sleep necessary?

Step 3 • Hypothesis – an educated guess based on background information • Example

Step 3 • Hypothesis – an educated guess based on background information • Example – “If students drink coffee, they will be less tired” or “If students drink red bull, they will have more energy”

Step 4 • Experiment – testing the hypothesis in an experiment • Example –

Step 4 • Experiment – testing the hypothesis in an experiment • Example – Have several groups and each group is served a different beverage in the morning, then the teachers can rate how “awake” their students are

Step 5 • Collect Data/Analyze Data - factual information obtained from the experiment •

Step 5 • Collect Data/Analyze Data - factual information obtained from the experiment • Example – the ratings each student receives from their teacher about how much energy have

Step 6 • Conclusion - logical interpretation based on data collected during the experiment;

Step 6 • Conclusion - logical interpretation based on data collected during the experiment; agree or disagree with hypothesis • Example – if most students receive a rating of 9/10 after drinking coffee and a 6/10 after drinking Red Bull, what is the conclusion?

Parts of an Experiment

Parts of an Experiment

What is different about each group? The beverage that is being served to each

What is different about each group? The beverage that is being served to each student group Independent Variable – the factor that is different for each group

 • What is being measured? What information will be collected at the end?

• What is being measured? What information will be collected at the end? • How much energy the students have • Dependent variable – the factor that changes because of the independent variable

 • Which group is the “normal” group with nothing being changed? • The

• Which group is the “normal” group with nothing being changed? • The group receiving only water • Control – part of the experiment that eliminates other possibilities; basis for comparison

 • What is the same about all of the students in the group?

• What is the same about all of the students in the group? • Age, school, class, what time they arrive to school • Constants – things that are the same for every group of the experiment