Experimental Design Notes
A hypothesis is a prediction not an educated guess because predictions are based on evidence and prior knowledge not just a hunch.
Variables are things that CAN change but do not necessarily change in an experiment.
Independent or manipulated variable change or are manipulated by the scientist.
Dependent variables or responding variables are measures as a result of the independent variable changing.
Controlled or constant variables are those that are identical for each group or object. These are the variables that stay the same during the experiment.
Causation and correlation are where the data may be linked. However, causation would need to be predictable and clearly defined with a cause and effect. For example: children watching violence on T.V. makes them violent. This may seem like causation, but, when you look at all of the factors that may impact this; socio-economic background, environmental factors, maturity, emotionality, background, culture etc. You can not definitively say that violence on T.V. causes children to become violent.
Remember The Scientific Method is one process that scientists can use for their experimental design. These steps can be followed in order, less or more steps can be used, and they can go out of order. Some scientists make observations and do not conduct experiments and thus do not use this method of organization.
Watch this video on the Scientific Method and Variables to help put all of this together.
https://youtu.be/nzfDvfoBv_g
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