EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Science answers questions with experiments

DEFINE THE PROBLEM

Begin by asking a question about

your topic
What is a good question for an
experiment?

One that is testable with the materials at

hand

Now we need a hypothesis to guide

our investigation.
What is a hypothesis?
No, It is NOT an educated guess!

Your best thinking about how the change

you make might affect another factor.
Tentative or trial solution to the question.
An if then statement.

Variables
Variables are things that change.
The independent variable is the variable that is
purposely changed. It is the manipulated
variable.
The dependent variable changes in response to
the independent variable. It is the responding
variable.
Be sure to operationally define each variable.

Constants in an Experiment
What are constants in an experiment?
Factors that are kept the same and not
allowed to change

The Control in an Experiment

What is a control?
The part of the experiment that serves as
the standard of comparison.
Why is a control necessary?
It is the unchanged part of the experiment
that detects the effects of hidden variables.

Materials and Procedures

A description of what you will use for your experiment, and
how you will do it.
Be sure to include:

Levels of the Independent Variable

Repeated Trials
Drawing of Apparatus

Levels of the Independent Variable

How many different levels of the
independent variable should we test?

3?

5?

10?

The more the better?

Repeated Trials

What are repeated trials?

The number of times that a level of the
independent variable is tested.
Why are repeated trials necessary?
They reduce the possibility of chance
errors affecting the results.

Drawing of Experiment
Include Labels
to clearly
identify the
important parts
of the
experimental
setup

Qualitative Observations and

Results
What are qualitative
observations?
They are what you perceive that
occurred during the course of your
experiment. They are
identification of trends in the data.

Quantitative Observations and

Results
What are quantitative observations?

Numbers in the form of raw data displayed

in data tables and graphs

Sample Data Table

Title: The Effect of the independent variable on the
dependent variable
Column for
Column for
Column for derived
independent variable dependent variable
quantity
Label with units if
necessary

Label with units if

necessary multiple trials
included

Label with units if

necessary. Example
= average of trials

Whats wrong with this table?

Number scoops of
calcium chloride

Temp. Change of
water (oC) Trials
1

Average temp. change

(oC)

11

11

10

8
10

14
17

15
18

14
16

14
17

Whats wrong with this table?

The Effect of Various Amounts of Calcium Chloride on
the Temperature of Water
Number scoops of
calcium chloride

Temp. Change of
water Trials
1

Average temp. change

11

11

10

8
10

14
17

15
18

14
16

14
17

Whats wrong with this table?

The Effect of Various Amounts of Calcium Chloride on
the Temperature of Water
Number scoops of
calcium chloride

Trials
1

Average temp. change

(oC)
3

11

11

10

8
10

14
17

15
18

14
16

14
17

Constructing a Graph
What is the purpose of a graph?

Graphs communicate in pictorial form

the data collected in an experiment

Graphs
Title: The Effect of the independent variable on the dependent
variable

Dependent Variable include u

Independent Variable include

units and an appropriate scale

Bar vs. Line Graphs - Which Should I Use?

The type of graph to use depends on the type of
data collected.

Two kinds of data: Discrete and Continuous

Discrete data are categorical like days of the week,
color, and brand of battery. Intervals between the
data have no meaning. USE A BAR GRAPH
Continuous data are associated with measurements
involving a standard scale. Measurements should be
able to show a trend or relationship. Intervals
between data have meaning.

USE A LINE GRAPH

DRAW AND LABEL

AXES

Temp. of Water (oC)

Y Axis - Dependent Variable

Constructing a Graph

Amount of Calcium Chloride (scoops)

X Axis - Independent Variable

Average Temp. change (o C)

Constructing a Line Graph - DETERMINE SCALES

FOR AXES
Increase values on axes by 1, 2 ,5, 10 or
20
multiples of 10. There should be about
5 numbered subdivisions on each axis.
15
X: Largest value Smallest value = Range
10
5

10 scoops - 0 scoops = 10 scoops

10 scoops divided by 5 = 2

scoops

Y: Largest value Smallest value = Range

17 oC 0 oC = 17 oC
17o C
divided by 5 = 3.4 or ~ 5

0
0
2
4
6
8
10
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

Average Temp. change (deg C)

Constructing a Line Graph PLOT DATA PAIRS

20
15
10
5
0

.
.

0
2
4
6
8
10
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

Data Pairs
(0, 0)
(2, 4)
(4, 7)
(6, 10)
(8, 14)
(10, 17)

Average Temp. change (deg C)

Constructing a Line Graph DRAW A

LINE-OF-BEST-FIT
20
15
10
5
0

.
.

0
2
4
6
8
10
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

Average Temp. change (oC)

Constructing a Line Graph TITLE THE GRAPH

THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE
ON THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER

20
15
10
5
0

.
.

The title should state

the effect of the
independent variable
on the dependent
variable.

0
2
4
6
8
10
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

Average Temp. change (oC)

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Q1- What is wrong with this graph?
20

THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS AMOUNTS

OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON THE
TEMPERATURE OF WATER

15
10
5
0

.
.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

Average Temp. change (oC)

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Q2 - What is wrong with this graph?
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON THE
TEMPERATURE OF WATER

17
14
10
7
4
0

0
2
4
6
8
10
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

Average Temp. change

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Q3 - What is wrong with this graph?
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON THE
TEMPERATURE OF WATER

20
15
10
5
0

.
0

.
.

2
4
6
8
Amount of calcium chloride

10

Amount of Calcium Chloride (scoops)

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Q4 - What is wrong with this graph?
10
8
6
4
2
0

THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS

AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON THE
TEMPERATURE OF WATER

0
5
10
15
20
Average Temp. Change (oC)

25

Average Temp. change (oC)

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Q5 - What is wrong with this graph?
THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS
AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON THE
TEMPERATURE OF WATER

20
15
10
5
0

.
.

0
2
4
6
8
10
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

Average Temp. change (oC)

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Q6 - What is wrong with this graph?
20
15
10
5
0

.
.

0
2
4
6
8
10
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Average Temp. change (oC)

Q7 - What is wrong with this graph?

40

THE EFFECT OF ADDING VARIOUS

AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE
ON THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER

30
20
10
0

..
..
..
0
10
20
30
40
50
Amount of calcium chloride (scoops)

Analysis and Interpretation of

Results
This is where you describe in words
what is illustrated by your data as
shown in your table and graph
You also describe the meaning of the
results

Possible Experimental Errors

What factors in your
materials or procedure might
have had an impact on your
results?

Conclusion
Why or why not your results supported or
did not support the hypothesis.
Hypotheses are never wrong. They are
either supported or not supported.
Include reasons for the hypothesis to be
supported or unsupported.

Recommendations for Further

Experimentation
What are some practical applications
of your results?
What other questions that could be
tested arise from your results?

Writing A Statement of
the Problem for the
Experiment
What should it state?
It should state: The Effect of the Independent
Variable on the Dependent Variable.
What is a good statement of the problem
for The Helicopter?
What is the effect of wing length on time of descent?

More about our variables:

The independent variable is the variable that is
purposely changed. It is the manipulated variable.
The dependent variable changes in response to the
independent variable. It is the responding variable.
What is the Helicopter independent variable?

length of one wing as measured in centimeters

What is the dependent variable?

time of descent as measured in seconds

Title for the Helicopter

Experiment
The Effect of Wing Length on the Length
of Time the Helicopter Takes to Reach
the Ground

Another Look
at Our Hypothesis

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
If the length of the wings are increased,
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
then time of descent will increase.

Constants in an Experiment
Factors that are kept the same and not
allowed to change
What should be kept constant in theHelicopter?
CONSTANTS
Same structure of helicopters
Same dropping technique
Same dropping height

The Control in an Experiment

The part of the experiment that serves
as the standard of comparison.
What is a good control for the Helicopter?
CONTROL
Beginning length of wings (5 cm)

Levels of the Independent Variable

How many different levels of the
independent variable should we test?

Enough to clearly illustrate a trend in

the data - 5cm, 6cm, 7cm, 8cm..

Repeated Trials

How many repeated trials are needed in the

Helicopter?
At least 3, then calculate an average value
for each level of the independent variable

Drawing of Experiment
Hold helicopter
in the middle
Drop from
same spot
each time

Qualitative Observations and Results

As we dropped the helicopter, we
observed that sometimes they
seemed to be affected by air
currents.
It appeared that helicopters with
longer wingspans took a greater
time to reach the ground

Quantitative Observations
Data Table and Graph

Sample Data Table

Title: The Effect of wing length on the time of descent
Wing Length

Descent Time (s)

Trials

Average Descent
Time (s)

(cm)
5

1
3

2
5

3
4

Average Descent Time (sec)

The Effect of Wing Length on Descent Time

8
7
6
5
4

.
5

.
6

7
8
Wing Length (cm)

Average Descent Time (sec)

The Effect of Wing Length on Descent Time

.
.
.
.
.

8
6
4
2
0
0

4
6
8
Wing Length (cm)

10

Analysis and Interpretation of

Results

While individual trial results showed some

variation; overall, as average wing length
increased from 5 through 9 centimeters,
average time of descent also increased
from 4 through 8 seconds.
This shows a direct correlation.

Possible Experimental Errors

Although the average results supported the
hypothesis, the individual trial results showed
some variation. Some possible reasons for this
could be due to air currents in the room or
reaction time differences between the timer
and the helicopter dropper.

Conclusion
The overall results supported the
hypothesis.
A possible reason for this could be
due to increased surface area of the
wing in contact with the air - allowing
for greater air support.

Recommendations for Further

Experimentation/ Practical Applications
Increased time of descent due to greater wing length
suggests that increased wing length could lead to
greater fuel efficiency of an actual helicopter.
Other experiments investigating factors that would
contribute to greater descent time might include:
making modifications in the shape of the wings,
changing the number of wing blades, and making folds
in the wing blades

Authors
Harry Dillner, Kathy Melvin
Delaware Science Olympiad