This document provides instructions for designing and conducting a scientific experiment. It outlines the key steps: stating the problem by defining the independent and dependent variables; formulating a hypothesis; listing required materials; designing procedures; collecting organized data in a table; graphing the results; analyzing the data and conclusions by determining if the results support the hypothesis and stating sources of experimental error. The goal is for students to gain experience investigating a question, collecting and analyzing data, and determining conclusions based on evidence.

1. Objective:
You will design an experiment,
collect data, analyze and graph data
and formulate conclusions based
on your data.

2. How to plan an experiment.

3. Make observations…..
 What materials are available?
 What are some possible independent
variables you can investigate?
 How will you collect data?

4. State your problem
 What is your independent variable?
 What is your dependent variable?
 Construct your problem statement in
the form of a question? (Include your
independent and dependent
variables.)

5. State your hypothesis
 What’s YOUR educated guess as to
what the outcome of your experiment
will be?
 Don’t forget to include WHY you think
the way you do.

6. List your materials
 Make sure to list ALL materials used.
 Identify the size of beakers, test tubes,
etc. that you are using.
 Remember….if someone were to
replicate your experiment, they would
know EXACTLY what they need to
perform the test EXACTLY as you did!

7. Design your experiment
 Write your procedures in step by step
format.
 Be specific and detailed.
 Remember….by reading your
procedures, someone should be able
to replicate your experiment EXACTLY
the way you did it!

8. Draw a data table
 When collecting data, you need to be
organized.
 With a data table ready BEFORE the
experiment, your data will be recorded
in an organized manner and you can
avoid any confusion when analyzing
and graphing your data.

9. Graph your data
 Decide on the type of graph that will
best represent your data.
 See graphing guidelines……

10. Analyze your data and state
your conclusions
 Does your data support your
hypothesis?
 What does your data prove in terms of
your problem statement? Mention
data!
 How valid is your experiment? (What
went wrong?)
 What would you do differently next
time?

11. Remember….
 No one experiment you do in this
classroom will be valid! You are only
going to run an experiment ONCE and it
takes MANYYYYYY trials to validate the
outcome of any experiment.
 Don’t be afraid to be wrong. We’re here
to discover!
 Use your conclusions to explain any
problems that led to the invalidity of your
experiment.

12. Give your experiment a TITLE
 Be creative but make sure that it
reflects what you are investigating.