Understanding Experimental Concepts

_______________:1___________________________________– The variable that is changed or

“Manipulated” by the person running the experiment.

*What “I” the experimenter change about each group or trial that I am running.

Example: If a scientist wanted to see which type of _________ a gorilla liked the best.

* He would have to ____________ or ______________the different fruits to offer the gorilla, thus making the independent variable “__________________________________________________”

2. ___________________________________= the variable that changes as a result of the changes made to the I.V.

• Simpler put the “__________________________you are looking For”

Usually something that can be “___________________”

Same Example: If a scientist wanted to see which type of fruit a gorilla liked the best.

* The _____________________________________________would be how much of each fruit the gorilla ate (Indicating His Favorite), thus making the dependent variable “___________________________________________________________”

Types of Food How much Gorilla Ate in a

dayBananas 15 Oranges 8 Apples 5

Bananas Oranges Apples 02468

10121416

Type of Fruit a Gorilla Prefers

Type of Fruit Offered

Number Eaten (day)

Data Tables, Graphs & Variable Locations:

Data Table:

Graph:

_____is always on the ____________!

______is most often the _____Column.

______ is the columns to the right of the _____& the ______ is located on the ___________in a graph!

Control Groups & Factors that are Kept the Same in an Experiment:

1. __________________: The Group used for ________________in an experiment, the one _______ changed by the experimenter.

_______________________________

2nd – Find the Group, Trial or Part of the I.V. that is ______changed and can be used for _______________ =

“_____________” ______________– It is not a Pain Killer!

Example: A doctor tested the effectiveness of pain killers on a patient that was in chronic pain. The doctor gave the patient a “placebo,” sugar pill the first day, Tylenol the second day, and Advil the third day. He rated the patients level of pain on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst). Each day the patient was told to rest on the couch, eat 3 meals and watch only Oprah, Sportscenter or the Food Network.

What is the Control Group in this experiment?

1st – Find the ______ =

2. Factors that are kept the same in an Experiment:

* Each “_________________________________” will always have one thing change _______and the rest of the factors in the experiment _____________________for each group being tested.

Same Example: A doctor tested the effectiveness of pain killers on a patient that was in chronic pain. The doctor gave the patient a “placebo,” sugar pill the first day, Tylenol the second day, and Advil the third day. He rated the patients level of pain on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst). Each day the patient was told to rest on the couch, eat 3 meals and watch only Oprah, Sportscenter or the Food Network.

* What factors in this experiment are kept the same for the patient?

Each day the patient was told to ____________________, ____________________and ____________________ Oprah, Sportscenter or the Food Network.

Data & Drawing Conclusions:

1. Data can be represented in 2 ways:• ___________________: Numbers, Measures, Values

• Ex. ______ rabbits• Qualitative: __________________ or listed characteristics

• Ex. The rabbits were __________ and ____________

2. Conclusions: Statements drawn after ________________ your data.* Must be “__________________” with actual data!

Types of Food How much Gorilla Ate in a

day

Bananas 15

Oranges 8

Apples 5

Using this data table what would be a good conclusion supported with data?

Conclusion = The Gorillas favorite fruit must be _______________ because he ate ___ bananas compared to ___oranges & ___apples in a day.