Page 33 - General and Inorganic Chemistry for Advanced Secondary Schools Students Book Form Five and Six

Biology for Secondary Schools

Scientific methods Formulating a hypothesis
Task 2.3 A hypothesis (plural is hypotheses)
Search from library and reliable internet is a suggestion of the answer to the
sources the information on scientific question asked. It is an intelligent guess
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methods. that tries to explain an observation.
For example: ‘Earthworms prefer cool

Science is the knowledge and systematic well-shaded areas because these areas
study of the structure and behaviour have higher moisture than open well-lit
of the natural and physical world. It areas.

is based on facts that can be proven
through observation and experiments. Experimentation

In order to study situations and come An experiment is a scientific procedure
up with solutions to the problems, carried out under controlled conditions to
scientists follow a set of steps called the determine whether a hypothesis is correct
scientific method. The scientific method or not. In an experiment, a scientist uses
is a way of studying things by testing
facts systematically. It follows seven variables to test a hypothesis. Variables
steps which are: identifying the problem, are conditions or factors that can change
formulating a hypothesis, experimentation, or can be changed. Examples of variables
observation and recording data, data include temperature, speed, and light.

analysis and interpretation, conclusion, They can be classified as dependent,
and reporting results. independent, and controlled variables.

Identifying the problem Dependent variable: This is the condition
This is where a scientist makes a or factor that is measured or tested to
puzzling observation. The observation obtain the results of the experiment.
can be made in the environment or from
the work of other scientists. An example Independent or manipulated variable:
of such an observation is: ‘Earthworms This is a condition or a factor that the
are mostly found in cool and well-shaded researcher changes systematically to
soil’. After making an observation, obtain different results.
the scientist asks questions that can
be answered by gathering evidence. Controlled variable: This is the

For example: ‘What conditions make condition or factor that is kept constant
earthworms prefer cool shaded areas to during the experiment. For example,
open well-lit areas?

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