Independent variables are the ones which are manipulated, controlled, or changed. Independent variables are isolated from other factors of the study. Dependent variables , as name suggests are dependent on other factors of the study. They are influenced by the change in independent variable. Example 1 The greater number of coal plants in a region independent variable increases water pollution dependent variable. If you change the independent variable building more coal factories , it will change the dependent variable amount of water pollution.
Example 2 What is the effect of diet or regular soda independent variable on blood sugar levels dependent variable? If you change the independent variable the type of soda you consume , it will change the dependent variable blood sugar levels.
You should not ignore the importance of the above steps. The validity of your experiment and its results rely on a robust testable hypothesis. Developing a strong testable hypothesis has few advantages, it compels us to think intensely and specifically about the outcomes of a study. Consequently, it enables us to understand the implication of the question and the different variables involved in the study.
Furthermore, it helps us to make precise predictions based on prior research. Hence, forming a hypothesis would be of great value to the research. Here are some good examples of testable hypotheses. More importantly, you need to build a robust testable research hypothesis for your scientific experiments. A testable hypothesis is a hypothesis that can be proved or disproved as a result of experimentation.
To devise and perform an experiment using scientific method, you need to make sure that your hypothesis is testable. To be considered testable, some essential criteria must be met:.
If a hypothesis cannot be tested by making observations, it is not scientific. This statement may or may not be true, but it is not a scientific hypothesis. Given the nature of the hypothesis, there are no observations a scientist could make to test whether or not it is false.
The scientific method is a process or method of research. Scientific problems are usually based on observation of scientific phenomena. Here is some advice to help you identify a scientific problem you can address by designing your own experiment. This reading of the scientific method is a very general direction, so the alternatives are equally general. Science is a very deductive learning approach.
It depends upon one writing a hypothesis in highly objective terms and then testing it. Procedural learning is often viewed as an alternative approach. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Research Paper Why are hypotheses so important?
Remember, a hypothesis does not have to be correct. When conducting an experiment, researchers might explore a number of factors to determine which ones might contribute to the ultimate outcome. In many cases, researchers may find that the results of an experiment do not support the original hypothesis. When writing up these results, the researchers might suggest other options that should be explored in future studies.
In many cases, researchers might draw a hypothesis from a specific theory or build on previous research. For example, prior research has shown that stress can impact the immune system. So a researcher might hypothesize: "People with high-stress levels will be more likely to contract a common cold after being exposed to the virus than people who have low-stress levels.
In other instances, researchers might look at commonly held beliefs or folk wisdom. The researcher might pose a specific hypothesis that "People tend to select romantic partners who are similar to them in interests and educational level. When trying to come up with a good hypothesis for your own research or experiments, ask yourself the following questions:.
Before you come up with a specific hypothesis, spend some time doing background research. Once you have completed a literature review, start thinking about potential questions you still have. Pay attention to the discussion section in the journal articles you read. Many authors will suggest questions that still need to be explored.
In order to form a hypothesis, you should take these steps:. In the scientific method , falsifiability is an important part of any valid hypothesis. Students sometimes confuse the idea of falsifiability with the idea that it means that something is false, which is not the case.
What falsifiability means is that if something was false, then it is possible to demonstrate that it is false. One of the hallmarks of pseudoscience is that it makes claims that cannot be refuted or proven false. A variable is a factor or element that can be changed and manipulated in ways that are observable and measurable.
However, the researcher must also define how the variable will be manipulated and measured in the study. For example, a researcher might operationally define the variable " test anxiety " as the results of a self-report measure of anxiety experienced during an exam. A "study habits" variable might be defined by the amount of studying that actually occurs as measured by time.
These precise descriptions are important because many things can be measured in a number of different ways. One of the basic principles of any type of scientific research is that the results must be replicable. Some variables are more difficult than others to define.
How would you operationally define a variable such as aggression? For obvious ethical reasons, researchers cannot create a situation in which a person behaves aggressively toward others.
In order to measure this variable, the researcher must devise a measurement that assesses aggressive behavior without harming other people. In this situation, the researcher might utilize a simulated task to measure aggressiveness. Once a researcher has formed a testable hypothesis, the next step is to select a research design and start collecting data.
The research method depends largely on exactly what they are studying. There are two basic types of research methods: descriptive research and experimental research. Descriptive research such as case studies , naturalistic observations , and surveys are often used when it would be impossible or difficult to conduct an experiment.
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