Hypothesis

1. Hypothesis The definitive guide on how to write a hypothesis Casa Grande Middle School G.Baker

2. What is a hypothesis? • A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about how things work. • A hypothesis is testable; an experimental investigation can be done based on the hypothesis. • Not every question can be answered by the scientific method. The hypothesis is the key. If you can state your question as a testable hypothesis, then you can use the scientific method to obtain an answer, which means you can do it as a science fair project.

3. Identify your variables • What is your independent variable? • What are you changing? • It should be only one thing. • What is your dependent variable? • What are you measuring?

4. Hypothesis Format • Use an “If…, Then….” statement. • An If, Then statement shows cause and effect. • In other words, what effect does the independent variable have on the dependent variable? Or what does the independent variable cause the dependent variable to do? • Write a research hypothesis using this format: • IF the independent variable changes, THEN the dependent variable will change. • Use the words • AFFECT – verb – to act upon, to change or to cause a change • EFFECT – noun – result; consequence • When you affect something, you produce an effect on it.

5. Let’s Practice • On a separate piece of paper, write your name. • On the top line, create a title for your science fair topic. • Identify the independent variable • Identify the dependent variable • Now we are ready to write our hypothesis. • If (I change this, independent variable), then (this will happen, dependent variable.)