List your own example of turning an observation into a hypothesis. Be sure to list all five steps:
observation, explanation, test (independent variable), prediction (dependent variable), and
hypothesis.
this is my example
Observation
The trash smells.
Explanation
Decaying biological material causes the trash to smell.
Test (independent variable)
Add food scraps to one trash can along with non-food materials, such as plastic, cardboard, paper, and tin. To a second trash can, add only non-food materials, such as plastic, cardboard, paper, and tin. Observe the smell of each trash can over a few days.
Prediction (dependent variable)
The trash can containing food scraps will smell more than the trash can with non-food materials.
Hypothesis
If decaying matter causes the trash to smell, then removing food scraps from the trash will decrease the odor that it produces.
Your independent variable is the food scraps, and your dependent variable is the odor. Your prediction is really the hypothesis.
Observation: The trash smells.
Explanation: Decaying biological material causes the trash to smell.
Test (Independent Variable): Add food scraps to one trash can along with non-food materials, such as plastic, cardboard, paper, and tin. To a second trash can, add only non-food materials, such as plastic, cardboard, paper, and tin. Observe the smell of each trash can over a few days.
Prediction (Dependent Variable): The trash can containing food scraps will smell more than the trash can with non-food materials.
Hypothesis: If decaying matter causes the trash to smell, then removing food scraps from the trash will decrease the odor that it produces.
To turn an observation into a hypothesis, you need to follow these five steps:
1. Observation: Make an observation of some phenomena or situation that catches your attention. In this case, the observation is that the trash smells.
2. Explanation: Come up with a plausible explanation for the observation. In this case, the explanation is that decaying biological material causes the trash to smell.
3. Test (Independent Variable): Identify the independent variable, which is the factor that you will manipulate or change to test the hypothesis. In this case, the independent variable is adding food scraps to one trash can while only adding non-food materials to the other trash can.
4. Prediction (Dependent Variable): Determine the dependent variable, which is the variable that you will measure or observe to see if it changes as a result of the independent variable. In this case, the dependent variable is the smell of each trash can.
5. Hypothesis: Formulate a statement that establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables. In this case, the hypothesis is that if decaying matter causes the trash to smell, then removing food scraps from the trash will decrease the odor it produces.