How do you make a hypothesis! my teacher told me to use If THEN and Because! But I still don't get how to do it!
IF (what you are going to do), THEN(what you think will happen),BECAUSE (why you think this way)
Katrina's answer is very good. Possibly another way of stating it will make it even clearer.
If a particular change is made (independent variable), what do you think will happen (dependent variable)? Why do you think this will happen? Usually the why is related to some type of theory.
Perhaps reviewing the aspects of an experiment will also be helpful.
An independent variable is the potential stimulus or cause, usually directly manipulated by the experimenter, so it could also be called a manipulative variable.
A dependent variable is the response or measure of results.
Extraneous variables — other than the independent variable — potentially can affect the dependent variable, so they must be controlled. If possible, you try to keep them constant between the experimental and control group.
The experimental group receives the independent variable.
The control group is similar to experimental, except it does not receive the independent variable. Extraneous variables are balanced between experimental and control groups.
Types of experiments
1. Single blind gives the control group a placebo — a substance that is inert, it has no physical effect. Subjects don't know if they are in experimental or control group to reduce placebo effect, a change in behavior solely due to believing that you are getting the independent variable.
2. Double blind keeps both subjects and experimenter ignorant of group setup. Distribution of the independent variable and placebo is controlled by third party. This controls for experimenter bias and self-fulfilling prophecy. This means that experimenters with particular expectations are likely to consciously or unconsciously to bias the experiment and influence it to conform to their expectations.
As an example, suppose you want to find out if fluorides reduce dental cavities. You would find two groups, trying to control the extraneous variables. Extraneous variables are found by surveying previous research in the area. In this case, you would match the groups in terms of previous history of cavities, diet and dental hygiene habits including how and how often they brush their teeth.
The experimental group would get toothpaste with the independent variable, the fluoride, while the control group would not have the fluoride in their toothpaste. The toothpaste without the fluoride would be the placebo.
The dependent variable would be the number of cavities after participating in the experiment for a time. The dependent variable indicates the results, but it is not the results. At the end of the experiment, both groups could have no change in cavities or one of the groups could have a greater reduction in cavities. (Of course, if the fluoride increased cavities, you wouldn't want to use it.) All of these varied results would be indicated in terms of the dependent variable.
If only the subjects do not know who is getting the fluoride, it is a single blind experiment. If both the subjects and experimenter do not know, it is a double blind.
I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.
To make a hypothesis, you can use the structure "If-Then-Because." This structure helps you formulate a prediction based on your understanding of a particular situation or phenomenon.
Here's how you can create a hypothesis using the If-Then-Because structure:
1. Identify the independent variable: The independent variable is the factor that you will manipulate or change in your experiment or study. It is the "If" part of your hypothesis.
2. Determine the dependent variable: The dependent variable is the factor that you will measure or observe to see how it responds to the independent variable. It is the "Then" part of your hypothesis.
3. Establish the cause-effect relationship: Connect the independent variable and the dependent variable with a cause-effect relationship. This is the "Because" part of your hypothesis, where you explain why you think the independent variable will have an impact on the dependent variable.
For example, let's say you want to investigate the effect of studying with background music on students' concentration.
Hypothesis: If students study with background music, then their concentration will be lower because the additional auditory stimuli may distract them from focusing on their work.
In this example, the independent variable is studying with background music, the dependent variable is concentration, and the cause-effect relationship is that the presence of background music may distract students and lower their ability to concentrate.
Remember, a hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction that you can test through experimentation or further research. It should be based on prior knowledge, observations, or existing theories in the field.