Hypothesis: a possible explanation of how a natural phenomenon works.
A hypothesis must have logical consequences that can be tested.
It allows predictions.
Examples:
Hypothesis:
Sunlight is necessary for seedling growth.
Prediction:
Seedlings grown in bags wrapped in aluminum-foil
will be shorter than those in bags without aluminum-foil,
because the aluminum keeps out sunlight.
Hypothesis:
Electrolyes are necessary for seedling growth.
Prediction:
Seedlings grown in bags with Gatoraid® will be longer
than those in bags with tap water, because Gatoraid®
provides extra electrolytes.
If – Then (Hypotheses - Prediction)
"If seedlings require electrolytes to grow after germination then
then seedlings grown in Gatoraid® will grow longer than those grown in tap water."
If – Then statements are not necessarily hypotheses.
These examples are only predictions, no explanation — no credit
"If sugar water is used to germinate seedlings then they will grow faster than in tap water."
"If seedlings are germinated in beer then they will grow crooked."
Middle-School Science Fair:
No understanding, no prediction, not hypotheses — not science, zero credit.
"I wanted to study the effect of battery acid on house plants."
"I studied whether cat sand could be used to clean up oil spills."
"My experiment demonstrated how dangerous household chemicals can be."
Better, but still low grade due to unclear explanation (why are "minerals" necessary?), errors in fact, poor English.
Hypothesis:
Due to the minerals in beer such as: rice, barley, hops, and wheat; the watermelon seeds will not grow as good as those being in water.
Prediction:
My prediction for this experiment is that the watermelon seeds in water will grow a lot quicker and faster than those in beer, but those seeds in beer will have some sort of result from it.
Hypothesis:
My Hypothisis is that the seeds with the control (water) will grow at a less rapid pace than the Miracle-Gro® infused water.
Prediction:
i believe that the chemicals in the miracle grow water will enhance the growth of the seeds while the controlled water will grow at the average rate.
Below are examples of definitions of
the word "hypothesis" using the eight words
control,
experiment,
hypothesis,
measurement,
methods,
prediction,
replication and
test.
The colors indicate whether the use of the words
is acceptable or not.
"To reach a hypothesis, you need to do an experiment in which [sic -1] make a prediction that you later test [uncl.] through different methods [wrong use], you also try to control [wrong use] the experiment through the measurement [wrong use] of the data that you have."
(no "replication", not good def'n.)
grade: 1.5/10 points
"A hypothesis is a way to explain a certain observation. It is then used to make a prediction that can be tested with various methods of experiments that are controlled reproductions of nature based on measurements needed to prove, or disprove the original hypothesis." (no "REPLICATION")
grade: 8/10 points
The prediction that comes forth from a hypothesis that one creates based on observation of nature should be tested through experimentation that involves a specific set of methods. Through the experimental procedure, quantitative measurements can be taken of the control group that lacks the "active ingredient." Upon, reaching an interpretation of the quantitative results, the experiment should be replicated (ie. use the exact same procedure of the initial experiment) many times to ensure that the procedure and thus the conclusions that are drawn from the results of the initial experiment are indeed valid.
grade: 10/10 points
A hypothesis is an explanation/educated guess that results in a prediction that can be tested." It upon previous measurements, observations, and experiments, that attempts to explain a natural system or part of a system. Following the scientific method, a scientist sets up an experiment to test the hypothesis. In the experiment, a variable is changed and the results of the experiment are compared with the results of a control. No difference between the control and treated experiments results in a null hypothesis. The experiment's results must be verified through replication.
grade: 10/10 points
A hypothesis is a falsifiable explanation, based on prior knowledge, which can produce a prediction. An explicit experimental method must be followed, so that other researchers can replicate the experiment (performing their own independent measurements) and check its validity. The experiment will be a test to determine whether the hypothesis can be disproved, and is typically a comparison between a group subjected to the factor being investigated and a control group (on which the active factor was not used).
grade: 10/10 points
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