Question and Hypothesis

AFTER you've done your research and concluded your experiments, it is time to prepare for the science fair. Ask specific questions about preparing for a science fair, including how to set up your display board, how to prepare a presentation, etc. (Please post questions about selecting a project or conducting your experiment by posting in the appropriate "area of science" forum.)

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VMilan
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:57 pm
Occupation: Mother/Homemaker
Project Question: I would like to ask a question about a Hypothesis.
Project Due Date: February 20,2013
Project Status: I am just starting

Question and Hypothesis

Post by VMilan »

My forth grade daughter is getting ready for her science fair.
I am concerned about the question and hypothesis we picked.
Question- Will organic fried chicken decompose faster then fast food fried chicken?
Hypothesis- Organic fried chicken will decompose at a accelerated rate due to the lack of antibiotics, arsenic, growth hormones, preservatives and steroids.
What do you think?
Snobs3747
Former Expert
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:57 am
Occupation: Student: 11th grade
Project Question: To volunteer as an expert
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Re: Question and Hypothesis

Post by Snobs3747 »

Hello and thanks for the question!
I do think both your question and hypothesis are excellent, especially for a fourth grade projet. They are clear, specific, and concise. Your hypothesis not only makes a good prediction, but justifies it too. And your question is straight to the point and lets the observer know exactly what they are looking at when they walk up to it. Overall I'd say both your question and hypothesis are great! Nothing to worry about!
Let me know if that helped or if you have any more questions!
VMilan
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:57 pm
Occupation: Mother/Homemaker
Project Question: I would like to ask a question about a Hypothesis.
Project Due Date: February 20,2013
Project Status: I am just starting

Re: Question and Hypothesis

Post by VMilan »

We are having a problem. The fast food fried chicken decomposed faster then the organic making our hypothesis false.
Here is my question should I change the hypothesis to:
Fast food fried chicken will decompose faster then organic fried chicken due to the steriods, antibotic, growth hormones and arsenic they are feed?
If not is it ok for our hypothesis to be wrong?
Snobs3747
Former Expert
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:57 am
Occupation: Student: 11th grade
Project Question: To volunteer as an expert
Project Due Date: N/A
Project Status: Not applicable

Re: Question and Hypothesis

Post by Snobs3747 »

For a fourth grade project, it is definitely ok for the hypothesis to be wrong. The judges like to see that. They like to see someone learn someting unexpected. But if you want the hypothesis to be correct, you can go ahead and change it too.
Let me know if that helps!
amyc
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Re: Question and Hypothesis

Post by amyc »

Hi -- Snobs3747 is correct that it is okay for a hypothesis to be wrong. That does not invalidate your student's experiment at all. Part of why we "test" something is to see what will happen -- and what happens may not be what we expect at the beginning. Whether your student's hypothesis was correct or not, she or he probably learned something in the process of doing the research, thinking about what might happen, and running the tests. That is the point of the project.

What you can not do is change the hypothesis to match your results. Instead, once the hypothesis is stated and the experiment happens, you present your results, honestly and simply show "what happened" and what data you collected.

You can not change the project to fit the results.

Amy
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trinity-3
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Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:32 pm
Occupation: homemaker
Project Question: what whould be a testable hypothisis for how many amphids can a lady bug eat in one hour
Project Due Date: FEBUARY 28
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Re: Question and Hypothesis

Post by trinity-3 »

hi , my 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS A SCEINCE PROJECT DUE IN JUST A FEW DAYS. HER SUBJECT IS HOW MANY APHIDS DOES A LADY BUG CONSUME IN A HOUR. CAN U HELP ME DETERMINE IF THERE IS A TESTABLE HYPOTHESIS FOR THIS PROJECT. THE ONLY ONE I CAN THINK OF WOULD BE IF YOU HAD BOTH LADY BUGS AND APHIDS THAT WERE ALIVE. CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME OTHER IDEAS? :?
Fishing25
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Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2014 10:56 am
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Project Question: The topic I was assigned was the M&M Survival Challenge (Camouflage, predators)
Project Due Date: Nov.21,2014
Project Status: I am just starting

Re: Question and Hypothesis

Post by Fishing25 »

I was assigned by my teacher the M&M Survival Challenge Project. For my Problem Statement I wrote: How many M&M's can correctly be picked from a plate of Skittles?

Does that sound right? I am confused with including the independent variable (M&M's) and dependent variable (Skittles)?
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