Writing a Hypothesis - DOC

							Writing a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a type of prediction or an educated guess about the relationship between the
independent and the dependent variable

Hypothesis could be written different ways for your future classes some examples could be in the
form of questions or use the words may.

Ultra violet light may cause skin cancer.
Temperature may cause leaves to change color.

These are hypothesis because they have the word may in them. This form isn’t always useful
though – because using the word may does not suggest how you would go about proving it.

It is also easy to write the sentences in a way that they would NOT even be hypothesis:

Ultraviolet light causes skin cancer. – This is a conclusion NOT a hypothesis.
Trees will change color when it gets cold. - This is a simple prediction - NOT a hypothesis.

To avoid making these mistakes we will formalize the hypothesis in the If .. Then .. statement.
Showing that the hypothesis is testable.

One way to think of it is what effect does the independent variable have on the dependent
variable or what does the independent variable cause the dependent variable to do.

Examples:

    1) Question/Objective: Which seeds germinate quicker – carrot seeds or tomato seeds?

        Hypothesis – If I plant carrot seeds and tomato seeds, then carrot seeds will germinated
        quicker.

    2) Question/Objective: Which bread molds quickest – sourdough , whole wheat or enriched
       white bread?

        Hypothesis – If I place sourdough, whole wheat or enriched white bread in a moist plastic
        bag, then whole wheat bread will mold the quickest.

    3) Question/Objective: Which type of dog food does Scooby Doo like the best – dry or
       moist?

        Hypothesis – If I give Scooby Doo a choice of dry or moist food, then he will eat the
        moist food first.


Notice these hypothesis are formatted If the independent variable …. Then the dependent variable
will …..