Plan an Investigation: Hypothesis and Method Worksheet

Drugs affect the rate of our reactions depending on their properties. For example, depressants, like alcohol, slow us down. Therefore, drinking and driving is prohibited as well as driving after consuming more than the recommended amount of alcohol.

Other drugs, like caffeine, are stimulants, they make us alert. They are said to decrease our reaction time, which means when we have them, we react faster.

Athletes are tested prior to competitions. They are disqualified and not allowed to compete if they are found to have taken stimulants because this gives the athlete an advantage over other competitors.

You have to design an experiment to find out if stimulants decrease reaction times. The experiment must involve the time it takes to catch a ruler; this is how you will measure the reaction time.

An image showing a ruler

Now let's work through a series of questions together, your answers will help you plan most of your experiment.

Over to you!

First, you have to form your hypothesis. This is a scientific word for 'prediction'. You must predict what you think your results will show. It is always advisable to do your research on the internet prior to forming a hypothesis, so you can see what other studies have explored on the topic.

Using the scientific information about stimulants provided in the introduction, choose the correct option below as your hypothesis.

Caffeine will increase reaction time

Caffeine will decrease reaction time

Caffeine will not impact reaction time

Having in mind the previous hypothesis, you must now think about how you will test it. You will measure how long it takes for someone to catch a ruler before and after drinking a caffeine drink. Let's stick to cola.

An image of a coke can with a straw in it.

What is your independent variable? What are you changing to measure the reaction time?

Whether a specific individual has had a cola drink or not

How much cola a specific individual has had

The person having the cola drink

Your dependent variable is the one you are measuring.

What is your dependent variable in this investigation?

The amount of cola

The reaction time

The distance from the top of the ruler, where the person catches it

In every investigation, there are control variables. These are factors that must remain unchanged throughout the experiment to ensure it is a fair test and the results are valid.

Click the main control variable in this investigation.

The brand of cola

The person catching the ruler

The person dropping the ruler

Suggest what other control variables you would choose.

Four options could apply.

Ruler

Person dropping the ruler

The height the ruler is dropped from

Distance of the person's fingers from the ruler before it's dropped

Amount of cola consumed

In experiments like this one, do you think it helps to inform the person catching the ruler of the true purpose of the experiment?

Yes

No

For every investigation you carry out, you must list the equipment and resources you will need.

Tick four resources needed for this experiment.

Ruler

Measuring tape

Cola drink

Person catching the ruler

Person dropping the ruler

In all experiments, it's essential that you ensure your results are reliable.

Tick the option that will enable you to do that.

Identify the correct independent variable

Repeat the test several times

Use a stopwatch

Take a look at the picture below.

Image of a student holding a rule by the sticking out top hold point.

What is wrong with the way the boy is holding the ruler?

Two answers apply.

He's holding it in the middle

He's holding it upside down

He's holding it straight

He's not holding it straight

Put the following sentences in order to provide the method of your experiment.

Column A	Column B
1	Steps 2, 3 and 4 must be repeated at least twice m...
2	Agree a signal that the ruler is dropped e.g. "1-2...
3	The distance from the beginning of the ruler to th...
4	Person A must hold the ruler from a certain height...
5	Person B should then drink a cola
6	Person B must wait with their fingers a certain di...
7	Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 again

ANSWERS

Question 1

First, you have to form your hypothesis. This is a scientific word for 'prediction'. You must predict what you think your results will show. It is always advisable to do your research on the internet prior to forming a hypothesis, so you can see what other studies have explored on the topic.

Using the scientific information about stimulants provided in the introduction, choose the correct option below as your hypothesis.

CORRECT ANSWER

Caffeine will decrease reaction time

EDDIE SAYS

The scientifically correct option is the second one: caffeine will decrease reaction time. This would be expected for all stimulants. We chose caffeine because you can easily test it by drinking coffee or a cola drink. However, the nature of science is such that you may form any hypothesis! You may have reason to believe that caffeine will increase or not impact reaction time in the study at all. It's your call.

ANSWERS

Question 2

Having in mind the previous hypothesis, you must now think about how you will test it. You will measure how long it takes for someone to catch a ruler before and after drinking a caffeine drink. Let's stick to cola.

An image of a coke can with a straw in it.

What is your independent variable? What are you changing to measure the reaction time?

CORRECT ANSWER

Whether a specific individual has had a cola drink or not

EDDIE SAYS

In this experiment, you are investigating how a specific individual's reaction time changes before and after drinking cola. So what you are changing is 'whether a specific individual has had a cola drink or not'. This is your independent variable. How are you getting on?

ANSWERS

Question 3

Your dependent variable is the one you are measuring.

What is your dependent variable in this investigation?

CORRECT ANSWER

The distance from the top of the ruler, where the person catches it

EDDIE SAYS

This question is challenging so don't sweat it if you didn't get it correct. You must've done a lot of research if you answered it correctly. In this experiment, we're actually measuring reaction time, but the most accurate way of doing this is by measuring the distance on the ruler where the person catches it. There is a conversion table that shows you what reaction time each distance converts to.

ANSWERS

Question 4

In every investigation, there are control variables. These are factors that must remain unchanged throughout the experiment to ensure it is a fair test and the results are valid.

Click the main control variable in this investigation.

CORRECT ANSWER

The person catching the ruler

EDDIE SAYS

The person catching the ruler is the main control variable here. This person will perform first before having the cola drink and then the same person must have the drink repeat the test. Otherwise, it's pointless comparing reaction times before and after the drink, as different people have different reaction times! This is good, keep it up!

ANSWERS

Question 5

Suggest what other control variables you would choose.

Four options could apply.

CORRECT ANSWER

Ruler
Person dropping the ruler
The height the ruler is dropped from
Distance of the person's fingers from the ruler before it's dropped

EDDIE SAYS

The first four options are correct. The last one could also be kept the same in an experiment where different people are tested and their reaction times are compared. Additionally, different types of cola could be tested and the amount should also be kept the same then. However, for our experiment, we are changing the amount of cola consumed!

ANSWERS

Question 6

In experiments like this one, do you think it helps to inform the person catching the ruler of the true purpose of the experiment?

CORRECT ANSWER

No

EDDIE SAYS

If you inform the person tested that you are measuring their reaction time, this informs how they act. They may put in extra effort when catching the ruler to prove their ability. Usually, though, participants must be informed about the purpose of experiments, so they can happily agree to take part.

ANSWERS

Question 7

For every investigation you carry out, you must list the equipment and resources you will need.

Tick four resources needed for this experiment.

CORRECT ANSWER

Ruler
Cola drink
Person catching the ruler
Person dropping the ruler

EDDIE SAYS

In order to complete this experiment, you need a ruler, a cola drink, a person catching the ruler and a person dropping the ruler. The measuring tape is not necessary, as the distance is measured on the ruler itself.

ANSWERS

Question 8

In all experiments, it's essential that you ensure your results are reliable.

Tick the option that will enable you to do that.

CORRECT ANSWER

Repeat the test several times

EDDIE SAYS

Measurements must be repeated in scientific investigations at least three times. In this experiment, it's worth taking at least three measurements before drinking the cola and three after. Are you feeling more confident?

ANSWERS

Question 9

Take a look at the picture below.

Image of a student holding a rule by the sticking out top hold point.

What is wrong with the way the boy is holding the ruler?

Two answers apply.

CORRECT ANSWER

He's holding it in the middle
He's not holding it straight

EDDIE SAYS

The boy is holding the ruler in the middle and not holding it straight! This will not provide accurate readings, as the distance will not be measured accurately.

ANSWERS

Question 10

Put the following sentences in order to provide the method of your experiment.

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A	Column B
1	Agree a signal that the ruler is ...
2	Person A must hold the ruler from...
3	Person B must wait with their fin...
4	The distance from the beginning o...
5	Steps 2, 3 and 4 must be repeated...
6	Person B should then drink a cola
7	Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 again

EDDIE SAYS

The correct order is: Agree on a signal that the ruler is dropped e.g. "1-2-3 go!" Person A must hold the ruler from a certain height and drop it after the agreed signal. Person B must wait with their fingers a certain distance from the ruler and catch it as it drops. The distance from the beginning of the ruler to the point that it was caught must be measured and recorded. Steps 2, 3 and 4 must be repeated at least twice more. Person B should then drink a cola. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 again. Well done, that’s another activity completed!