Planning Experiments
Practical Skills: Planning Experiments
Understand the Objective
- Grasp the purpose or aim of the experiment.
- Identify the problem or question the experiment intends to address.
- Make sure you comprehend any theories or concepts related to the experiment.
Formulating a Hypothesis
- Predict the likely outcome of the experiment based on existing knowledge or theory.
- Formulate a testable hypothesis that can be confirmed or refuted by the experiment.
Experimental Design
- Identify the variables in the experiment: independent, dependent, and controlled.
- Plan how you'll manage these variables to ensure a fair and controlled experiment.
- Outline the steps of the experiment, known as the experimental procedure.
- Consider repeating measurements to increase reliability and reduce anomalies.
Selection of Equipment and Materials
- Choose suitable lab equipment and chemicals needed for the experiment.
- Make sure you understand the function and proper usage of each equipment piece.
- Ensure the available materials are appropriate for the experiment's aim and scale.
Safety Consideration
- Evaluate any potential risks or hazards associated with the experiment.
- Determine the necessary safety precautions to minimise these risks.
- Plan how to respond to any possible emergencies during the experiment.
Data Collection Plan
- Decide how you will record and organise your data, including units of measurement.
- Plan for any necessary calculations or data conversions.
- Ensure the data collection method suits the hypothesis and experiment design.
Analysis and Interpretation
- Think about how you will analyse and interpret the data from your experiment.
- Plan how to represent your results graphically if necessary.
- Ponder the potential impact of errors, anomalies or uncertainties on your results.
Evaluation and Conclusion
- Design a method for evaluating the success of your experiment.
- Contemplate the criteria you'll use to draw conclusions from your results.