Hypothesis and Theory Concepts

Beginning (preschool - 7 years)

Concepts

Hypothesis

1. Interactions may cause change.
2. An explanation of an observation or group of observations.

Intermediate (7 years - 11 years)

Concepts

Hypothesis

1. Interactions may cause changes which are affected by different variables.
2. Hypothesis can be stated in the following form using the word "may". (Light may affect plant growth. If an object is dropped higher it may fall faster. )
3. Hypothesis can be disproved with evidence - repeated observation.

    

Literate (11+)

Concepts

Hypothesis

1. An experiment can be created to identify variables and their effects on interactions by using if then thinking.
2. A hypothesis is an if then statement (but not all if then statements are hypotheses), is it tentative, relates one idea to another, and is testable.
3. A formalized hypothesis can be stated in the form. (If plant growth is related to the amount of light shining on it, then more light will increase the plant's growth.)
4. Hypothesis can be operationalized as if variable x is changed in a certain way, variable y will respond in a certain way.
5. Directly proportional - As the amount of time an object is heated increases, the temperature will increase proportionally.
6. Indirectly proportional - The longer a rock is removed from boiling water, the lower the temperature. As time increases temperature decreases.
7. A statement that is assumed accurate for the sake of argument.

Theory

1. A theory can be thought of as a hypothesis that has accumulated enough repeated observations to be accepted as accurate. Just as hyothesis can be disproved with evidence so can theories.
2. A scientific theory can be thought of as a summary of a hypothesis or group of hypotheses repeatedly supported with observations.
3. Generally evidence accumulates to support a hypothesis, then the hypothesis can become accepted as a good explanation of a phenomenon - theory.

 

Dr. Robert Sweetland's notes
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