Incubation and Embryology - University of Illinois

Doing a Controlled Experiment

SUBJECT AREAS

Science

GRADES

5-8

OBJECTIVE

Students will learn the correct way to set up a controlled experiment.

MATERIALS

Dependent on the experiment

Procedure

Explain controlled experiment guidelines:

  1. Experiment must have a control group and an experimental group. This is necessary to make comparisons and to determine whether any changes occur in the experimental group.
  2. Control group must be controlled under normal conditions.
  3. The experimental group must be maintained under normal conditions in all aspects except for one variable being tested.
  4. Experiment must be repeatable.

Questions

  1. Describe the control group. Why are they the control group?
  2. Describe the experimental group. Why are they the experimental group?
  3. Why is a control group important?
  4. Is the experiment a controlled experiment? Why?

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