Many things scientists do involve carrying out experiments. There are many ways to set up and do an experiment that can all bring useful results. Following is a set of instructions for one way to plan, set up, and carry out a scientific experiment. Feel free to use it as a guide for your own experiments that you will be required to carry out in this class. Step 1Choose a question
What are you going to do? What interests you? Make a title
It should relate to what you are going to do. Write a hypothesis
What do you think is going to happen? Why do you think this? Choose your independent variable
What are you going to change? What different levels of this variable are you going to use? Choose your dependent variable
What are you going to measure? List your constants
What are you going to try to keep the same in each test? Decide if you are going to have a control
Is there part of the experiment where you do not make any changes? Step 2Develop a procedure
Detail exactly what it is you are going to do. What steps are you going to take? Generate a materials list
What supplies are you going to need to carry out your experiment? Set up data table
Prepare a place to record all data in an organized way. Step 3Gather materials
Make sure you have all your supplies together to carry out the lab. Set up equipment
Set up any equipment you may need to carry out your experiment. Make sure set up details are recorded in your lab journal. Begin experiment
Start your experiment. Keep accurate records of what you do. Any changes in your procedure should be recorded as you go. Step 4Finish off experiment notes
Record any last minute observations about your experiment. Note any problems you had with your experiment. Prepare graphs
Using the data collected make a graph to show the results of your experiment. Gather notes
Gather together any notes and information you had about your experiment. Do final lab write up
Summarize your lab. Rewrite you procedure with corrections. Summarize your results. Explain your results. Did they agree with your hypothesis? Why do you think they did or did not agree? What further changes would you suggest if the lab was done again? What suggestions do you have for further study?  
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