AP Biology
Components of
Controlled
Experiments
Table of contents
01 02 03
What is Controlled Data Analysis
science? Experiments
0
05
4
Graphing Evaluating
Results
01
What is
Science?
What is science?
Science is a branch of knowledge
based on objectivity, involving
observation and experimentation
● Science requires scientific
inquiry
Scientific Inquiry: questioning the
natural world and performing
experiments to glean
explanations
Proof and Observation
● Nothing in science is “provable”
○ Scientific knowledge is amassed from mostly
several theories
● Much science is not observable
○ If a theory cannot be observed, that does not
make the theory false
● Science is formed through inquiry and
experimentation
Science as a Process
Science involves:
● Exploration and discovery
● Testing ideas
● Consideration of benefits
and outcomes
● Community analysis and
feedback
Exploration and discovery lead to
testing ideas
Scientists generate hypotheses based on observations and inferences
● Scientists test a hypothesis using a controlled experiment
○ A hypothesis is an educated prediction about the outcome of an
experiment
■ Null hypothesis: the predicted outcome will not differ from
the observed outcome, and any difference is due to chance
■ Alternative hypothesis: the predicted outcome will differ
from the observed outcome, and the difference is due to the
independent variable
■ Statistical analyses are applied to establish if the differences
between observed and expected values are meaningful or not
Exploration and discovery lead to
testing ideas
Designing a controlled experiment requires scientists to
predict expected data
Testing ideas allows scientists to:
● Gather and interpret data collected
● Compare data observed to the predicted or expected
values
● Evaluate the hypothesis
Community Analysis and
Feedback
Scientists review each others
findings through:
● Publication
● Replication
● Feedback and Peer Review
● Discussion with
colleagues
Benefits and Outcomes
Scientific findings can:
● Address societal issues
● Help with development of
technology
● Build knowledge
● Inform policy
● Solve problems
● Satisfy curiosity
02
Controlled
Experiment
s
What are controlled
experiments?
If scientists aim to publish compelling findings, their work must
stand up to criticism, community analysis and be reproducible
● Controlled experiments limit sources of error and variables
that could serve as alternate explanations for the scientists’
findings.
What are controlled
experiments?
Controlled experimental designs must contain:
● Control and experimental groups
○ Control groups do not receive the independent variable,
whereas experimental groups receive the independent
variable
○ The independent variable is the factor the scientist
manipulates and is investigating; it is added or applied to the
experimental set up
○ The control group serves as a basis for comparison and to
isolate the effect of the independent variable on the data
○ The dependent variable includes the data collected throughout
the experiment; it responds to the independent variable
What are controlled
experiments?
Controlled experimental designs must contain
○ Constants are components in the experimental setup
that remain identical in every group
○ Constants show that any significant difference
between the data collected from the experimental
and control groups was solely due to the
independent variable alone
Designing a Simple Controlled
Experiment
Inquiry: What is the effect of light on plant growth?
Hypothesis:
Independent variable:
Dependent variable:
Control group:
Experimental group:
Experimental setup (including constants):
Positive and Negative Control Groups
Based on the independent variable, some experiments
require both positive and negative control groups
Negative control groups establish trends in the
absence of the independent variable
Positive control groups show an effect, often
of a known standard, and that the dependent
variable is capable of being affected
● Positive control groups establish a baseline
● Example: skin testing for allergies
Designing a Controlled Experiment
Inquiry: What is the effect of red light on plant growth?
Hypothesis:
Independent variable:
Dependent variable:
Control groups:
Experimental group:
Experimental setup (including constants):
Practice Free Response Question
03
Data
Analysis
Organizing and Analyzing Data
Data must be meticulously collected throughout the duration of the experiment,
and analyzed to help determine the effect of the independent variable
● All useful formulae are found on the AP Biology Formula Sheet
Useful Statistics include:
● Mean: calculation of the average of a data set
● Standard deviation: provides a measure of how much the values in the
data set differ from the mean
○ Lower standard deviation indicates the data set is close to the mean
● Standard error of the mean: reflects the precision of the mean value
○ It incorporates the standard deviation and the number of data points
to reflect confidence in the mean value
○ Standard error tells us how close the calculated value is to the true
mean
Standard Deviation
Standard Error and Error Bars
● Standard error and error bars display overall confidence in the data set
● 95% confidence is a widely accepted standard using ±2 SEM
● To graph with error bars, first plot the means and then the ±2 SEM error
bars
● If the error bars overlap, the difference in the
means is not significant
○ Any difference is due to chance
● If the error bars do not overlap, the difference in
the means is significant
○ Any difference is (likely) due to the
independent variable
Does exercise affect Blood Plasma Prolactin (nmol/L)?
04
Graphing
Using Graphs to Display Data
● Bar graphs are used for categorical data and comparative statistics
● Data collected over continual independent variable, like time, is usually
displayed as a scatterplot or line graph
○ Line graphs are often used to display association
Bar Graph Vs. Histogram
Using Graphs to Display Data
● Data presented in graphs is analyzed to draw conclusions
○ What conclusions can be made based on the graphs below?
Practice Free Response Question
05
Evaluating
Results
Using Statistics to Evaluate Data
Error bars on bar graphs can be used to evaluate
differences in the standard error of the mean
Statistical analyses, such as a Chi-Square test, are
determined by the difference between observed and
expected data
● Chi-Square value is used to evaluate the null
hypothesis
○ If the Chi-Square is higher than the critical
value, then the difference between
observed and expected values is great
enough to reject the null hypothesis
○ If the Chi-Square is lower than the critical
value, then the difference between
observed and expected values is NOT great
enough to reject the null hypothesis
Practicing Chi-Square Analysis
Practicing Chi-Square Analysis
4s
⅔ 7443
¾ 20
60 60 ¾
Drawing conclusions and making
claims
Results are reported in formal reports or academic papers
A claim answers the inquiry that was investigated
⃞ Represented in the Abstract and Introduction sections of a formal lab report
Evidence is provided to support the claim
⃞ Represented in the Materials and Methods and Results section of a formal
lab report
Reasoning establishes the link between the claim and the evidence, providing
an explanation for the claim
⃞ Represented in the Discussion section of a formal lab report
Practice FRQs