ACT Science Research Summaries Designing a New Experiment What Should Be AddedChanged

What This Is and Why It Matters for the ACT

Research Summaries: Designing a New Experiment appears in the Science section of the ACT. It's a common topic that appears on every Science test, and it's typically considered intermediate in difficulty. You'll need to understand how to design a new experiment, identify what should be added or changed, and analyze data to make informed decisions.

Key Concepts (What You Must Know)

• Experiment design: A well-designed experiment should have a clear hypothesis, variables, and a controlled environment.
• Variables: Independent and dependent variables are crucial in an experiment. The independent variable is the variable being tested, while the dependent variable is the outcome being measured.
• Data analysis: You'll need to analyze data to identify patterns, trends, and correlations.
• Graph and chart reading: You'll encounter various types of graphs and charts, such as bar graphs, line graphs, and scatter plots.
• Research summaries: You'll need to summarize research findings and identify what should be added or changed in a new experiment.

Step-by-Step Strategy for This Topic

1. Read the question carefully: Understand what's being asked and what type of experiment is being described.
2. Identify the variables: Determine the independent and dependent variables in the experiment.
3. Analyze the data: Look for patterns, trends, and correlations in the data.
4. Evaluate the experiment design: Check if the experiment is well-designed, controlled, and free from bias.
5. Determine what should be added or changed: Based on the analysis, decide what should be added or changed in a new experiment.
6. Manage your time: Allocate 9-10 minutes per passage to ensure you have enough time to read, analyze, and answer questions.

How It’s Tested on the ACT

In the Science section, you'll encounter research summaries, data representation, and conflicting viewpoints. Questions may ask you to: * Design a new experiment based on research findings * Identify what should be added or changed in a new experiment * Analyze data to make informed decisions * Evaluate the design of an experiment * Identify patterns, trends, and correlations in data

Common distractors include: * Misreading the data: Failing to accurately read the data or misinterpreting the results.
* Failing to identify variables: Not recognizing the independent and dependent variables in the experiment.
* Not analyzing the data: Failing to look for patterns, trends, and correlations in the data.
* Poor time management: Not allocating enough time to read, analyze, and answer questions.

Common Mistakes & Exam Traps

1. The mistake: Misreading the data.
   • Why it happens: Rushing through the data or misinterpreting the results.
   • How to avoid it: Take your time to carefully read the data and verify your answers.
   • Exam board insight: The examiners will penalize you for incorrect answers due to misreading the data.
2. The mistake: Failing to identify variables.
   • Why it happens: Not recognizing the independent and dependent variables in the experiment.
   • How to avoid it: Carefully read the experiment description and identify the variables.
   • Exam board insight: The examiners will penalize you for incorrect answers due to failing to identify variables.
3. The mistake: Not analyzing the data.
   • Why it happens: Failing to look for patterns, trends, and correlations in the data.
   • How to avoid it: Take your time to analyze the data and look for patterns and trends.
   • Exam board insight: The examiners will penalize you for incorrect answers due to not analyzing the data.
4. The mistake: Poor time management.
   • Why it happens: Not allocating enough time to read, analyze, and answer questions.
   • How to avoid it: Allocate 9-10 minutes per passage to ensure you have enough time to read, analyze, and answer questions.
   • Exam board insight: The examiners will penalize you for running out of time and not completing questions.

Practice Questions

Question 1
A researcher wants to study the effect of exercise on blood pressure. The researcher designs an experiment where participants are randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a control group. The exercise group performs 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise three times a week for six weeks. The control group does not exercise. The researcher measures blood pressure before and after the six-week period. What should be added or changed in a new experiment?

Options: A, B, C, D, E Answer: E
Explanation: The researcher should add a third group, a placebo group, to control for the placebo effect. This will help to ensure that any changes in blood pressure are due to the exercise and not to other factors.

Question 2
A researcher wants to study the effect of temperature on plant growth. The researcher designs an experiment where plants are grown in different temperatures, ranging from 20°C to 40°C. The researcher measures the height of the plants after four weeks. What should be added or changed in a new experiment?

Options: A, B, C, D, E Answer: C
Explanation: The researcher should add a control group to control for other factors that may affect plant growth, such as light and water. This will help to ensure that any changes in plant height are due to temperature and not to other factors.

Question 3
A researcher wants to study the effect of fertilizer on crop yield. The researcher designs an experiment where crops are grown with different amounts of fertilizer, ranging from 0 kg to 10 kg. The researcher measures the crop yield after six weeks. What should be added or changed in a new experiment?

Options: A, B, C, D, E Answer: A
Explanation: The researcher should add a control group to control for other factors that may affect crop yield, such as soil type and weather conditions. This will help to ensure that any changes in crop yield are due to fertilizer and not to other factors.

Quick Reference Card

• Experiment design: A well-designed experiment should have a clear hypothesis, variables, and a controlled environment.
• Variables: Independent and dependent variables are crucial in an experiment.
• Data analysis: Look for patterns, trends, and correlations in the data.
• Graph and chart reading: Understand the types of graphs and charts used in research summaries.
• Research summaries: Summarize research findings and identify what should be added or changed in a new experiment.
• Time management: Allocate 9-10 minutes per passage to ensure you have enough time to read, analyze, and answer questions.

If You Get Stuck on Test Day

• Don't panic: Take a deep breath and read the question carefully.
• Eliminate incorrect answers: Get rid of any answers that are clearly incorrect.
• Make an educated guess: Choose the answer that seems most plausible based on the information provided.
• Manage your time: Allocate 9-10 minutes per passage to ensure you have enough time to read, analyze, and answer questions.

Related ACT Topics

• Experiment design: Understanding how to design a well-controlled experiment is crucial for this topic.
• Data analysis: Analyzing data to identify patterns, trends, and correlations is essential for this topic.
• Graph and chart reading: Understanding the types of graphs and charts used in research summaries is important for this topic.