ACT Science
A comprehensive guide to mastering the ACT Science section, focusing on data analysis, scientific reasoning, and real-world applications.
Advanced Topics
Analyzing Experimental Design
What Makes a Good Experiment?
Understanding how an experiment is set up helps you spot strengths and weaknesses in the design.
Key Elements
- Independent Variable: What is changed.
- Dependent Variable: What is measured.
- Controls: What is kept constant.
Evaluating Design
- Are the variables clearly identified?
- Are there enough trials or samples?
- Is there a control group?
In Everyday Life
Knowing how to assess experimental design helps you judge the reliability of studies you hear about in the news or online.
Examples
Identifying a missing control group in a drug trial
Evaluating whether an experiment tests only one variable at a time
In a Nutshell
Assessing experimental design is vital for evaluating the quality of scientific research.