Sponsored by:
Weaving Hypotheses
Feat. Biomechanical Engineer Ritu Raman
SciJourneys – LESSON 2
Sponsored by:
Small Group Card Sort
Activity
Card Sort Directions
Place each card into one of two categories:
Testable
Not Testable
Advance for
2 min. timer →
Card Sort Directions
Place each card into one of two categories:
Testable
Not Testable
Card Sort Discussion
Each card contained one hypothesis.
Card Sort Discussion
Each card contained one hypothesis.
Some hypotheses were testable, some were not.
Card Sort Discussion
Each card contained one hypothesis.
Some hypotheses were testable, some were not.
Which hypotheses were testable?
Could we turn the non-testable hypotheses into testable ones?
Card Sort Discussion
“Poodles are the best dogs.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Share Out
Card Sort Discussion
“Poodles are the best dogs.”
Not testable
Card Sort Discussion
Not testable
This is a subjective or opinion-based statement and cannot be tested.
“Poodles are the best dogs.”
Card Sort Discussion
“Labradoodles are the most common dog in the US.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Share Out
Card Sort Discussion
“Labradoodles are the most common dog in the US.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Testable
Card Sort Discussion
“Labradoodles are the most common dog in the US.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Testable
Testable or
Not testable?
What data could be gathered to test this hypothesis?
Card Sort Discussion
Testable
This could be tested by gathering US Census data.
“Labradoodles are the most common dog in the US.”
Card Sort Discussion
“Cats are better pets than dogs.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Share Out
Card Sort Discussion
“Cats are better pets than dogs.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Not testable
Card Sort Discussion
Testable or
Not testable?
This is a subjective or opinion-based statement and cannot be tested.
Not testable
“Cats are better pets than dogs.”
Card Sort Discussion
“Cats require less maintenance than dogs.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Share Out
Card Sort Discussion
“Cats require less maintenance than dogs.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Testable or
Not testable?
Testable
Card Sort Discussion
“Cats require less maintenance than dogs.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Testable or
Not testable?
Testable
Testable or
Not testable?
What data could be gathered to test this hypothesis?
Card Sort Discussion
Testable or
Not testable?
This could be tested by defining how to measure pet maintenance.
Testable or
Not testable?
Testable
“Cats require less maintenance than dogs.”
Card Sort Discussion
“Felines and canines are equivalent pet companions.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Share Out
Card Sort Discussion
“Felines and canines are equivalent pet companions.”
Testable or
Not testable?
Testable or
Not testable?
Not testable
Card Sort Discussion
Testable or
Not testable?
The definition of “equivalent” is unclear and difficult to test.
Testable or
Not testable?
Not testable
“Felines and canines are equivalent pet companions.”
Now that we know the difference between testable and non-testable, let’s clarify the definition of a hypothesis.
What is a hypothesis?
Featuring Ritu Raman, Biomechanical Engineer
1:34 minutes
Video by:
Reflect
Hypothesis: a possible answer to a question, a way to express your curiosity
A muscle cell is a type of cell that contracts.
SIDE NOTE:
A muscle cell is a type of cell that contracts.
In humans, skeletal muscle cells contract in order to pull on tendons, which pull on bones.
Microscopic view →
SIDE NOTE:
How do hypotheses help Ritu make amazing discoveries about muscle cells??
What are some example hypotheses from your work?
0:38 minutes
Video by:
Which hypotheses do you think will help Ritu answer her research question?
What causes nerves to grow towards muscles?
Her lab’s research question
What causes nerves to grow towards muscles?
H1: Physical movement of the muscles pulls the nerves toward the muscle.
What causes nerves to grow towards muscles?
H2: Muscles release chemicals that attract nerve growth.
What causes nerves to grow towards muscles?
H3: Nerves do not grow towards muscle cells.
H4: Nerves only grow towards bones.
What causes nerves to grow towards muscles?
What causes nerves to grow towards muscles?
H5: Nerve cells grow better than muscle cells.
H1: Physical movement of the muscles pulls the nerves toward the muscle.
H2: Muscles release chemicals that attract nerve growth.
H3: Nerves do not grow towards muscle cells.
H4: Nerves only grow towards bones.
H5: Nerve cells grow better than muscle cells.
What causes nerves to grow towards muscles?
Reveal: Which hypotheses did you test?
1:11 minutes
Video by:
Wait! Growing muscle cells and neurons in a petri dish?! Why did they do this?
Ritu’s Engineering Lab
Their goal was to learn about how nerves grow towards muscle, but they didn’t want to experiment in humans or animals.
Ritu’s Engineering Lab
Their goal was to learn about how nerves grow towards muscle, but they didn’t want to experiment in humans or animals.
Instead, they grew cells in a petri dish as a model for experimentation. →
(How cool?!)
Ritu’s Engineering Lab
This research can help the lab understand how to engineer products with living tissues.
Ritu’s Engineering Lab
This research can help the lab understand how to engineer products with living tissues.
Imagine if a product could heal itself if it gets damaged or grow stronger over time?! 💪
What happened in the petri dishes?
1:21 minutes
Video by:
Reflect
H1: Physical movement of the muscles pulls the nerves toward the muscle.
H2: Muscles release chemicals that attract nerve growth.
What is challenging about creating hypotheses?
1:08 minutes
Video by:
Generating Hypotheses
Activity
Now it’s your turn!
Let’s practice creating hypotheses in three rounds!
Now it’s your turn!
Let’s practice creating hypotheses in three rounds!
Each round will start with an observation and a research question.
Now it’s your turn!
Let’s practice creating hypotheses in three rounds!
Each round will start with an observation and a research question.
Then you will create hypotheses, or possible explanations, to the research question.
Now it’s your turn!
When creating hypotheses, think about these questions:
All three YES = ✅
✎ Q4: Round 1
Advance slide to start timer →
Research Question: Why is it hard to fall asleep?
✎ Q4: Round 1
Research Question: Why is it hard to fall asleep?
✅ Q4: Round 1 Check
All three YES = ✅
Write a check next to the hypotheses that meet all three criteria:
✎ Q5: Round 2
Advance slide to start timer →
Research Question: Why do some people not like tomatoes?
✎ Q5: Round 2
Research Question: Why do some people not like tomatoes?
✅ Q5: Round 2 Check
All three YES = ✅
Write a check next to the hypotheses that meet all three criteria:
✎ Q6: Round 3
Advance slide to start timer →
Research Question: Why didn’t my friend respond to my text?
✎ Q6: Round 3
Research Question: Why didn’t my friend respond to my text?
✅ Q6: Round 3 Check
All three YES = ✅
Write a check next to the hypotheses that meet all three criteria:
What was it like to create hypotheses during the exercise?
What have you learned about hypotheses?
**If you are curious about hypotheses vs. predictions, move ahead to the next few slides…
Conclusion
Hypotheses often get confused with predictions.
SIDE NOTE:
Hypotheses often get confused with predictions.
SIDE NOTE:
Sometimes they are written together as “If/then” statements:
SIDE NOTE:
Sometimes they are written together as “If/then” statements:
SIDE NOTE:
Sometimes they are written together as “If/then” statements:
SIDE NOTE:
What possible explanations will you generate today?
End of Lesson 2