Student Worksheet — Session 2: Research Questions and Hypotheses

Data Science for Young Minds · Grade 5 · Ages 10–11

Name

Date

Class Period

Part 1 — Vocabulary

Hypothesis

Variable

Testable

Null Hypothesis

Prediction

Expected Result

Part 2 — Testable or Not?

Circle TESTABLE or NOT TESTABLE for each question. If not testable, write what is missing.

Question	Testable?	What's missing (if not testable)?
Do 5th graders who sleep 9+ hours score higher on Friday spelling tests than those who sleep fewer than 7 hours?	TESTABLE / NOT TESTABLE
Is social media bad?	TESTABLE / NOT TESTABLE
Do students who drink water during tests complete more questions than those who don't?	TESTABLE / NOT TESTABLE
Is kindness important?	TESTABLE / NOT TESTABLE
Are kids who walk to school more active than kids who take the bus?	TESTABLE / NOT TESTABLE

Part 3 — Sharpen the Questions

Hypothesis Formula Card: "I think ___ because ___." | "I predict that ___."

For each vague question, write a sharpened hypothesis using the Formula Card. Name both variables.

1. Vague: "Do kids sleep enough?"

Independent variable: _________________________ Dependent variable: _________________________

My hypothesis:

2. Vague: "Does music help you study?"

Independent variable: _________________________ Dependent variable: _________________________

My hypothesis:

3. Vague: "Are phones bad for kids?"

Independent variable: _________________________ Dependent variable: _________________________

My hypothesis:

4. Vague: "Do people eat healthier now?"

Independent variable: _________________________ Dependent variable: _________________________

My hypothesis:

5. Vague: "Is exercise good for grades?"

Independent variable: _________________________ Dependent variable: _________________________

My hypothesis:

Part 4 — My Own Hypothesis

Choose a topic YOU are curious about. Write a full hypothesis using the Formula Card.

My topic:

Independent variable: _________________________ Dependent variable: _________________________

My hypothesis (use the formula):

The null hypothesis for my question would be:

How would I know if my hypothesis was supported? What data would I need?

Part 5 — Null Hypothesis Practice

Write the null hypothesis for each of these research hypotheses.

Hypothesis: "Students who eat breakfast will score higher on morning quizzes than those who skip it."

Null hypothesis:

Hypothesis: "Students who walk to school report higher energy levels than bus riders."

Null hypothesis:

Take-Home Challenge — Hypothesis Hunting

Find one news headline that is based on a study (e.g., "Study finds that kids who read more do better in school").

Write the headline: ___________________________________________

What is the hypothesis behind this study? Write it using the Formula Card.

What is the null hypothesis?

What variables were likely measured?

The hypothesis I found: