CHAPTER 1 SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

Why you need to do a scientific investigation?

o To know what is happening when something happen
o E.g. why we get sunburns when we stay under the sun??
How does earthquake happen?

Why do we need to perform scientific investigation in a specific way?

o Systematic and organized
o Easier to trace problems when there is error
o Other people will understand what you are trying to do!!

What are the important steps in scientific investigation?

o Flow of making a scientific investigation

Observation What are the problems?

What do you expect to see
from the investigation you
do?
e.g. My skin turn fair after
applying the whitening
cream
Identifying the problems &
variables
Forming a hypothesis
Plan your investigation!!
Can something be fixed
and manipulated?
e.g. problem -sun burnt skin
Which brand of whitening
cream is good?
How many times to apply?
Can my skin turn fairer after I
apply?

Run your investigation & collect

your data

Analysing and interpreting

data

Making a conclusion

Is your hypothesis
accepted?

Writing a report
Scientific Investigation Method

1. Identifying the variables

o Listing the factors (variables) the might influence an investigation
o Manipulated variable – the variable that is changed to see its effect
o Responding variable – the variable that changes when manipulated
variable is applied
o Fixed variable – the variable that is kept constant or unchanged.

2. Making a hypothesis
o Hypothesis – a simple statement of what one thinks will happen when an
experiment that is done

3. Planning the investigation

o Why?
o To make sure things are done in correct steps
o To know when to do the right things!

4. Analyzing and interpreting data

o One of the most important steps!
o Interpreting data, then summarizes them with the right method
E.g.: Make graphs, draw tables

5. Making a conclusion
o Conclusion can be made from the summary of data
o To check and confirm whether or not the hypothesis made earlier is accepted

6. Writing a report
o The most important part of the investigation! why?
o Format of the report should include:
a) The aim of the experiment
b) Hypothesis
c) The variables involved
d) Materials and apparatus
e) Diagram showing the set-up of the apparatus
f) Procedure
g) Observation/results
h) Analysis and interpretation of data
i) Conclusion