how we do science… the key to inquiry investigations

How we do science…How we do science…How we do science…How we do science…

The key to inquiry The key to inquiry investigationsinvestigations

Questioning…Questioning…Questioning…Questioning…Asking the right questions Asking the right questions related to scientific inquiryrelated to scientific inquiry

Questioning Skills

• Scientific questions need to be answered by observations or evidence

• If questions cannot be answered by gathering evidence, it’s not science

• They should identify a relationship or a factor you can investigate

Hints to help!• If your questions are general,

break them down into questions that can be investigated one at a time

• A good question is structured as follows: – ‘‘What is the effect of ____________ on

______________.”

Writing A Proper Writing A Proper HypothesisHypothesis

Writing A Proper Writing A Proper HypothesisHypothesis

Using the “If / Then” MethodUsing the “If / Then” Method

Parts of the Statement• Independent Variable:

The condition be studied. It is controlled by the experimenter.

ex. Water• Dependent Variable:

The condition affected by the independent variable. It can’t be controlled by the experimenter.

ex. Plant Growth • Control Variable:

Other factors that could affect or be affected by the experiment. Try to eliminate or reduce these variables.

• Control: The condition that is represented in a ‘normal’

situation (what happens with no manipulation).

What kinds of variables?

• Most common are: – Time, temperature, length, width,

height, mass, volume, distance, number, and kinds of substances being used in the experiment.

Steps to Writing the Hypothesis

1. Start your sentence with the word “If”2. Write down the independent variable3. Connect statement with is

increased/decreased/stays the same4. Write down “then” followed by the

dependent variable will increase/decrease/stay the same.

Example of the format of a hypothesis

Ex. If section:If the amount of water is increased

Ex. Then section:then the height of the plant will

increase. Final “If / then” statement:If the amount of water is increased then

the height of the plant will increase.

Try out your worksheet!