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1.5 ANALYSING SCIENTIFIC

INVESTIGATION

The scientific method is a systematic

method in doing their work

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The following processes are involved inscientific investigations.

1. A scientific investigation begins with OBSERVATION . Whenobserving we come out some questions. (i.e : hearing, smelling,touching, tasting, seeing)

2. IDENTIFYING A SUITABLE QUESTION-After all the information hasbeen gathered, a suitable question is suggested for a scientificinvestigation.

3. Making INFERENCE is a early assessment or explanation that iscarried out to answer the question raised. Inference is an earlyconclusion to what we observed.

4. IDENTIFYING AND CONTROLLING VARIABLES-Variables are factorsor physical quantities which change in the course of a scientificscientific investigation

5. Form a HYPOTHESIS which is the statement of relationshipbetween the manipulated variable and the responding variable wewould expect.

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A report of the investigation must

include:1. Objective of the experiment,2. Inference,

3. Hypothesis,4. Three types of variables: manipulated variable,responding variable and fixed variable,

5. List of apparatus,

6. Procedure,7. Observation/Tabulation of data,8. Analysis of data,9. Conclusion.

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Inference:

Inference is a statement to state the relationship between twovisible quantities observed in a diagram or picture.

Hypothesis:Hypothesis is a statement to state the relationship between twomeasurable variables that can be investigated in a lab.

The VariablesA variable is a quantity that can vary in value. There are 3 types of variable:1) Manipulated Variables : Manipulated variables are factors whichchanged for the experiment.2) Responding Variables : Responding variables are factors whichdepend on the manipulated variables.3) Constant Variables : Constant variables are factors which are keptthe same throughout the experiment.

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Apparatus

:

Materials needed to be listed according its specification,example measuring instrument to ensure the success the experiment.

P rocedure: the sequence of action or operation in order to carry out theexperiment according to the instructions given.

Observation is the listing and tabulation of all data obtained in theexperiment.

-Tabulating DataA proper way of tabulating data should include the following:

1. The name or the symbols of the variables must be labelled withrespective units.

2. All measurements must be consistent with the sensitivity of theinstruments used.

3. All the values must be consistent to the same number of decimal places.

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A nalysing of data can be carried out by plotting the graph, followed by the interpretation of graph or calculation to obtain the required value.

-The GraphGraphs are used to make a relationship between variables.Gradient value and extrapolation of a graph are used to analyse a graph.A well-plotted must contain the following features:

1. A title to show the two variables under investigation,2. two axes labelled with the correct variables and their respective units,

3. the graph drawn is greater than 50 % of the graph paper,4. appropriate scales (1:1 x 10 x, 1:2 x 10 x and 1:5 x 10 x)5. all the points are correctly plotted,6. a best fit line is drawn

Discussion needs to be stated to find out whether the result obtained support the stated

hypothesis. Precautions of the experiment can be suggested to overcome the weakness, toreduce the experimental error or to improve the result of the experiment.

A conclusion is stated concerning the result of the experiment (is written in accordance withthe aim of the experiment and based on graph). By comparing with the aim stated, this willdetermine whether the hypothesis is accepted or rejected.