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Handout - Scientific Investigations

This document provides an overview of key concepts for scientific investigations, including definitions of independent, dependent, and controlled variables. It gives an example of an investigation measuring the effect of water volume on strawberry plant height. The document also outlines how to write an aim, research question, and hypothesis, and describes procedures for recording data in tables and graphs, choosing appropriate graph types, labeling axes, and titling graphs.

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8 views3 pages

Handout - Scientific Investigations

This document provides an overview of key concepts for scientific investigations, including definitions of independent, dependent, and controlled variables. It gives an example of an investigation measuring the effect of water volume on strawberry plant height. The document also outlines how to write an aim, research question, and hypothesis, and describes procedures for recording data in tables and graphs, choosing appropriate graph types, labeling axes, and titling graphs.

Uploaded by

ニティア Nitya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Subject: Biology

Grade: 8 Unit 2: Scientific Investigations

HANDOUT - Scientific Investigations

VARIABLES:

· Independent: The one that we change

· Dependent: The one that we record

· Controlled / Constant: ALL the others that have to be kept the same to make it
a fair investigation.

Example:

Strawberry plant clones are given different volumes of water for a 3-week period.

The first strawberry plant receives 400 millilitres (ml) a day. The second strawberry plant
receives 200ml a day. The third strawberry plant receives 100ml a day. The fourth
strawberry plant does not receive any extra water; this plant only receives natural ways
of receiving water.

The height of the strawberry plants is recorded daily.

IV- different volume of water

DV- height of strawberry plant

Controlled variable: same type of water, 3 week time period

AIM: To investigate the effect of [the independent variable] on [the dependent variable]

RESEARCH QUESTION [RQ]: How / to what extent does [the independent variable]
affect [the dependent variable]?

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HYPOTHESIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCgLjDDD4ek&t=25s

A hypothesis should contain:

· The relevant variables

· Specifics and details

· The predicted outcome of the experiment or analysis

PROCEDURE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuTCR2g53e0

RECORDING DATA:TABLES AND GRAPHS

DATA TABLES

· The first column of the table should be headed by the independent variable and the
unit where appropriate. E.g. time /s OR time [s]

· The second column should be used to record the dependent variable. This can be
subdivided into further columns if repeats or multiple data is being recorded. Units must
be included in the column heading.

· Units should NOT be included with data in the body of the table.

GRAPHS

When drawing a chart or a graph, the independent variable goes on the horizontal (x) axis
and the dependent variable goes on the vertical (y) axis.

Once this has been identified, follow these steps:

· Choose scales for the axes so that the graph is as big as possible on the page.

· Use a pencil and a ruler to draw axes, bars, or to plot points.

· Label the axes with the quantity and the unit, such as ‘Temperature, °C’.

· Write a title for the graph.

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CHOOSING THE TYPE OF GRAPH TO DRAW

Line graph: if the independent variable is a series of discrete numbers

Bar graph: if the independent variable is a descriptor / words / range [if continuous range –

0-5, 5-10, 10-15 etc – draw a histogram]

Graphs: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zsg6m39/articles/zhmbvwx#zwkh6g82

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