Investigations

**Investigations**

 * Points to remember when planning your investigation**

You should include all the following sections in your design:
 * **Research question** - this your aim it should be phrased //"How does xxxxx affect yyyyyyy?"//
 * **Independent variable** - this is what you are testing, what you change between tests, there should be just ONE
 * **Dependent variable** - this is what you measure, the results of your investigation, there should be just ONE
 * **Control variables** - how will you make it a fair test? Control variables are the factors you keep the same. List them and say how you will keep them the same
 * **Hypothesis** - predict what you think is going to happen, what you will find out, don't forget to give a reason why
 * **Apparatus** - list or draw what equipment you need
 * **Method** - a series of bullet points or numbered steps describing how you will carry out your investigation
 * **Safety** - if there are risks or hazards, what are you going to do to keep yourself as safe as possible?

After you have done your investigation you need to add in the following sections to your report:
 * **Results table** - make sure you have clear titles and units for each column header
 * **Calculations** - do you need to make any calculations, e.g. a mean, the difference between the start and end. Not all investigations need calculations.
 * **Graph** - use the Drawing effective graphs advice to make sure your graph is as good as it can be
 * **Conclusion** - what patterns are there in the data? What did you find out? Was your hypothesis supported? Do your results support scientific theory?
 * **Evaluation** - what things about the experiement did not go as well as they could and why? If given the chance what equipment would you change? What changes would you make to the method?


 * Glossary of important key terms**
 * ** Research question ** || This is like your aim. You have to say exactly what you are trying to do. What you are going to change and what you are going to measure. ||
 * ** Hypothesis ** || This is your prediction. You state what you think will happen. You need to explain why this will happen, using a scientific explanation. Often, a hypothesis is not needed, or you do not know what to expect. ||
 * ** Independent variable ** || This is the thing that YOU change or manipulate in the experiment. It is the one you have control of. There must be only one. ||
 * ** Dependent variable ** || This is the thing you measure in the experiment. There must be only one ||
 * ** Controlled **

- Were your results what you expected? - Were there any limitations or errors? You need to explain if your results were reliable: - Did you collect enough repeats to see if your results were accurate? You need to suggest some improvements you would make to the experiment next time, to make sure you get reliable and valid data. ||
 * variables ** || These are ALL the other things that you keep the same in an experiment. There are lots of them usually. ||
 * ** Method or Procedure ** || A series of dot points and/or diagrams. Someone else should be able to use this information to do the **same** experiment as you did. ||
 * ** Data collection ** || Record your data in a TABLE with the type of data and units marked in the top row only. Use a column to record averages, if appropriate. You should design and draw your table BEFORE you start to collect information. ||
 * ** Data manipulation ** || If you have to calculate stuff (eg masses, volumes or apply a formula) you should show your working below the Data Table ||
 * ** Data analysis ** || Graph the information, with the independent variable on the horizontal (x) axis, using average results, if possible. Use a suitable graph type to represent your data. ||
 * ** Conclusion ** || In this section you explain your results in your table or graph in words. Does it go through the origin? Does the gradient mean anything? You relate this to your aim. You need to say if the evidence supports your aim or not. ||
 * ** Evaluation ** || This is where you identify the weaknesses of your experiment:
 * ** Reliability ** || You make sure you have reliable data by carrying out 3 or more repeats. You need to calculate an average result. If one result is odd then you take it out and do the experiment again. If there is not time to repeat the experiment, can you use other group’s results? Is there a published answer? ||
 * ** Validity ** || Did you experiment measure the thing you set out to measure? Did you keep all the variables the same? Did you only change the independent variable? Was the equipment you used the best tools you could have used? ||

Your work will be given marks according to the grid below media type="custom" key="23840148"
 * Marking**

This form will be used to mark your work and give feedback. You will have the chance to mark it yourself, then get marks and feedback from a peer and finally from your teacher. media type="custom" key="23840154"