biology form 4 chap 1(2)

1. 1.2 - Scientific Investigation

2. Learning Outcomes
• To state various ways of studying Biology
• To identify variables in a given situation
• To identify the relationship between two
variables to form a hypothesis
• To design and carry out a simple
experiment to test the hypothesis
• To record and present data in a suitable
form
• To interpret data to draw conclusions
• To write a report on an experiment
• To practice scientific attitudes and noble
values

3. VARIOUS WAYS OF
STUDYING BIOLOGY
• Conducting experiment & carrying out
projects.
• Involves acquiring scientific skills, using the
scientific method & practising scientific
attitudes & noble values
• Can be divided into two : science process
skills & manipulative skills

4. •Science process skills – critical,
analytical & creative thinking skills
which enable a scientist to
formulate questions & find out the
answers & explanations to a
phenomenon in a systematic
manner.
•Manipulative skills –
psychomotor skills that enable
scientists to cary out an
investigation.

5. SCIENCE PROCESS
•SKILLS
OBSERVING
• CLASSIFYING
• MEASURING & USING NUMBERS
• INFERRING
• PREDICTING
• COMMUNICATING
• USE SPACE-TIME RELATIONSHIP
• INTERPRETING DATA
• DEFINING THROUGH OPERATIONS
• CONTROLLING VARIABLES
• HYPOTHESISING
• EXPERIMENTING

6. OBSERVING
Using the sense of
hearing, touch, smell,
taste & sight to collect
information about an
object or a phenomenon

7. CLASSIFYING
Using observations to
group objects or events
according to similarities
or differences.

8. MEASURING &
USING NUMBERS
Making quantitative
observations using
numbers & tools with
standardised units.
Measuring makes
observation more accurate.

9. INFERRING
Using past experiences or
previously collected data
to draw conclusions &
explain events

10. PREDICTING
Stating the outcome of a
future event based on
prior knowledge gained
through experiences or
collected data

11. COMMUNICATING
Using words or graphic
symbols such as tables,
graphs, figures or models
to describe an action,
object or event.

12. USING SPACE-TIME
RELATIONSHIP
Describing changes in
parameter with time.
Examples of parameters are
location, direction, shape,
size, volume, weight &
mass.

13. INTERPRETING
DATA
Giving rational
explanations about an
object, event or pattern
derived from collected
data.

14. DEFINING
OPERATIONALLY
Defining concepts by
describing what must be
done & what should be
observed.

15. CONTROLLING
VARIABLES
Identifying the fixed
variables, manipulated
variable & responding
variable in an
investigation.

16. HYPOTHESISING
Making a general statement
about the relationship between
a manipulated variable & a
responding variable in order to
explain an event or observation.
This statement can be tested to
determine its validity.

17. EXPERIMENTING
Planning & conducting
activities to test a certain
hypothesis. These
activities include
collecting, analysing &
interpreting data &
making conclusions.

18. MANIPULATIVE
SKILLS
• USE & HANDLE SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS
& LABORATORY SUBSTANCES
CORRECTLY
• HANDLE SPECIMENS CORRECTLY &
CAREFULLY
• DRAW SPECIMENS, APPARATUS &
LABORATORY SUBSTANCES ACCURATELY
• CLEAN SCIENCE APPARATUS CORRECTLY
• STORE SCIENCE APPARATUS &
LABORATORY SUBSTANCES CORRECTLY
& SAFELY

19. SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDES &
NOBLE VALUES
• Having an interest & curiosity towards the
environment
• Being honest & accurate in recording & validating
data
• Being diligent & persevering
• Being responsible about the safety of oneself, others
& the environment
• Realising that science is a means to understand
nature
• Appreciating & practising clean & healthy living

20. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• Employ by biological scientists to
discover the phenomena of life.
• The scientific method – the process of
gathering facts based on an observable
event or phenomenon @ a process of
obtaining a fact about a phenomenon
using a method recognised by the
scientific community.

21. IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM
• Determine the problem to be solve by;
(a) observing the situation or
phenomena, (b) identifying the
variables
• In the form of a question to be
answered.
• Must show the relationship between
the manipulated variable and
responding variable.

22. FORMING A HYPOTHESIS
• A smart guess or prediction to
explain the problem
• Answer for the problem
• A statement to explain the
relationship between the
manipulated variable and
responding variable.
• Eg.:The heavier the school bag,
the faster the heartbeat.

23. PLANNING THE EXPERIMENT
• Plan an experiment to test the
hypothesis
• Determine the steps in planning
experiment : apparatus/materials,
technique, procedures, type of
measurements, methods, way of
presenting data
• Write out the design plan of the
experiment

24. IDENTIFYING & CONTROLLING
VARIABLES
• Identified the variables :
*Manipulated : how to alter the
manipulated variable in the
experimen
*Responding : What to observe,
measure and record
*Controlled : How to maintain the
controlled variable so that it is kept
constant during the experiment

25. CONDUCTING THE EXPERIMENT
• Carried out as planned
• Have to observed :
i. The apparatus & materials are
handled correctly, cleaned & stored
safely
ii. The variables are well-controlled.
iii. The results being collected and
recorded carefully.
iv. A control experiment is also set up.

26. COLLECTING DATA
• Form of a table, graph and/or
diagram

27. ANALYSING & INTERPRETING
DATA
• Find a suitable explanation for what
has been observed.
• Analyse the relationship between the
manipulated & the responding
variables.
• Look for a pattern in the data
• Think critically to explain the results
clearly

28. DRAWING/FORMING A
CONCLUSION
• Determine whether the data supports
the hypothesis
• Decide whether the hypothesis is
valid or not
• Make a general statement about the
results of the investigation, based on
hypothesis

29. WRITING A REPORT
• A complete report of the experiment
is written to following format
(Refer to text book, page 10)

30. EXERCISE 1.2
• What are the two main scientific skills
used in the biological studies?
• Define science process skills & give four
examples.
• Define manipulative skills & give two
examples.
• State the typical format for the report of
an experiment.