Basic process skills in science include observing, comparing, classifying, quantifying, inferring, predicting, and communicating. These skills involve logical operations of thinking in investigations. Observing is the most fundamental skill and involves using the five senses to describe objects or events. Comparing involves using observable properties to discover similarities and differences. Classifying involves grouping objects based on observable similarities and differences. Inferring explains or interprets observations. Predicting uses past data and knowledge to forecast future events or relationships. Quantifying involves using numbers, measuring, and tracking time and space. Communicating expresses ideas through writing, graphs, diagrams or other means.

1. ScienceScience
Process SkillsProcess Skills

2. Logical operations of thinking in
investigations. They are either
basic or
integrated.
Basic Process Skills: Observing, comparing,
classifying, quantifying, inferring,
predicting, communicating and manipulative
skills.
Integrated Process Skills: Embodied in
experimenting which includes
hypothesizing, controlling variables and

3. The Basic Process
Skills

4. 1. OBSERVING
most basic and fundamental of the process skills.
One cannot compare, classify or perform the
other process skills without being a good
observer. We observe objects or events through
our five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste and
hearing.
Example: Describing a pencil as yellow

5. The Process of observing can
be:
• Qualitative – this is identifying and naming
the properties of an object such as its shape,
color, size, texture, smell, and sound.
• Quantitative – This kind of observation
involves measurement.
• Change – it could be the result of crushing,
pounding, burning, cutting, decaying, etc.

6. 2. COMPARING
Comparing is using
observable properties in
discovering similarities of
and differences between
objects and phenomena.
Through comparison, we
are able to identify
relationships among
objects and phenomena
observed.

7. 3. CLASSIFYING
There is an overwhelming number of things
around us – nonliving and living things. Order can
be attained by observing similarities, differences
and interrelationships and by grouping them
accordingly to suit some purpose.
Example: Placing all rocks having
certain grain size or hardness into
one group.

8. 4. INFERRING
While observing is getting information by using one
or more senses, inferring is explaining or
interpreting an observation.
Example: Saying that the
person who used a pencil made
a lot of mistakes because the
eraser was well worn.

9. 5. PREDICTING
Predicting is the process of using past observations or data
along with other kinds of scientific knowledge to forecast
event or relationships. A statement not based on
observation is not a prediction. It is simply a guess.
Interpolation – is predicting new data based on and within a trend/ pattern of
previously observed data.
Extrapolation - is predicting new data outside or beyond the range of previously
observed data.

10. 6. QUANTIFYING
Quantifying is making and manipulating quantitative
observations.
This involves:
1. Using numbers
2. measuring
3. using time and space
Example: Using a meter stick to
measure the length of a table in
centimeters.

11. 7. COMMUNICATING
Expressing ideas in many forms, such as orally, in writing or
with graphs, diagrams, tables of data or photographs is a
way of communicating.
Example: Describing the change in
height of a plant over time in writing or
through a graph.

12. 8. MANIPULATIVE SKILLS
These skills involve using
equipment and materials
properly and accurately,
preparing setups for
investigation, and
handling specimen
carefully.