Investigating in Science: Asking the Right Questions and Testing Hypotheses
One of the most exciting aspects of science is investigating how things work. But to do that well, it’s important to know how to ask the right questions and come up with good ways to test them. Scientists don’t just ask any random question—they focus on questions that can be investigated using experiments. This is how scientific investigations lead to new discoveries and help us understand the world better.
Recognising Questions for Scientific Investigation
Not all questions can be answered scientifically. Scientific questions are those that can be tested through observation, measurement, and experimentation. For example, a question like "What is the effect of light on plant growth?" can be investigated scientifically because you can design an experiment to test how different amounts of light affect how plants grow. However, a question like "What is the best flavour of ice cream?" is based on personal opinion and can’t be tested scientifically.
When investigating, it’s important to recognise the difference between questions that are measurable and testable (scientific questions) and those that are not.
Posing Testable Hypotheses
Once a good scientific question has been identified, the next step is to come up with a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess about what you think the answer to your question might be, based on what you already know. Importantly, a hypothesis must be testable—you should be able to design an experiment to check whether it’s correct or not.
For example, if your question is, "Does temperature affect the rate at which sugar dissolves in water?" your hypothesis might be, "I think sugar will dissolve faster in hot water than in cold water." This is a testable hypothesis because you can design an experiment where you use different temperatures of water and measure how quickly the sugar dissolves.
Evaluating and Comparing Investigation Strategies
In science, there is usually more than one way to test a hypothesis. Once a hypothesis is posed, the next step is to plan an investigation. Scientists must decide what method will best help them find an answer. For example, if you want to investigate how light affects plant growth, you could compare plants grown in different light conditions—such as full sunlight, partial shade, or darkness.
After running your experiment, it’s also important to evaluate the results and see if they match your hypothesis. Sometimes, scientists discover that their hypothesis was incorrect, and that’s perfectly fine—it just means they have learned something new! Also, comparing strategies for investigation is key. For example, one scientist might try to test their hypothesis using one method, while another scientist may use a slightly different approach. Comparing these strategies can help improve the way investigations are done in the future.
Why Is This Important?
Understanding how to investigate scientifically is a valuable skill, not only for science class but also for life. It teaches you how to think critically and logically. By recognising good scientific questions, forming testable hypotheses, and evaluating different methods of investigation, you become better at solving problems and finding reliable answers.
So next time you’re faced with a scientific problem, remember: it all starts with asking the right question, making a hypothesis you can test, and then choosing the best way to investigate it. This process is the foundation of all scientific discovery, and it's how we continue to learn more about the world around us.
One of the most exciting aspects of science is investigating how things work. But to do that well, it’s important to know how to ask the right questions and come up with good ways to test them. Scientists don’t just ask any random question—they focus on questions that can be investigated using experiments. This is how scientific investigations lead to new discoveries and help us understand the world better.
Recognising Questions for Scientific Investigation
Not all questions can be answered scientifically. Scientific questions are those that can be tested through observation, measurement, and experimentation. For example, a question like "What is the effect of light on plant growth?" can be investigated scientifically because you can design an experiment to test how different amounts of light affect how plants grow. However, a question like "What is the best flavour of ice cream?" is based on personal opinion and can’t be tested scientifically.
When investigating, it’s important to recognise the difference between questions that are measurable and testable (scientific questions) and those that are not.
Posing Testable Hypotheses
Once a good scientific question has been identified, the next step is to come up with a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess about what you think the answer to your question might be, based on what you already know. Importantly, a hypothesis must be testable—you should be able to design an experiment to check whether it’s correct or not.
For example, if your question is, "Does temperature affect the rate at which sugar dissolves in water?" your hypothesis might be, "I think sugar will dissolve faster in hot water than in cold water." This is a testable hypothesis because you can design an experiment where you use different temperatures of water and measure how quickly the sugar dissolves.
Evaluating and Comparing Investigation Strategies
In science, there is usually more than one way to test a hypothesis. Once a hypothesis is posed, the next step is to plan an investigation. Scientists must decide what method will best help them find an answer. For example, if you want to investigate how light affects plant growth, you could compare plants grown in different light conditions—such as full sunlight, partial shade, or darkness.
After running your experiment, it’s also important to evaluate the results and see if they match your hypothesis. Sometimes, scientists discover that their hypothesis was incorrect, and that’s perfectly fine—it just means they have learned something new! Also, comparing strategies for investigation is key. For example, one scientist might try to test their hypothesis using one method, while another scientist may use a slightly different approach. Comparing these strategies can help improve the way investigations are done in the future.
Why Is This Important?
Understanding how to investigate scientifically is a valuable skill, not only for science class but also for life. It teaches you how to think critically and logically. By recognising good scientific questions, forming testable hypotheses, and evaluating different methods of investigation, you become better at solving problems and finding reliable answers.
So next time you’re faced with a scientific problem, remember: it all starts with asking the right question, making a hypothesis you can test, and then choosing the best way to investigate it. This process is the foundation of all scientific discovery, and it's how we continue to learn more about the world around us.
