The discussion on Enotes.

com emphasizes that a good

research question has the following characteristics:
This module is focused on the questions:
• It should have some answers (real answers)
 What is Scientific Investigation?
• It should be testable (can be tested by someone through
 What are the components of a Scientific Investigation? an experiment or measurement)
After going through this module, you are expected to: • Leads to a hypothesis that is falsifiable (means it should
generate a hypothesis that can be shown to fail).
1. Define scientific investigation; and
In general, questions that require you to recall observations or
2. Describe the processes involved in a scientific investigation.
repeat given information are considered low-level questions.
These questions do not require much thinking. High-level
questions, on the other hand, require you to think about why
Science is the use of evidence to construct testable and how things happen. It must be investigative in nature that
explanations and predictions of natural phenomena as well as it must identify cause-effect relationship between factors of
the knowledge generated through this process. investigation. Like for example, “Does increasing the amount
We use the Scientific Method in order to achieve this. of salt affect the floating of an egg?” or “What is the effect of
increasing the amount of salt on the floating of an egg?” is/are
Scientific investigation is also known as scientific inquiry. It is good research question
a complete approach to learn science through practical works.
3. Formulating a Hypothesis
The scientific method is a process used by scientists to study
the world around them. It can also be used to test whether any After you have identified a problem based on your
statement is accurate. You can use the scientific method to observations and come up with asking research questions, you
study a leaf, a dog, an ocean, or the entire Universe. We all are now ready for the next steps of the Scientific Method
have questions about the world. The scientific method is there which is formulating hypothesis.
to test if your answer is correct. You could ask, "Why do dogs Solutions to problems start with the formulation of a
and cats have hair?" One answer might be that it keeps them hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess based on one’s
warm. A good scientist would then come up with an observation. It is a tentative explanation for a behavior, event
experiment to test whether the statement was accurate. or phenomenon that will occur. A hypothesis maybe rejected
BOOM! It's the scientific method in action. or accepted.
STEPS IN SCIENTIFIC METHOD Formulating a hypothesis is the same as predicting. It is made
1. Making an Observation about future events on the basis of ordered data. From the
hypothesis, solutions to the problem can be sought.
Observation involves all of your basic sense organs: the
eyes, nose, ears, tongue, and hands. In an observation, you do Remember, you can have many hypotheses for one
not only look, you have to stare; you don’t only hear, you observation. You can also state your hypothesis in different
listen, you don’t only taste and smell, you savor; and you ways, for as long as the factors involved in the study are
don’t only touch, you feel. included in the statement. One good way of stating the
hypothesis is by using the “If” and “then”… statement.
Most of the time however, you think you are observing when
in fact you are inferring. While observation is actually seeing, Example: Using the experiment of Thomas Alva Edison.
smelling, hearing, tasting and touching, inferring is making (Source: Science and Technology I, SEDP Series, DECS pp.
interpretations based on your past observations or experiences. 3-4. )
You call this an inference. Problem: How to make a light enough to lit a room using a
 wire?

Question: What is the effect of decreasing the size of an iron

 Qualitative observations merely describe quality wire on the amount of light it produces?
while quantitative observations express the exact
quantity referred to using a number. Hypothesis: If the size of an iron wire is thinner, then the
 Quantitative observation is stated to answer how amount of light produced increases.
much/how many of the qualitative observations are
Note: The underlined phrases are referred to as factors
observed.
involved in the study which will later be defined as variables
When you quantify your observations, you need to use some
4. Designing an Experiment
mathematical concepts like measurement and formulas for
determining the mass and volume of objects. One of the essential parts of the scientific method is in
designing the experiment. Through its conduct, the researcher/
2. Asking Questions
scientist can test the effect of different actions applied. It is a
Asking the right questions at the right time is a sign of way of testing the hypothesis formulated. It checks or supports
curiosity, objectivity and a desire to learn more. In scientific whether the hypothesis is a good solution to the problem
investigation the question we ask is called a Research identified. The experiment consists of two groups:
Question. The research question is sometimes formed as a experimental and control. The experimental group refers to
statement and is called the "Problem" or "Problem the group where the factor being treated is included, it is the
Statement." group being experimented on. The control group is the part of
the experiment where the factors involved remains the same or a. Have I gathered enough data?
constant throughout the experiment. b. Did I make any mistakes while collecting data?
c. Do I need to gather more data?
An experiment includes factors that changes or alters during 2. Always make sure to label your tables and graphs clearly. It
the experiment. These factors are called variables. A variable is also wise to give a title for each presented data.
is something in the experiment that can be changed or 3. Include units of measurement such as centimeters, volume,
controlled (something that is kept constant) throughout the tablespoons, minutes, grams, inches, etc.
activity. These variables are the following: independent 4. Place your independent variable on the x-axis of your graph
variable, dependent variable and controlled (variable). The and the dependent variable on the y-axis
independent variable refers to the factor that is being 5. Review your presented data more than once. Check
changed or manipulated by the person doing the experiment. for any missing value, misplaced information or wrong
The dependent variable refers to the factor in which the computation. Once you have properly presented and analyzed
result of the changes in the independent variable is observed. your data, you will be one step closer to reaching a conclusion
It changes as a response to the independent variable. Lastly, for your scientific investigation!
there are factors that stay the same throughout the experiment Making Conclusions and Communicating Results
REMEMBER: When drawing conclusions, you should
and they are called as constants/ control.
answer the question or problem and it shall be based solely
5. Collecting and Analyzing Data on the results.

Scientific investigations produce data which lead to finding REMEMBER: A scientific investigation doesn’t end in just
solutions to the problem. These data must be collected and making a good conclusion. You also have to communicate
analyzed in order to find relationships between them. results. One of the ways to share results is to write a report
Furthermore, the data collected will tell whether the which has essential parts such as the Title, Problem,
formulated hypothesis is correct. Thus, data collected must be Hypothesis, Variables, Groups, Results, and Conclusions.
properly organized.
Drawing Conclusions is an essential step because it:
In scientific investigation data collection is very important in
▪ contains a summary of the results of an experiment;
order to help you conclude a solution for the problem at hand.
▪ explains whether or not the results supported the original
Data collection helps to evaluate the outcome of the problem.
hypothesis;
There are different methods of data collection. Quantitative ▪ discusses any errors that were made in following procedures
data collection method is based on mathematical calculations or keeping variables constant;
▪ makes recommendations on how to expand the experiment if
using various formats like close-ended questions, correlation
it is going to be repeated; and
and regression methods, mean, median and mode methods.
▪ suggests ideas for future experiments that could build upon
This method is cheaper and can be applied in a short period of current knowledge.
time. Qualitative data collection method does not involve Communicating Results is an important step because it:
mathematical calculations. It includes interviews,
questionnaires, observations, case studies etc. ▪ allows the scientific community to review the information;
▪ lets the scientific community to extend the studies;
There are several methods to collect primary data. These are: ▪ permits the scientific community to use information for
related studies.
 Observation method is used when the study relates Scientists communicate their results in a number of ways such
to behavioral science. This method is planned as:
systematically. The different types of observation are ▪ talk to small groups of scientists or give talks at large
scientific meetings
1. Structured and unstructured observation ▪ report results in peer-reviewed journal articles and at
2. Controlled and uncontrolled observation conferences
▪ write articles for scientific journals
3. Participation, non-participant and disguised ▪ communicate results to journalists
observation. Let’s Check Your Understanding!
 Interview method is a method of collecting data in Quiz #1: Poster Making on Nine Characters (TOTAL
terms of oral or verbal responses. It is achieved in SCORE: 10/10)
two ways, such as Personal Interview and Telephonic
Interview. Direction: Complete the poster from left to right. Use the
 Questionnaire Method is a method where given clue word that fits each description box. Write your
questionnaires are given to the respondents. They answer on the box provided.
should read, reply and subsequently return the
questionnaire.

After collecting data for your experiment, you should

remember that these data must still undergo thorough
analysis. There are many ways to present and analyze data.
One common example is by gathering the data collected in a
tabular form or presenting them through line graphs, bar
graphs or pie charts.

Here are some ways to help you analyze your experimental

data:
1. Always review your collected data. You may ask yourself
the following questions:
 ACTIVITY #1: COVID-19 (TOTAL SCORE: 15/15)

Direction: Read and understand the scenario below.

A community called Barangay Masamok is known for its

undisciplined and unhygienic people. One day, the community
was infected by a virus called COVID-19. No matter how
much the barangay officials advised its people to stay home,
wear face mask, and practice physical distancing when going
out, as well as wash their hands properly and regularly, the
people seem not to care. Because of their attitude and
behaviour, the virus quickly spread and became a pandemic.
Cardo Mahusay, the Barangay Captain of Barangay Masamok,
was alarmed by the situation. He investigated how many
individuals were infected for not following the suggested
precautionary measures when going out of their homes for five
days. Upon his investigation, he observed and recorded the
data on the table below:

Directions: Based on the activities you have done in the

previous lessons, complete the scientific investigation
report below and publish it by asking your guardian and
subject teacher to sign the space provided.