Stage 1 : Identifying a problem or issue to be investigated
In this investigation we are trying to determine how healthy the wetlands at Heatherton Road are. This is the problem or issue we are investigating. We write this problem or issue as a question. ie. "How healthy are the wetlands at Heatherton Road?".
We may narrow down our investigation question depending on the lens we wish to look at e.g. "How have humans impacted the wetlands at Heatherton Road?" or "What is the effect of rain on the health of the wetlands at Heatherton Road?" Each of these questions will require slightly different methods of investigation or different data to collect.
Select your Scientific Investigation Question.
We may narrow down our investigation question depending on the lens we wish to look at e.g. "How have humans impacted the wetlands at Heatherton Road?" or "What is the effect of rain on the health of the wetlands at Heatherton Road?" Each of these questions will require slightly different methods of investigation or different data to collect.
Select your Scientific Investigation Question.
Stage 2: Making your hypothesis (prediction)
To make a hypothesis we need to consider what we already know about this topic. You may need to do a little bit of pre-reading or think back to the earlier webpages and notes in your book.
What do you think the answer to your Scientific Investigation Question may be?
use the format If..... then......because....
For example, if my question was "how hot is water when it boils in a kettle?"
My hypothesis may be: "If the time the kettle has been boiling is longer, then the water will be hotter, because it has had more time to gain energy."
What do you think the answer to your Scientific Investigation Question may be?
use the format If..... then......because....
For example, if my question was "how hot is water when it boils in a kettle?"
My hypothesis may be: "If the time the kettle has been boiling is longer, then the water will be hotter, because it has had more time to gain energy."
Stage 3: Developing Testable Predictions
What data will we need to collect to support or reject our hypothesis? What do we expect the results to be if we are right?
In our field investigation we will collect the following data
Make a table of these factors and explain what you think the results may be at this time of year, considering the weather at the time of our visit to the wetlands. For example, do you think it will be 40°C in the middle of winter?
In our field investigation we will collect the following data
- Transect and Profile of the wetlands, showing plants growing outside and inside the wetland
- Ponding for Water bugs (Aquatic Invertebrates)
- Listening and looking for Frogs
- Measuring the abiotic factors in the wetlands
- Temperature of the air
- Temperature of the water
- Turbidity (cloudiness) of the water
- pH of the water
- Dissolved Oxygen
- Phosphates
- Nitrates
- Electrical Conductivity
Make a table of these factors and explain what you think the results may be at this time of year, considering the weather at the time of our visit to the wetlands. For example, do you think it will be 40°C in the middle of winter?
Stage 4: Collecting Data
Decisions need to be made at this stage of the types of data that will be collected and how it will be collected to be fair.
The types of data we will collect are:
See the Assessment Task for a suggestion of how you may display this data. You may wish to improve on this basic layout.
The types of data we will collect are:
- Qualitative data of what the environment looks like (Transects and Profiles), as well as the descriptions and diagrams of the waterbugs we see. We may even take photos of these waterbugs.
- Quantitative data of the numbers of organisms we see and the abiotic factors we will measure. We need to remember to use units to describe the numbers and to repeat the measurements to check their accuracy. You may wish to pool the data to form class data.
See the Assessment Task for a suggestion of how you may display this data. You may wish to improve on this basic layout.
Stage 5: Develop a general theory - An explanation
Look at all of the data you collected.
What does this data tell you about the health of the wetlands at Heatherton Road?
How can this data help you answer your scientific investigation question?
Were any of the results surprising? How could you check that these results are correct (accurate)?
Are there any human impacts at this ecosystem? How do you know and what can be done about them?
You will need to write an explanation text in this section of your report. See the section How can we collect and use evidence (data) to support our explanations? to help you write this section.
What does this data tell you about the health of the wetlands at Heatherton Road?
How can this data help you answer your scientific investigation question?
Were any of the results surprising? How could you check that these results are correct (accurate)?
Are there any human impacts at this ecosystem? How do you know and what can be done about them?
You will need to write an explanation text in this section of your report. See the section How can we collect and use evidence (data) to support our explanations? to help you write this section.
Stage 6: Communicating your information
Now that you have completed the investigation, you want others to know what you found out!
Choose the format of your report, either:
Use the information on these linked webpages to help you construct your presentation.
Choose the format of your report, either:
Use the information on these linked webpages to help you construct your presentation.