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The Investigation:
The investigation requires you to develop a question, formulate a hypothesis and plan a course of action to answer the question and that complies with safety and ethical guidelines. You then undertake an experiment that involves the collection of primary quantitative data, analyse and evaluate the data, identify limitations of data and methods, link experimental results to science ideas, reach a conclusion in response to the question and suggest further investigations that may be undertaken. You are expected to design and undertake an investigation involving two continuous independent variables. Results are communicated in a scientific poster format according to the template provided here. A practical logbook must be maintained by the student for record, authentication and assessment purposes.
One of the most important parts of doing will in your investigation is choose your topic. You want to remember the KISS motto
K; Keep
I: It
S: Simple
S: Stupid
Your text has several ideas listed on pages 328 - 345
Topic selection phase
The selection of a suitable topic for investigation may begin with an idea or observation or question about an object, event or phenomenon. You may have already developed a question as an extension of earlier completed work, or may be curious about a practical problem, or a particular technological development. Once the topic has been identified students articulate a research question for investigation. Questions may be generated from brainstorming. Your teacher may provide a question or scaffold the development of an appropriate testable hypothesis that students can adapt and investigate.
Variables
The formulation of a hypothesis includes the identification and control of variables. A variable is any quantity or characteristic that can exist in differing amounts or types and can be measured. Values for variables may be categorical or they may be numerical, having a magnitude.
Not all variables can be easily measured. Length can be measured easily using, for example, metre rulers. Shades of colour are less easily measured and are more likely to be subjective. They might be measured by, for example, using photographic comparisons to produce a set of graduated ‘standards’ that are nominated and named for the purposes of the investigation. In VCE Physics, students are required to identify independent and dependent variables. They should also understand the need to control other variables (extraneous variables including confounding variables) that may affect the integrity of the experiment and the interpretation of results. Table of variable definition.
Developing a testable hypothesis
A hypothesis is developed from a research question of interest and provides a possible explanation of a problem that can be tested experimentally. A useful hypothesis is a testable statement that may include a prediction. In some cases, for example in exploratory or qualitative research, a research question may not lend itself to having an accompanying hypothesis; in such cases students should work directly with their research questions.
There is no mandated VCE Physics style for writing a hypothesis. Recognition of null and alternate hypotheses, one- and two-tailed hypotheses, and directional and non-directional hypotheses is not required. The following four-stage sequence provides an example of how a hypothesis may be constructed from a research question using an ‘If-then-when’ construction process:
Stage 1. Ask a research question of interest: Does the functionality of a yo-yo depend on string ply?
Stage 2. Identify the independent variable (IV): thickness of a yo-yo string
Stage 3. Identify the dependent variable (DV): number of oscillations of a yo-yo
Stage 4. Construct a hypothesis: Follow steps 1 to 6 below:
In some cases, for example in exploratory or qualitative research, a research question may not lend itself to having an accompanying hypothesis; in such cases students should work directly with their research questions.
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