Module 5: Scientific Investigations

7 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Inquiry Question 3: How is the integrity of a scientific investigation judged?

Process, analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data, including identifying and accounting for sources of error and uncertainty

A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 5 dot point on data analysis. Covers means and ranges, error bars, significant figures, random vs systematic error, outliers, and worked HSC past exam questions.

8 min answer →

Plan, source and acknowledge primary and secondary data appropriate to the investigation

A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 5 dot point on primary and secondary data. Covers the distinction, sourcing and acknowledging secondary data, evaluating source quality, and worked HSC past exam questions.

7 min answer →

Evaluate scientific investigations and findings in terms of reliability, validity, accuracy and precision of data

A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 5 dot point on reliability, validity, accuracy and precision. The four concepts every Investigating Science student must distinguish, with worked HSC past exam questions.

7 min answer →

Inquiry Question 1: What initiates an investigation?

Develop and evaluate questions and hypotheses for scientific investigation

A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 5 dot point on inquiry questions and hypotheses. Covers what makes a question testable, the difference between a hypothesis and a prediction, falsifiability, and worked HSC past exam questions.

7 min answer →

Inquiry Question 4: What is the structure of an investigative report?

Communicate scientific understanding using suitable language and terminology, including the role of peer review and replication in confirming scientific findings

A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 5 dot point on peer review and replication. Covers what peer review does, why it matters, the reproducibility crisis, and worked HSC past exam questions on confirming scientific findings.

7 min answer →

Inquiry Question 2: What type of methodology best suits a scientific investigation?

Conduct risk assessments and consider ethical issues, including the use of animals, plants and humans, in planning a scientific investigation

A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 5 dot point on risk assessment and ethics. Covers the hierarchy of control, NHMRC ethical guidelines, animal welfare, informed consent, and worked HSC past exam questions.

7 min answer →

Plan investigations to ensure that they are valid and reliable, including the use of an appropriate experimental design with consideration of independent, dependent and controlled variables

A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 5 dot point on variables and experimental design. Covers independent, dependent and controlled variables, control groups, sample size, and worked HSC past exam questions.

8 min answer →