This initial stage involves students asking questions such as:

• What happens when ...?
• What is the effect of …?

They attempt to provide answers to their own questions, suggest possible relationships and identify variables that may influence the phenomena.

Students attempt to make sense of what they have observed by researching what is known from secondary sources. They develop a research question, predict possible outcomes and form an hypothesis that defines their scientific investigation. They then identify and analyse potential problems with their investigation.

This stage involves students refining and documenting their step-by-step procedure. They also collect resources such as equipment for conducting and measuring their observations.

Students decide on the most appropriate way to measure and record their observations. They carry out their experiment, observe, measure and record data, and conduct repeat trials. They identify and manage safety risks.

This stage involves students organising and analysing their collected data to identify patterns, trends and relationships between variables. They make calculations, arrange data and construct graphs. Students use their knowledge of scientific concepts to develop explanations for patterns, trends or relationships in data.

In this last stage students review and evaluate their findings in relation to their hypothesis. They consider whether their investigation supported the hypothesis. Students evaluate the investigation by examining the procedure followed and the methods used to collect data. They may identify further investigations.

Findings may be communicated in an electronic format, a scientific display or as an oral presentation. Students then consider the implications of their findings in a wider context or apply their findings to further investigations.