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.