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Science
First Quarter – Module 1A
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION:
Introduction to Scientific
Investigation

ls from the Division of Misamis Occidental. We encourage teachers and other education stakeholders to email the

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

vi
 What I Need to Know

Investigation is the heart of science. It is the way scientists do

research. Scientific investigation is a way to find answers to a question that
will produce evidences that help you answer questions and solve problems.
When the evidence cannot provide answers or solutions then it may lead to
new questions or problems for investigation. As more knowledge are
discovered, science advances.

Researchers investigate the world in so many ways. In different fields

of science, they may use different methods and be guided by different
theories and hypotheses but most of them generally follow the steps in a
Scientific Investigation.

After going through this module, you are expected to describe the
components of a scientific investigation (S7MT-Ia-1).

Specifically, you are also expected to:

1. identify the steps in scientific method.

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help
you understand the process of Scientific Investigation. The scope of this
module allows you to use different learning situations. You need to be
patient in doing your tasks. Follow the directions in the activities and
answer the given test and exercises properly.
 What I Know

Matching Type.
Directions: Match the following terms in Column A with the correct
definition in Column B. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the
chosen letter in your Science notebook.
Column A Column B
_____ 1. Hypothesis A. A conclusion based from evidence and
reasoning
_____ 2. Control B. A formal inquiry or systematic
study
_____ 3. Investigation C. A judgment based on the results of an
experiment
_____ 4. Dependent Variable D. A sequence of steps involved in
performing experiment
_____ 5. Experiment E. A temporary solution to a problem
_____ 6. Conclusion F. Any information that is gathered
with the use of senses
_____ 7. Data G. Can change or influence the result of
the experiment
_____ 8. Communicate H. Observations & measurements
recorded
_____ 9. Observation I. Organized process to test a
hypothesis
_____ 10. Independent Variable J. Sharing the results to get
helpful feedback
_____ 11. Interpret K. The inquiry or problem relating to a
topic
_____ 12. Variable L.The factor that is manipulated
during an experiment
_____ 13. Record M. The response that is measured in an
experiment
_____ 14. Question N. To interpret or give meaning
_____ 15. Procedure O. To write accurate information about
what occurs during experiment
P. Used to show that the result of an
experiment is really due
Lesson
Introduction to Scientific
1 Investigation

What is Scientific Investigation?

Scientific Investigation is the way in which scientists and researchers

use a systematic process to answer questions about the world around us.
It is a way of finding the answer to a question using the carefully arranged
steps. In other words, the scientific method is a systematic process that
involves measurable observations to formulate, test or modify and prove a
hypothesis.

What’s In

Activity 1: Arrange Me!

Below are steps in scientific investigation, arrange the following steps

in the proper order. Write numbers 1-7 (1 being the first step and 7 as the
last step). Write your answers in your Science activity notebook.

______________ a. Find out the problem

____________ b. Observe and record
____________ c. Make a hypothesis/ temporary solution or answer
____________ d. Communicate the result
____________ e. Identify the problem
____________ f. Arrive at a conclusion/ making of general
statement
____________ g. Test the hypothesis
 What’s New

Activity 2: Vocabulary Match!

Directions: Match the vocabulary words in the box to their definitions

below. Write the letter of your answer in your Science activity notebook.

VOCABULARY

A. Scientific Method E. Ethical I. Observe

B. Questions F. Variable J. Record
C. Experiment G. Hypothesis K. Conclusion
D. Research H. Procedure L. Interpret

1. To explain or give meaning

2. Factor to be considered during an experiment.
3. Something that can change or influence the results of an experiment.
4. The inquiry or problem relating to a topic that can be answered by
conducting an experiment.
5. A method of doing investigation that include the steps such as identifying
a problem, gathering data, forming a hypothesis, testing a hypothesis,
and drawing a conclusion.
6. Following the rules of being fair and honest.
7. An educated guess or a temporary answer.
8. To conduct an investigation into current information about something.
9. A test or trial performed in order to proved the temporary answer of the
identified problem.
10. The general statement/s made by an investigator based on the results
of the experiment.
 What is It

Steps in Scientific Method

Scientists are, by nature, keen observers that

is why they can easily perceive areas where
problems exist. Having identified the problem,
scientist undertakes a carefully planned investigation following a systematic
and logical approach using steps in scientific method. The figure below
shows the steps in Scientific Investigation.
Figure 1. Steps in Scientific Investigation

1. Identifying Problems – The first step in

scientific investigations is to identify
a problem in a given situation. This
problem comes when a researcher
is curious or interested about
something he/she has observed in
the environment.

2. Making Observations – The process of science

starts with an observation within the surrounding of
a researcher. In this step, the scientist will research
and make observations regarding the problem.

3. Forming a Hypothesis – In this

step, you will give
temporary solutions to the
identified problem.
 4. Testing the Hypothesis/ Experiment – The
next scientific step you are going to is to test your
hypothesis. Some hypothesis may be tested
simply by further observations or
take an elaborate and tedious
process as in the experiment.

5. Organize and
Analyze Data - After performing
an experiment and collecting
data, one must analyze the data.
Research experiments usually
analyzed data with statistical software
in order to determine the
relationships among the data
gathered. In the case of a
simpler experiment, one would look at
the data and see how they show a
relationship.

6. Draw Conclusions – The next step of scientific

investigation is to form a conclusion. If the
data support the hypothesis, then the
hypothesis is correct and may be the
explanation for the phenomena. If the data do
not support the
hypothesis, then
more
observations
must be made, a new hypothesis is formed,
and the scientific investigation is used all over
again.
7. Communicate Results - When a conclusion is drawn, the research can
be presented to others to inform them of the findings and
receive input about the validity of the
conclusion drawn from the
research.

What’s More

Activity 3: Fill in the Blanks

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the
vocabulary list inside the box. Write your answers in your Science activity
notebook.

scientific method: a method of doing research that includes the

steps of identifying problem, gathering data, forming a
hypothesis, testing a hypothesis, and drawing a conclusion
question: the inquiry or problem relating to a topic that can be
answered by conducting an experiment
experiment: a test or trial performed in order to discover something
hypothesis: an educated guess or reasonable assumption
procedure: a sequence of steps involved in performing an
experiment
observe: to notice what occurs during an experiment
record: to write accurate information about what occurs during an
experiment
interpret: to explain or give meaning to
conclusion: the result or outcome of something
 The _________________ method is one way that people think about
and solve questions or problems. When you begin your experiment, it is
important to state a problem or _________________ that you would like to
find an answer to. It is important to look up or _________________ up-to-
date information about your topic before you conduct any experiments. A(n)
_________________ is a possible explanation about something.
To conduct a(n) _________________ is a good way to discover
something new about science. Be sure to write down each step or
_________________ in the correct order before you start your science
experiment. When you conduct an experiment and you deliberately change
one thing, you are introducing a(n) _________________. It is critical to
watch or _________________ what is happening with every step of your
experiment. After you conduct your experiment, a valuable step is to write
down or _________________ what happened. When you explain what
happened in your experiment, you _________________ the results.
Sharing true information about the outcome of your experiment is an
example of _________________ behavior. After an experiment, it is
important to write down your _________________ or summary of what you
learned.

What I Have Learned

Given the situations below, choose the letter that corresponds to your
answer and write an essay about what is ask in number two (2). Write your
answers in your Science activity notebook.
1. The mother of John wanted to find out the effect of organic fertilizer
in the growth of pechay plant. What are the steps she is going to follow in
order to find out the effect on the growth?
a. conduct an experiment, form a hypothesis, make a
conclusion, record data
b. form a hypothesis, record data, conduct an experiment,
make a conclusion
 c. form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, record data, make
a conclusion
d. record data, form a hypothesis, make a conclusion, conduct
an experiment
2. How do steps in scientific method help in solving problems?

What I Can Do

Activity 4. Identify and Arrange Me!

Directions: Identify what step is being illustrated in each picture and
arrange the following pictures using numbers 1-5 (1 being the first step and
5 being the last step). Write your answers in your Science notebook.

a. .
Photo Credits: Rizza Mae L. Serino

____________ _____________

_________________________ _________________________

c. d.
____________ _____________
 _____________________ _____________________

e. f. Photo Credits: Rizza Mae L. Serino

____________ _____________

_________________________ _________________________

EXCELLENT! You are now done with all the

activities in Module 1A. Ready for the Assessment?

Assessment

Directions: Now that you are finished accomplishing this module, let us
check your understanding about the lesson presented in this module. Each
sentence below describes a step of the scientific method. Match each
sentence with a step of the scientific method listed below. Write the letter of
your answers in your Science activity notebook.
A. Draw conclusions C. Recognize a problem
B. Form a hypothesis D. Test the hypothesis/ Experiment
_______ 1. RJ Lou grew mongo seeds in ten (10) pots. She divided the
pots into two (2) groups, the five (5) pots exposed to sunlight
and the rest five (5) pots inside their house.
_______ 2. Krizha used a survey to determine how many of her
classmates were left-handed and how many were right-handed.
_______ 3. Jose wanted to find out the effect of commercial fertilizer from
organic fertilizer in the growth of tomato.
_______ 4. Vincent saw bats catching insects after dark. He asked, “How
do bats find the insects in the dark?”
_______ 5. Mar wondered if dyes could be taken out of plant leaves,
flowers, and stems.
_______ 6. Florence soaked six different kinds of seeds in water for 24
hours. Then she planted the seeds in soil at a depth of 1 cm.
She used the same amount of water, light, and heat for each
kind of seed.
_______ 7. Celso read about growing plants in water. He wanted to
determine how plants could grow without soil.
_______ 8. Jade said, “If I grow five seedlings under the sun, I think the
plants will grow slower than the five plants grown inside the
house.”
_______ 9. Maria’s experiment proved that earthworms move away
from light.
_______ 10. Neil said, “If fertilizer affect the growth of pechay plant, it
might affect the growth of cactus.”
_______ 11. If the temperature changes then the amount of bread mold will
change.
_______ 12. Jaime wanted to find out the eating habits of dog.
_______ 13. Aldrin put different fertilizers on pechay plants to see what
fertilizer allows the pechay plant to grow faster.
_______ 14. Plants placed in direct sunlight grow faster than plants which
are kept with no sunlight.
_______ 15. Sarah wanted to find out if the amount of rain has an effect on
the growth of cactus.
 Additional Activities

Study carefully the picture below. Observe and identify problems that
can be found in the picture. Write your observations and problems
identified in your Science activity notebook.

Photo
Credits:
Rizza Mae
L. Serino

Congratulations! You have successfully completed Module 1A. I hope

you learn something.