Scientific Investigation Skills
A scientific investigation tests a prediction through a fair test, where one variable changes, one is measured and others are controlled.
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A scientific investigation tests a prediction through a fair test, where one variable changes, one is measured and others are controlled.
- The independent variable is changed
- The dependent variable is measured
- Control variables are kept the same
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Scientific Investigation Skills?
Within Physics, which covers forces, energy, waves, electricity, magnetism, light and space explained through motion and experiments, this topic explains Scientific Investigation Skills. Physics topics explain how things move, push, heat up and carry energy, so each one here pairs a definition with a live model you can change.
Check that you can explain Scientific Investigation Skills in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Scientific Investigation Skills explains how the physical world behaves, from sport and transport to electricity and medicine.
Scientific Investigation Skills in detail
A good scientific investigation starts with a testable question and a hypothesis. You identify the independent variable (the one you change), the dependent variable (the one you measure) and control variables (kept constant) so the test is fair.
Choose suitable apparatus, repeat measurements to spot anomalies, record results in a table with units and plot a graph. Evaluate by discussing sources of error, reliability and accuracy, and suggest improvements. Risk assessments identify hazards and precautions. These skills apply across all sciences.
How the interactive helps you understand Scientific Investigation Skills
Click a step, or use the Previous and Next buttons, to move through the sequence one stage at a time. Auto-play moves on for you.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Scientific Investigation Skills.
Real-life uses and examples
- Explain everyday devices, such as brakes, lifts or chargers, using Scientific Investigation Skills.
- Use Scientific Investigation Skills to make sense of a practical and its results.
- Answer “explain” questions by linking Scientific Investigation Skills to a clear cause and effect.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting that some quantities, such as force or velocity, also have a direction.
- Mixing up Scientific Investigation Skills with a related quantity that has different units.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Scientific Investigation Skills
What is Scientific Investigation Skills?
A scientific investigation tests a prediction through a fair test, where one variable changes, one is measured and others are controlled.
What are the most important points about Scientific Investigation Skills?
The main points are: The independent variable is changed; The dependent variable is measured; Control variables are kept the same.
Why is Scientific Investigation Skills useful?
Understanding Scientific Investigation Skills explains how the physical world behaves, from sport and transport to electricity and medicine.
How can I practise Scientific Investigation Skills?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Scientific Investigation Skills?
Related topics in Physics include Physical Quantities and Units, Accuracy and Uncertainty, Speed and Velocity.