Planning and conducting investigations

Science inquiry — Australian Curriculum v9.0, Year 10 Science.

Achievement focus

Students plan and conduct safe, valid and reproducible investigations to test relationships or develop explanatory models. They explain how they have addressed ethical and intercultural considerations when generating or using primary and secondary data.

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AC9S10I01 — Questions, predictions and hypotheses

Students learn to: develop investigable questions, reasoned predictions and hypotheses to test relationships and develop explanatory models.

Core ideas

• A good question is specific, measurable where possible, and linked to evidence you can collect.
• Hypotheses should be testable and clearly connected to the method you will use.

Learning checkpoints

1. Improve this question for a school investigation: “Is fertiliser good?”
   Sample answer: “How does the mass of fertiliser added affect the height of radish seedlings over 14 days?” (or similar measurable focus.)

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AC9S10I02 — Valid, reproducible investigations

Students learn to: plan and conduct valid, reproducible investigations, including identifying and controlling possible sources of error, risk assessments, ethical issues, and key considerations regarding heritage sites and artefacts on Country/Place where appropriate.

Core ideas

• Validity links evidence to the claim; reproducibility means others (or you, repeating) can obtain consistent results with the same method.
• Controls, replication, sample size, and fair testing reduce misleading conclusions.
• Ethics and cultural protocols matter for people, animals, data ownership, and sacred or significant places and objects.

Learning checkpoints

1. Give one way to improve reproducibility in an experiment.
   Sample answer: Use clear, written methods; repeat trials; keep equipment calibration consistent; control variables.

2. Why might research on Country require extra consultation?
   Sample answer: Places and artefacts can hold cultural significance; access and use should follow appropriate permissions and protocols.