Asking relevant questions | Year 4 Science PDF Download

How to Formulate Effective Questions

Asking questions is a fundamental aspect of thinking like a scientist. In the realm of scientific investigations, inquiries typically serve as the starting point for exploration. Questions in the scientific domain often begin with:

• Why...?
• How...?
• When...?
• What...?
• Which...?
• Can you explain...?

It is crucial to give careful thought to the questions you pose to ensure their relevance. A relevant question is one that is pertinent and closely linked to the subject matter at hand. Irrelevant questions are unlikely to provide helpful answers.
After making predictions, scientists gather and meticulously record data through experiments. Subsequently, they analyze this data to answer the questions posed. The findings and data are then presented in various formats, such as tables, charts, or graphs, to facilitate comprehension and interpretation.

Different Approaches to Answering Questions

When addressing different types of questions, there are varied methods to arrive at your answer:

• Conducting Fair or Comparative Tests: In scientific experiments, it is crucial to change one variable at a time while keeping all other factors constant. This method helps to observe the specific impact of the variable being manipulated. For example, when testing the effect of different fertilizers on plant growth, it's essential to only change the type of fertilizer while keeping factors like sunlight, water, and soil constant.
• Research Using Secondary Sources: Utilizing information from secondary sources like books, the internet, or scientific documentaries aids in enriching your understanding of a topic. For instance, when studying the behavior of certain chemicals in a reaction, referring to scientific papers published by researchers can provide valuable insights.
• Observing Changes Over Time: Tracking changes over varying time periods, whether minutes or months, is essential in scientific investigations. For instance, observing the growth of mold on bread slices over days can reveal how environmental conditions influence the growth rate.
• Finding Patterns and Relationships: Identifying connections between different variables is key to scientific analysis. For example, noticing that higher temperatures lead to increased ice cream sales can indicate a direct relationship between temperature and consumer behavior.
• Identifying, Grouping, and Classifying: By categorizing and sorting items based on shared characteristics, scientists can simplify complex systems. For instance, in biology, organisms are classified into kingdoms, phyla, and classes based on shared characteristics for easier understanding and study.
• Problem-Solving with Scientific Knowledge: Applying previous scientific knowledge to tackle new challenges is a fundamental aspect of scientific inquiry. For example, using principles of physics to design a more efficient car engine demonstrates the application of scientific problem-solving skills.