50
edits
OER4Schools/Collecting and interpreting information: Difference between revisions
From OER in Education
OER4Schools/Collecting and interpreting information (view source)
Revision as of 18:33, 19 September 2012
, 13 years ago→Collecting and Interpreting Data: Part two
| Line 139: | Line 139: | ||
{{activity|Small Group work}} (10 mins) You have now collected the data and should be ready to analyse or find solutions to respond to appropriately during the enquiry. Where should you begin and how do you proceed with this section of the enquiry? You might like to take note of the steps in the scientific method as usually followed in many scientific investigations and enquiries: | {{activity|Small Group work}} (10 mins) You have now collected the data and should be ready to analyse or find solutions to respond to appropriately during the enquiry. Where should you begin and how do you proceed with this section of the enquiry? You might like to take note of the steps in the scientific method as usually followed in many scientific investigations and enquiries: | ||
* A question or a problem is posed. | * A question or a problem is posed. | ||
* Research is done to find out what is already known about the topic. | * ''Research is done to find out what is already known about the topic.'' | ||
* A hypothesis is formed - this is usually a best guess based on what’s already known. | * ''A hypothesis is formed - this is usually a best guess based on what’s already known.'' | ||
* A very detailed step-by-step experimental procedure is designed to test the hypothesis – this is the | * ''A very detailed step-by-step experimental procedure is designed to test the hypothesis – this is the scientific enquiry or investigation and must take into account all variables affecting the experiment.'' | ||
* The investigation is done (using whatever equipment/materials you have chose to use) and data is collected. | * ''The investigation is done (using whatever equipment/materials you have chose to use) and data is collected.'' | ||
* Data is analysed. | * Data is analysed. | ||
* Conclusions are reached. | * Conclusions are reached. | ||
* Results are communicated. | * Results are communicated. | ||
You should observe that the steps are very similar to the EBL steps. The steps | You should observe that the steps are very similar to the EBL steps. The steps in italics should be particularly helpful reminder to what enquiry activities you have carried out, in the context of a scientific investigation method. Before you carry on to analyse your data, discuss these questions: | ||
# What is your ‘best guess’ at this point in time? Why? | # What is your ‘best guess’ at this point in time? Why? | ||
# Do you think the data help you to respond to the enquiry? Why? | # Do you think the data help you to respond to the enquiry? Why? | ||
| Line 158: | Line 158: | ||
The analysis of the data involves responding to the questions above. These questions help you evaluate your guesses, and assess whether the data collected is '''valid '''(ie. whether it can actually answer the enquiry questions) or '''reliable '''(ie. whether the data comes from a rigorous and trustworthy method of data collection). If you do not think the data fulfills the qualities of validity and reliability, then you should immediately highlight the problem and try to find out why this could have happened. It may be that you need to to rethink or repeat the data collection process. If you are satisfied with the data collected, you can then go ahead to make sense of the data so that you are able to present a solution, or different solutions, to the rest of the participants next week. | The analysis of the data involves responding to the questions above. These questions help you evaluate your guesses, and assess whether the data collected is '''valid '''(ie. whether it can actually answer the enquiry questions) or '''reliable '''(ie. whether the data comes from a rigorous and trustworthy method of data collection). If you do not think the data fulfills the qualities of validity and reliability, then you should immediately highlight the problem and try to find out why this could have happened. It may be that you need to to rethink or repeat the data collection process. If you are satisfied with the data collected, you can then go ahead to make sense of the data so that you are able to present a solution, or different solutions, to the rest of the participants next week. | ||
Remember, to ensure that the data collected is reliable. It may be necessary to repeat the experiment a number of times. Averages can then be calculated if further processing is needed - for example in the paper airplane enquiry. To ensure that the data is valid, make sure to consider the variables and which one to control. | Remember, to ensure that the data collected is reliable. It may be necessary to repeat the experiment a number of times. Averages can then be calculated if further processing is needed - for example in the paper airplane enquiry. To ensure that the data is valid, make sure to consider all the possible variables and which one to control. | ||
}} | }} | ||
