Life Sciences 101
NAME: ____________________________________
NOTE:
This information booklet includes some explanations and examples.
Some standard answers and examples are given, but each PAT will be highly prac
specific and you will have to think!
Page 1 of 28
,Let’s recap the idea of the Scientific Method and go through some skills that you should be
familiar with.
1. Research question
2. Aim - What you are trying to find out.
- To find out/ investigate whether/ …
(starts with ‘To’ and a verb; includes the independent
and dependent variables)
- One sentence
3. Hypothesis Formation - Written as a definite statement (one sentence)– not a
question
- Mentions the relationship between only one
independent variable and the dependent variable
(which can be measured or observed).
- Testable by experimentation
4. Experimental Design/ Method to test hypothesis
- Includes aim, hypothesis, design of method/
procedure of experiment
5. Performing the experiment
- Involves carrying out the experiment and gathering
data
6. Analysing the data - Making sense of the data
- Seeing patterns/ trends/ relationships etc.
7. Drawing conclusions
- Written as a statement (one concise sentence) that
refers directly back to the aim
- Mentions the relationship between the independent
and dependent variable.
Page 2 of 28
, APPARATUS
Apparatus Use What it looks like
Thermometer Measure
temperature
Water bath Keeps
temperature
constant as a
controlled
variable
(for test tubes/
beakers)
Incubator Keep
temperature
constant as a
controlled
variable
(for petri dishes)
Page 3 of 28
NAME: ____________________________________
NOTE:
This information booklet includes some explanations and examples.
Some standard answers and examples are given, but each PAT will be highly prac
specific and you will have to think!
Page 1 of 28
,Let’s recap the idea of the Scientific Method and go through some skills that you should be
familiar with.
1. Research question
2. Aim - What you are trying to find out.
- To find out/ investigate whether/ …
(starts with ‘To’ and a verb; includes the independent
and dependent variables)
- One sentence
3. Hypothesis Formation - Written as a definite statement (one sentence)– not a
question
- Mentions the relationship between only one
independent variable and the dependent variable
(which can be measured or observed).
- Testable by experimentation
4. Experimental Design/ Method to test hypothesis
- Includes aim, hypothesis, design of method/
procedure of experiment
5. Performing the experiment
- Involves carrying out the experiment and gathering
data
6. Analysing the data - Making sense of the data
- Seeing patterns/ trends/ relationships etc.
7. Drawing conclusions
- Written as a statement (one concise sentence) that
refers directly back to the aim
- Mentions the relationship between the independent
and dependent variable.
Page 2 of 28
, APPARATUS
Apparatus Use What it looks like
Thermometer Measure
temperature
Water bath Keeps
temperature
constant as a
controlled
variable
(for test tubes/
beakers)
Incubator Keep
temperature
constant as a
controlled
variable
(for petri dishes)
Page 3 of 28
