HFN1O Using the Social Science Scientific Inquiry Model

Question Example What type of cutting board is easiest to clean? How could you find out?

Scientists and social scientists want to make a difference in people's lives. They take specific steps to make sure their work is related to an important issue, correct and useful.

Step 1: Develop a research question. Write a question that relates to the issue or problem you are investigating. You can base your research question on your initial observations. Sample research question: On which type of cutting board will there be fewer bacteria after washing?

Step 2: Form a Hypothesis Write a statement that may answer the research question. As you continue to investigate, you may find evidence to support the hypothesis or to prove that it is incorrect. Sample Hypothesis: Plastic cutting boards will have fewer bacteria than wood or glass cutting boards after washing.

Step 3: Collect Data Conduct experiments or research studies. If you design an experiment, make sure it does not put anyone at risk of harm. Gather observations and organize them. Example: Perform an experiment to test the level of bacteria on three cutting boards made of different materials. Use a mud mixture to mimic bacteria and agar plates to collect samples from the board's surfaces. Research the 3 materials used- do any have antimicrobial properties? Locate and read other studies that have tested this hypothesis.

Step 4: Analyze Date Analyze the data you collected and decide whether they support or disprove your hypothesis. Example: If you observed no differences in the amount of bacteria on the 3 cutting boards, your data does not support your conclusion.

Step 5: Communicate your conclusions Describe the results of your study, state your conclusion, and explain why your study is significant. You can also further research ideas to learn more or to help clarify what you learned. Example: The study described above is significant because it can help cooks keep their kitchen as clean as possible, and prevent illness. Additional experiments using different types of bacteria, or different types of dish soap may help clarify the conclusions. Additional research into alternative materials for cutting boards might suggest important new results.

Questions: 1. Choose an issue related to food safety. 2. Write a research question that relates to the issue you chose. 3. Write a hypothesis that may answer the research question. 4. What could you do to investigate whether your hypothesis was correct?