BTEC National Certificate in Applied Science (Forensic Science)

UNIT 3 SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

BTEC National Certificate in Applied science (Forensic Science)

Unit 3 Scientific investigationIntroduction

All scientists need to have good investigative skills and this unit develops theseessential skills. Working in science often means teamwork but there are manyinstances of independent work. In this unit, learners will have to make the best useof the laboratory time allocated by the tutor. Learners may be asked to carry out apractical investigation designed by somebody else or to suggest ways of doing aninvestigation themselves. The practical investigation is designed to allow learners toshow their science knowledge and practical skills. After discussion with the tutorlearners will be asked to plan, carry out and analyse the results of their investigationand present it as a scientific report.The topic learners choose for investigation will depend on the endorsed title they arefollowing. The emphasis in this unit is on the learners’ ability to formulate a relevanthypothesis that they would be able to test experimentally, to plan and execute theirideas and to deal with the results. Learners may need to use questionnaires but thesewill only be part of their research. This is a practical unit and one project will beused to cover all the learning outcomes, although learners may repeat theirexperiment several times in order to collect accurate data.As in an industrial laboratory, learners will be monitored by the tutor right from thestart of the procedure. Assessment will be on the final report and will take intoaccount how learners carry out their practical work, their awareness of health andsafety issues and how accurately and honestly they record their results.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit a learner should:1 Be able to formulate a relevant hypothesis and plan an investigation relevant to the area of study2 Understand the scientific principles involved in the investigation and be able to undertake the planned investigation3 Be able to collect, collate and analyse the results from the investigation using appropriate techniques and present them in an accepted format4 Understand and interpret results from the investigation and present them in a report in an accepted scientific format including any applications and implications of science.

BTEC National Certificate in Applied Science – Forensic Science (Level 3)

Assessment criteria & description Evidence needs Assignment

P1

M1

State the objectives and hypothesis of the investigation and present a working plan for the experiment including healthand safety assessments

Analyse the research information obtained and discuss how it is relevant tothe planned experiment

Produce a plan in the form of a report

Present your research findings to the class, demonstrating the experimental procedure. List references.

(1)

Task 1Write a plan for your investigation. Include what aspect affecting the resistance of the wire you want to work on. State objectives and hypothesis and describe the experimental procedure/technique

Task 2Discuss the research material found. Is it enough to solve your research targets. How reliable is it.

D1Appraise the different approaches considered for the investigation and justify the hypothesis, experimentalprocedures and recording methods chosen

As part of plan include theory/background info. Also risk assessment in report

Task 3Justify elements of the plan eg hypothesis, chosen method and why other methods were rejected.

P2

Demonstrate the required manipulative skills to assemble relevant equipment and materials and safely carry out the planned investigation

Perform a demo within your group to the class

(2)

Show that you are able to carry out practical accurately and reliably. Demonstrate sound practical skills. Also show how you will record results.

M2

M3

Explain how accuracy and precision are ensured in the investigation

Review experimental progress, modify practical procedures if necessary, and justify the use of experimental techniques to increase the accuracy,

Prepare a poster and/or presentation about your work so far and present to class

Write a summary about what you’ve learnt from the conference

(3)Task 1

Describe how you ensure accuracy and precision in your work.

Task 2Think about what you’ve learnt from the conference in task 1. will you stick to your method or make changes

reliability and validity of results obtained

D2Evaluate the effectiveness of the investigative procedures in terms of accuracy and precision and suggest how these could be improved

Make a report to Justify whether you adopt or reject each improvement.

Task 3

Discuss possible ways to improve the accuracy and precision of your methods.

Assessment criteria & description Evidence needs Assignment

P3

D3

Assemble equipment, carry out the planned investigation, record the results and analyse the data collected

Analyse the data, justifying thestatistical methods chosen and relating the findings to scientific principles andapplications

Collect data in tables & graphs.Ensure units are included in table.

(4)

Task 1Data Analysis (for P3 & D3)

P4State and explain the conclusions in a report using accepted scientific protocol and language, including presentation of relevant research resources.

Produce a scientific report, following scientific format, including references & bibliography

(5)

Task 1

Writing the final report

M4Justify the conclusions made, drawing on primary and secondary research data.

Write a conclusion. Say how it is justified and does data support it. Relate back to assignment 1.

Task 2

Conclusions

D4Evaluate the outcomes of theinvestigation using scientific protocols

An evaluation of the results. Mention sources of error and how they were kept to a minimum. Evaluate the conclusion – how certain are they. Was your hypothesis correct?

Task 3

Final Evaluation

Scenario

You are investigating ways to reduce the power consumption of overhead power lines transferring electrical energy from power stations to the home. To do this you need to reduce energy lost as heat by reducing the resistance of the wire used. You need to investigate how resistance is affected by various factors.

Task 1 Choosing a topic and researching it

P1 State the objectives and hypothesis of the investigation and present a working plan for the experiment including health and safety assessments.

You need to complete the following task

Decide what aspect affecting resistance you want to work on. Share this information with the others in the class.

What is the nature of the investigation?

State your objectives and hypothesis

Describe what type of experimental research you need to do (e.g. laboratory)

Deadline:________________

Assignmen t 1 - Planning

Task 2- Evaluating the research

M1 Analyse the research information obtained and discuss how it is relevant to the planned experiment

You need to complete the following task

Collect all the relevant research material – yours and other students’. List the problems you need to solve to answer your research targets.

Do you now have all the information you need? How valuable is the research done so far? (Assess each piece of information)

Do you need more information? If so, how and when are you going to get it?

Deadline _________________

Task 3- Planning the investigation. (P1 and part D1)

P1 State the objectives and hypothesis of the investigation and present a working plan for the experiment including health and safety assessments. And part ofD1Appraise the different approaches considered for the investigation and justify the hypothesis, experimental procedures and recording methods chosen

You need to complete the following task

List the aims of your investigation – how you will know how the investigation has succeeded? What is your hypothesis?

Consider options for tackling the research. Give advantages and disadvantages. Consider what resources will be required and any costs.

Describe the details of experimental design and controls, the proposed analytical techniques to be used, your assessment of possible errors in practical work.

Justify the hypothesis, experimental procedures and recording methods chosen. Confirm your decision with the lecturer.

Produce a detailed plan for your investigation, including health and safety assessments.

Health and safety risk assessments should include descriptions of how you will eliminate/minimise any identified risks;

Deadline _________________

Scenario

Having researched and planned an investigation into one aspect affecting resistance of a wire, you now have the chance to carry out the practical work. Your initial findings will be reported to the rest of the class.

Task 1 The practical investigation.

P2 and P3 (practical part)

P2 Demonstrate the required manipulative skills to assemble relevant equipment and materials and safely carry out the planned investigation

And

P3 Assemble equipment, carry out the planned investigation, record the results and analyse the data collected

Having scientifically planned your investigation, it is time to apply those principles by doing the experimental work.

You need to complete the following task Assemble the relevant equipment and materials; Adhere to health and safety requirements; Manipulate and observe experiments skillfully Use appropriately the instruments and techniques for taking measurements; Record results with accuracy, integrity, precision; Maintain a working laboratory book

Your records should include:

health and safety issues what support you rely on how you cooperate with others

Assignment 2 - The Practical investigation

how you revise your plan as you go along

Deadline__________________

Scenario

During your work on assignment 2, you will be attending a science conference to review your progress.

Scientists regularly meet to discuss their latest progress. Conferences are less formal than publishing a research paper. Papers need to be peer-reviewed before publication. Presentations at a conference are not reviewed beforehand and the audience is expected to provide constructive criticism and suggestions.

You will present your findings so far to the rest of the class. They will help you review your progress and may use some of your ideas in their own research.

Posters

Information about the research is assembled to make a display. Other researchers can read the work at their leisure and question the researchers about their work.

This assignment is based largely on the information exchanged at the conference.

Task 1 The conference (M2 and D2, evaluation part)

M2 Explain how accuracy and precision are ensured in the investigationAnd

D2 Evaluate the effectiveness of the investigative procedures in terms of accuracy and precision and suggest how these could be improved

You need to complete the following task

Prepare a poster and/or presentation about your work so far.

Describe how you ensure accuracy and precision in your work.

Evaluate how effective these measures have been in making your work accurate and precise.

Assignment 3 - Reviewing Progress

Deadline__________________

Task 2 – Review

M3 Review experimental progress, modify practical procedures if necessary, and justify the use of experimental techniques to increase the accuracy, reliability and validity of results obtained

You need to complete the following task

Write a summary of what you have learned from the conference:

1. What have you learned about your own work? Could you improve the techniques or are you justified in repeating the same methods?

2. How is the rest of the class progressing? If anyone is doing better than you in any respect – how can you learn from their methods? If anyone is failing to meet their targets is there any way you can help them (without jeopardising your own work)?

3. Discuss how the collaboration is working and what problems have occurred. Describe how the work has met or will meet its targets. Include your contributions. Suggest and agree ways to improve.

Deadline__________________

Task 3 – The practical investigation (D2 ‘improvements’ part)

D2 Evaluate the effectiveness of the investigative procedures in terms of accuracy and precision and suggest how these could be improved

You need to complete the following task

Discuss possible ways to improve the accuracy and precision of your methods.

Analyse how effective each improvement would be.

Assignment 4 – Data analysis

Justify whether you adopt or reject each improvement.

Deadline__________________

Scenario

As you collect more and more raw data, it becomes important to analyse the results. You might find that one measurement is obviously wrong, and needs to be repeated. You can check your results with those of the rest of the class, and with the studies you researched in Assignment 1, but you will need to convert your results into the same format as the other values.

Task 1 – Data analysis. (P3 ‘analysis’ part and D3)

P3 Assemble equipment, carry out the planned investigation, record the results and analyse the data collectedAnd D3 Analyse the data, justifying the statistical methods chosen and relating the findings to scientific principles and applications

This work is best done as we go along, but towards the end of the investigation you need to make sure that you can make sense of all the data collected.

You need to complete the following task

Collect your data into tables and graphs. Take care to show:

organisation of data eg class intervals, tallying; correct units of experimental quantities used; fitness for purpose of methods used; repeatability; sources and magnitudes of errors in reading taken assessment of experimental accuracy and precision;

What do your data show you? You need to process and analyse the raw data e.g. mean, standard deviation, student’s t-test. Particularly useful is establishing that two results are significantly different. Make sure your calculations are accurate.

It will be useful to compare your results with any values you can find in published studies. Assess the information sources you use:

is the source relevant? if so, does it support or contradict your results?

DEADLINE______________________

Assignment 5 – Writing the report

Scenario

It is time to start writing your chapter of the class’s book on resistance of a wire.

There is a lot you can write already – based on your initial literature research.

As you collect and analyse more data, your conclusions and contribution will become more and more substantial.

Having done all the hard work, give your efforts the report they deserve!

Task 1 Writing your final report.

P4 State and explain the conclusions in a report using accepted scientific protocol and language, including presentation of relevant research resources.

You need to complete the following task

Write your scientific report of the investigation:

Use correct scientific protocol i.e. structure, format; Use correct scientific language and terminology i.e. past passive tense; Include a section for relevant references and bibliography; Present your data in an appropriate format, to an appropriate degree of precision, and using

correct units.

Deadline__________________

Task 2 – Conclusions

M4 Justify the conclusions made, drawing on primary and secondary research data.

You need to complete the following task

Read over your conclusions again.

How are they justified? What experimental data supports your conclusions? Do any of your experiments contradict your

conclusions; and if so, why have you ignored these results? How do your conclusions relate to the reports you researched in Assignment 1?

Deadline__________________

Task 3 – Final evaluation

D4 Evaluate the outcomes of the investigation using scientific protocols

You need to complete the following task

In conclusion, your report should include:

An evaluation of the results. A discussion of sources of error and how to minimize them. Evaluation of your conclusions – how certain are they? Comparison of your experimental methods and literature investigations. Consideration of your hypothesis – did it hold up?

Deadline______________