They, along with a panel of practicing teachers, investigate methods that can be used in a science classroom to make students' investigation experiences richer by providing clear instructions, designing good observation instruments, and eliciting student predictions before they start the experiment. Prediction is described as the hook that gets the students invested in the study. Analysis of video taped footage of a classroom studying pendulums resulted in the suggestion that it is necessary for the teacher to have a good understanding of the investigation before the teacher introduces it to the students. Students, who are working in groups, are seen to become frustrated when they do not get the expected results from the investigation. The merits of seeking professional support is discussed.
Data collection is said to be the heart of inquiry because it gives students confidence.
The data can be presented in a variety of ways and the students can then interpret them. In a food chemistry experiment, the teacher discovers that the data appear as a sea of words until she reworks the the data sheet and common factors can be compared. With methods that emphasize good data collection, the students are seen to understand the importance of accurate record keeping, make more careful observations, and feel more in control of their own learning.