Investigations may involve discovering, observing and describing objects, organisms or events. They also may involve experiments, a search for more information, or model making. Scientific inquiry should involve students in establishing and refining the methods, materials, and data to collect. In communicating and defending the results of scientific inquiry, arguments must be logical and demonstrate connections among natural phenomena, investigations, and scientific knowledge. In addition, the methods and procedures used to obtain evidence must be clearly reported to encourage further investigation.
Science advances through legitimate skepticism.
To evaluate explanations proposed by others, scientists examine and compare evidence, identify faulty reasoning and statements that go beyond the evidence, and suggest alternative explanations. Scientific explanations must be logically consistent, based on historical and current scientific knowledge, and open to question and modification. Students, therefore, should be encouraged to present the results of their inquiries in oral or written reports. Out of the discussions about the ideas, the background, and the data, learners will gain experience in the practice of science and scientific thought. A single problem often has both scientific and technological aspects.