HSC Investigating Science case studies
HSC Investigating Science · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Investigating Science Stage 6 (2017) is a NSW Board Developed Course in Science, offered as a 2-unit course in Year 11 (course number 11215) and Year 12 (15215). It is designed for students who want to understand how scientific knowledge is built rather than to specialise in one discipline: the Year 11 course starts from observation and moves through inference, generalisation, scientific models, and the relationship between theories and laws, while the Year 12 course asks students to run their own investigations, report findings, examine how science and technology depend on each other, test a claim scientifically, and consider the ethical, social, economic, and political influences on research. The HSC Investigating Science case studies are 5 cases and about 2,468 words.
1The School Canteen 'Sugar Crash' Survey
A Year 11 class wants to test the claim that eating a sugary snack at lunch makes students sleepy in period 5. They survey 60 students who volunteered after an announcement.
499 words, about 2 min2The Library CO2 Sensor and the 'Fresh Air' Claim
A school installs a low-cost CO2 sensor in the library to monitor air quality. The manufacturer claims the sensor is accurate to ±50 ppm and updates every 30 seconds.
505 words, about 3 min3The 'Detox Foot Patch' Advertisement
A magazine advertisement shows a before-and-after photo of a foot patch that has turned dark brown overnight. The text says: 'Clinical studies prove our patches draw out toxins while you sleep.
467 words, about 2 min4The Wind Farm and the Bat Count
A regional council is deciding whether to approve a wind farm of 12 turbines on a ridge. A consultant's report says bat activity is 'low' based on two nights of acoustic surveys in winter.
489 words, about 2 min5The Fluoride Letter to the Editor
A local newspaper publishes a letter claiming that water fluoridation lowers children's IQ. The letter cites a study of 500 children in a region with naturally high fluoride, where some wells contained 5 mg/L, and reports a small IQ difference.
508 words, about 3 min