HSC Investigating Science study guide
HSC Investigating Science · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
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. There are no prerequisites, corequisites, or eligibility requirements, and the course cannot be studied by self-tuition. Each year includes 30 hours of course time for depth studies and at least 35 hours of practical investigations, so assessment rewards hands-on work and written scientific reports as well as content knowledge. The HSC Investigating Science study guide has 4 sections and about 967 words.
01Scientific Investigations
A scientific investigation begins with a question and a hypothesis that can be tested. You must know the difference between a hypothesis (a testable prediction) and a theory (a well-supported explanation).
278 words, about 1 min02Technologies
Technology in science refers to the tools, instruments, and methods used to collect and analyse data. You need to understand how technologies extend human senses and improve accuracy.
242 words, about 1 min03Fact or Fallacy?
This topic is about evaluating scientific claims and distinguishing science from pseudoscience. You must understand the characteristics of reliable scientific information: it is based on evidence, testable, peer-reviewed, and reproducible.
222 words, about 1 min04Science and Society
Science interacts with society in many ways: it informs public policy, ethics, and economics. You need to understand how scientific knowledge is used and sometimes misused.
225 words, about 1 min