Teaching article
An unexpected result belongs in the investigation log
Treat a surprising result as information to examine.
A spinner predicted to descend slowly reaches the floor first. Keep that observation, check the setup and decide whether to repeat; surprise provides a question to investigate rather than permission to rewrite the record.
A supposedly slower spinner reaches the floor first on one trial.
Check for a changed setup before repeating. Preserve the first result in the record so the investigation's history remains visible.
Check the procedure without erasing the result
Describe the unexpected outcome. Check the procedure. Plan a repeat.
Surprise is not proof of a mistake. What would you check next?
Offer spoken recording.
Resources
- Paper aircraft test – Forces and Flight Major Activity — Use the aircraft investigation for a follow-up comparison with a recorded procedure.
Further reading
Read next
- Which materials transmit the torch light?
- Change a paper strip's free length and compare its pitch
- Floating predictions are ideas that can be revised
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