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According to the CXC syllabus, it is the ability to develop hypotheses to test them; plan and execute experimental
procedures and operations in appropriate sequence; use controls where appropriate; modify original plan or sequence of
operations as a result of difficulties encountered in carrying out experiments or obtaining unexpected results.
It is an experimental skill assessed in the fourth and fifth forms of the two year CSEC course and for Cape Units 1 and 2.
(The other experimental skills that are assessed are Observation/Recording/Reporting and Manipulation/Measurement.)
A. BACKGROUND
1. The person doing Planning and Designing (P&D) will have some background knowledge, some
experience, or would have made some observations.
2. From this, there is a desire to determine whether there is/are any relationship/s existing in the situation
under focus.
B. HYPOTHESIS
1. A hypothesis is developed/formulated. Now, what is a hypothesis? It is a supposition made as a basis for
reasoning, without assumption of its truth. It forms the basis for investigating the relationship/s in the
situation under focus. It is the starting point for investigation.
Burette containing
iodine solution
3. Devise method (i) Using a pipette, 50 cm3 fresh orange juice is transferred to a conical flask.
(a) Method to be used (ii) 20 cm3 sulphuric acid is then added to the flask.
should be written in (iii) Starch is then added to the conical flask.
steps that can be (iv) The contents of the flask are then titrated against iodine solution, until there is
clearly followed. the first permanent blue – black colour.
(v) The titration is repeated twice. The entire method is repeated using canned
orange juice.
(b) Limitations to the (i) Only one brand of canned orange juice is used.
method/investigation (ii) Fresh oranges from only one source are used.
(iii) Lack of information regarding other possible vitamin C inputs in the diets of the
families.
(c) Precautions to be taken
(i) Fresh orange juice should be squeezed and the canned juice should opened just
before the titration is done, since vitamin C deteriorates with exposure.
(d) Sources of error
(i) For this investigation ONLY EXPERIMENTAL ERROR IS POSSIBLE. This
may be as a result of improper use of measuring instruments like the pipette, or
carelessness when recording results.
This calculation is done with the results from both fresh and canned
orange juice.
If the concentration of vitamin C in the fresh orange juice is higher than that of
6. State what conclusions will be the canned orange juice, then the hypothesis is proven true, and it is very
reached if results show trends in one possible that the lower incidence of scurvy among the families that use the fresh
direction, in the other/opposite orange juice, may be due to the use of fresh juice.
direction or if no trend is observed?
If the concentration of Vitamin C in the canned orange juice is higher then the
hypothesis is proven false and the use of orange juice, fresh or canned, cannot
be related to the incidence of scurvy.
HYPOTHESIS
FORMULATED
TESTING HYPOTHESIS
IDENTIFY
VARIABLES
SELECT APPARATUS
(Draw diagrams)
DEVISE METHOD
(a) Write it out -Passive Voice
(b) Indicate limitations,
assumptions, sources of
errors and precautions
IDENTIFY DATA TO BE
TREATMENT OF RESULTS COLLECTED SHOWING HOW
RECORDED
STATEMENTS OF POSSIBLE
CONCLUSIONS
MODIFY PLAN
CARRY OUT NEW PLAN
Diagram summarizing the operations involved in Planning and Designing (shaded boxes).
Prepared by S. Elinor Jordan B. Sc. Dip. Ed. M.Ed.