Communicating Your Understanding (HSC SSCE Biology): Revision Notes

Communicating Your Understanding

Why communicating research matters

Scientific research only becomes valuable when it is shared with others. An investigation remains incomplete until the results have been properly communicated. Without communication, no one can learn from your work or build upon your findings.

Scientists use many different methods to share their research:

• With other scientists: Written reports, posters, conference talks
• With the public: Science demonstrations, public lectures, websites, videos, blogs

The key is choosing the communication method that best suits both your content and your intended audience.

Writing scientific reports

What is a scientific report?

A scientific report is a formal, carefully structured account of your investigation or depth study. It presents a summary of your work based on the data and analysis from your logbook, but includes only the most important information you collected.

Structure of a report

For secondary school biology, a report should include these sections in order:

1. Background information
2. Aim
3. Hypothesis
4. Risk assessment
5. Materials
6. Method
7. Results and analysis
8. Discussion of results
9. Conclusion
10. Acknowledgements
11. References
12. Appendix

Background information

This section tells the reader why you conducted this investigation and how you developed your research question or hypothesis.

What to include:

• Explanation of why this research is interesting or important
• Literature review providing background information needed to understand your work
• Previous research on the topic
• Scientific principles underlying your investigation

Aim

The aim is a brief statement describing what you intend to do. Common aims include:

• To investigate...
• To measure...
• To model...
• To compare...
• To verify...
• To calculate...

Your aim should clearly link to your hypothesis and identify the variables you will measure.

Hypothesis

A hypothesis must be:

• Written as a predictive 'If... then...' statement
• Falsifiable (able to be disproved by evidence)
• Focused on your expected result

Risk assessment

This section identifies potential hazards in your investigation and explains how you will minimise risks. (Risk assessment procedures are covered in detail elsewhere in your course.)

Materials

Provide a complete list of all materials and equipment used in your experiment, including:

• Quantities (e.g., "500 mL beaker")
• Concentrations (e.g., "2% solution")
• Specific types or brands where relevant

Method

The method summarises what you did, what you measured, and how you measured it. It is not a detailed recipe for others to follow, but rather a clear summary of your procedures.

Format: Write in point form. If using present tense, start each sentence with a verb.

Primary-source investigations

For experimental or observational work, your method should:

• Describe procedures in enough detail that someone with similar knowledge could repeat your work
• Explain briefly why you chose particular methods or techniques
• Include large, clear diagrams of equipment set-up

Secondary-source investigations

For literature-based research, your method should:

• Describe what literature searches you conducted
• Explain how you decided which sources to use
• Detail your search criteria and databases used

Results and analysis

This section summarises your results. The results and analysis sections are usually combined, though they may be kept separate.

Presenting data effectively

Tables:

• Use tables to compare results from different experiments or sources
• Avoid including long tables of raw data in the main report
• Place extensive raw data in an appendix instead
• Use graphs instead of tables wherever possible

Graphs:

Choose the appropriate graph type for your data:

• Scatter plots: Show relationships between two variables. Display data as points with uncertainty bars and clearly label any fitted lines.
• Column or bar graphs: Compare different data sets. Do NOT use these to show mathematical relationships between variables.

Units and uncertainties:

• All data must be given in correct SI units
• Include uncertainties for all measurements
• Show equations used for calculations
• Include one example calculation if procedures are repeated

Discussion

The discussion explains what your results mean. This is where you interpret your findings.

What to include:

• Answer to your research question (if you began with one)
• Whether results supported your hypothesis (if you began with one)
• Explanation if results did not support your hypothesis
• Further questions raised by your investigation
• Suggestions for future research

Conclusion

The conclusion is a very brief summary (just a few sentences) that:

• States what you found
• Relates directly back to your aim and hypothesis
• States whether your hypothesis was supported
• Contains no inferences or interpretation (that belongs in the discussion)

Acknowledgements and references

Acknowledgements

Thank people and organisations who helped with your investigation:

• People who supplied equipment or funding
• People who provided ideas or helped with analysis
• Supervisors and mentors

Being polite and acknowledging help is important in science and in life.

References

The reference list details all sources of information actually used in your report.

In-text citations: Every piece of information or quotation must be referenced at the point where it appears in your text. Use either:

• Number system: [2]
• Author-date system: (Smith, 2016)

Reference list location: Provide references either as:

• Footnotes at the end of each page, or
• A complete list at the end of the report

Format: Different referencing formats exist (APA, Harvard, etc.). Check with your teacher which format to use.

References versus bibliographies

These are not the same thing:

Reference list:

• Sources actually used in writing the report
• Every item appears as a citation in your text
• Required for all investigations

Bibliography:

• Sources useful for understanding the research
• May or may not have been used in the report
• Should be in your logbook from the planning stage
• Primary-source investigations do NOT include a bibliography
• Secondary-source investigations MAY include a bibliography to show the scope of your literature search
• For annotated bibliographies, the bibliography itself may be a major section

Appendix

The appendix contains supporting information that is not essential for understanding your main findings:

• Lengthy raw data tables
• Repetitive information
• Supplementary calculations
• Additional graphs or images

Other ways of communicating your work

While written reports are common, scientists use many other methods to communicate their findings. You should select the method most appropriate for your content and audience.

Posters

Scientific posters are visual presentations commonly used at conferences and in educational settings.

Characteristics:

• Not usually as formal as a written report
• Use lots of images to engage viewers
• Balance text with visual elements
• Images must be relevant and communicate information effectively
• Should be self-explanatory when viewed alone

Websites

Websites can effectively communicate research to a wide audience.

Accessibility considerations:

• Use large, clear fonts
• Ensure good colour contrast
• Add descriptive tags to digital images (for screen readers)
• Follow web accessibility guidelines

Content: Like other formats, websites need proper acknowledgement of sources and must respect copyright.

Videos

Videos combine visual and audio elements to engage audiences.

Considerations:

• Think about your target audience
• Consider what will appeal to them
• Balance educational content with entertainment value
• Use appropriate language and style for your audience

General principles for all communication methods

Regardless of format, always:

• Know your message: Be clear about what you want to communicate
• Know your audience: Tailor language and style appropriately
• Acknowledge sources: Give credit where credit is due
• Respect copyright: Do not copy images or content without permission
• Be purposeful: Decide if you want to inform, persuade, or both

Ideas for depth studies

Throughout your biology course, you will encounter investigation examples designed as training exercises to help you learn primary investigation skills (equipment setup, measurements, data analysis). These skills are valuable even if your depth study uses secondary sources, because biology is fundamentally based on experimental evidence.

At the end of each module in your textbook, you will find "Depth study suggestions" offering ideas for both primary and secondary investigations. These suggestions come from experienced teachers, university academics, and biology education literature.

Additional sources of ideas:

• Your teacher's suggestions
• Reading about topics that interest you
• Your own creative pursuits (art, music) combined with biology
• Many biologists successfully combine scientific work with creative interests

Remember!