Develop a testable question.

This skill often does not come easily. Initially there may be a tendency to pose questions that are too broad, and that do not readily lend themselves to scientific investigation. Good questions to ask are, “How can I test this question? What would I expect to observe? What would I learn from those observations? Should I change my question?”

Sharing and critiquing in group and one-with-one interactions can help develop this skill. It may be easier to begin in more structured situations, such as with established experiments to analyze what testable question they contain, how they could be modified, and what testable question can be added as an extension after doing the experiment. With practice and reflection, the more the investigator designs the topic, the question, and the approach, the greater is the learning with respect to this skill of developing a testable question.