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Primary Science · Year 6Chapter 1 · Working scientifically (Years 5-6)
Year 6 Science · Working scientifically (Years 5-6) · Lesson 1.5

Year 6 Science: Conclusions, evidence and trust

Part of the Year 6 Science working scientifically (years 5-6) chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

1.5

Conclusions, evidence and trust

Year 6
WS5: report and present findings, including conclusions, causal relationships and degree of trust in results, WS6: identify scientific evidence used to support or refute ideas or arguments
Story. Tom says, “Towel C is the best because it is the most expensive.” Aisha says, “Let’s look at the evidence from our test.” “The evidence should decide,” says their teacher, “not what we think already.”

A conclusion is a short statement that answers the question of the test, and matches the results. It should say what the results show, and no more.

A causal relationship means that one thing causes a change in another. A fair test with one changed variable helps us show a causal relationship. One set of results does not always prove a cause.

Evidence from tests can support an idea, or refute it, which means show that it is wrong. How much we trust results depends on how many repeats there were, how close they are to each other, and how fair the test was.

05101520mean water absorbed (mL)14 mLTowel A10 mLTowel B19 mLTowel C
The mean water absorbed by three towels, from the first test: Towel C absorbed the most.

Key ideas

  • A conclusion must match the results.
  • A fair test helps us show that one variable caused a change.
  • Evidence can support an idea, or refute it.
  • We trust results more when there are repeats, and the repeats are close together.
Worked example 1.5.1
From the paper towel test, which towel absorbed the most water on average? Write the name of the towel as the conclusion.

Method. Use the means to write the conclusion.

  1. Read the means. Towel A has 14 mL, Towel B has 10 mL and Towel C has 19 mL.
    14, 10, 19
  2. Write the conclusion. The largest mean is for Towel C.
    Towel C
  3. Write the answer.
    Towel C

Check. The conclusion matches the data in the table. ✓

Worked example 1.5.2
Tom says Towel C is the best because it is the most expensive. Does the test data support this idea? Write supports or does not support.

Method. Check the idea against the data.

  1. Read the idea. Tom's idea is about cost, but the test measured the water absorbed.
    cost
  2. Decide. The test data says nothing about cost, so it does not support his idea.
    does not support
  3. Write the answer.
    does not support

Check. The data shows absorbency, not price. ✓

Worked example 1.5.3
Towel B was tested three times: 9 mL, 10 mL and 11 mL. Are these results close together? Write yes or no.

Method. Look at how far apart the results are.

  1. Find the range. The highest result is 11 mL and the lowest is 9 mL, so the range is 2 mL.
    11 - 9 = 2
  2. Decide. A range of 2 mL is small, so the results are close together.
    close together
  3. Write the answer.
    yes

Check. Close results make the test more trustworthy. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a conclusion should not claim more than the data shows. Use the words the results support, and do not add a reason that was not tested.

Exam tip

Exam tip. Write a conclusion that answers the question, matches the data, and uses the numbers from the results.

Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). Test two kinds of dry kitchen paper, using the same amount of water, the same size of paper and the same time. Repeat three times each. Write a conclusion that matches your results. Say whether the evidence supports the idea that one paper is better, and how sure you are.

Exercise 1E  Conclusions, evidence and trust

1
FThe bean grew most between two weeks. Write the conclusion, using the weeks: between which two weeks did the bean grow most?
2
FDoes Towel C absorb more water than Towel A on average? Write yes or no.
3
FTowel C's three trials were 18 mL, 19 mL and 20 mL. What is the range of these results, in millilitres? Write the number.
4
FDoes one set of results always prove what causes a change? Write yes or no.
5
FIs three trials more reliable than one trial? Write yes or no.
6
FWhat do we call evidence that shows an idea is wrong? Write one word.
7
FWhich word means that one thing causes a change in another? Write the two words.
8
PSRuby says the bean grew more in week 4 because the sun was out that week. Write one better way to test this idea.
9
PSTom says Towel C is the best because it is the most expensive. Write whether the test data supports this idea: supports or does not support.
10
PSWrite one way to make the paper towel test more reliable. Write one way.
11
PSThe mean water absorbed by Towel A is 14 mL and by Towel B is 10 mL. How much more water does Towel A absorb on average? Write the answer in millilitres.
12
RExplain how a conclusion must match the results. Write one sentence.
13
RA test of a towel's size gives these results: 2 cm wide absorbs 3 mL, 4 cm absorbs 6 mL and 6 cm absorbs 9 mL. Write a conclusion that matches these results.
14
RChallenge: evaluate the paper towel test. Name one weakness in the method and one change to fix it. Write one sentence.

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