Investigating

Gathering Quality Data
Equipment
Safety

One of the goals that you should aspire to when designing a scientific investigation is to collect the best data possible. The specific ways in which to do this will be different for every investigation, but here are some general things to think about:

Choose one independent variable and one dependent variable.
Consider as many controlled variables as possible.
Use the most precise equipment you can access.
Use the largest quantities you can access (without creating an unethical amount of waste).
Conduct as many trials as time and resources will allow.
Test as many levels of the independent variable as time and resources will allow.

The first challenge in designing and carrying out a scientific investigation is simply knowing what the equipment is called. There are so many items that can be used in a science lab that it can be a bit overwhelming, but hopefully the list below from studylib.net will help you get started.

Laboratory Equipment List

The number one priority in any science classroom is ensuring that all activities are conducted in a safe manner. Your teacher will ultimately decide whether an activity is safe or not, but safety is everyone's responsibility.
Here are some instructions for keeping safe in a science classroom.

What the teacher says, goes.
Familiarise yourself with the location of safety equipment such as fire extinguishers or eye wash stations.
Don't use any equipment unless you have been trained in how to use it correctly.
Be aware of your surroundings.

Hazard Symbols
To quickly communicate safety information, we use symbols to indicate the type of hazard that exists. These symbols are used in all types of industries in many places around the world.
The list below shows just a handful of the many symbols that exist.

Risk Matrix
A risk matrix such as the one below can be used to evaluate whether an investigation is safe to conduct or not. If an activity is rated as high or very high it is not an acceptable activity.