ABSTRACT
Investigative work in the UK science curriculum has had a bumpy ride. It has been criticised by many (for example, Donnelly et al. 1994) but there is nonetheless considerable support from a wide variety of bodies. One of its main problems has been, and continues to be, that the purpose of doing investigative work is poorly defined. In this chapter, it is suggested that the role of investigative work can be clarified: its main aim is that it is a means of teaching pupils to understand scientific evidence. The authors also suggest that understanding evidence should be an important part of the science curriculum of the future.
