Scientific Services

Science finds out how things work by asking a question and testing it. Learn the basic words first.

• Terms: question, hypothesis, variable, control, sample, data, result, error.
• A hypothesis is a testable guess. A control is the part left unchanged for comparison.
• Science services include lab testing, field surveys, data analysis and research support.
• Read one short public research summary and mark its question, method and result.
• Learn the difference between a measure of the middle (average) and a measure of spread (range).
• Name the parts of a report: question, method, results, limits, conclusion.
• Write one question from daily life and decide what you would measure to answer it.

Activity. Pick a short research summary and fill a table: question, method, sample, result, limit.

Standard to meet. Task: summarise a study in a table. Condition: one short public summary. Standard: all five parts filled correctly in plain words.

A good study follows clear steps so that others can repeat it.

• Steps: question, plan, approval where needed, collect data, clean, analyse, report, share.
• The plan states methods, sample size, measures and how errors are handled.
• Write the method so another person could repeat it.
• Keep a lab or field notebook with dates and initials.
• Choose the sample size before you start and write why it is big enough for your purpose.
• Write what you will do if an instrument fails or a sample is lost.
• Share the plan with a peer and fix any step they cannot follow.

Activity. Write a one-page study plan for a simple question and have a peer try to follow it.

Standard to meet. Task: write a repeatable plan. Condition: simple low-risk question. Standard: a peer can follow the steps without asking questions.

Good data comes from careful measurement and honest records.

• Use the right units and write them down every time.
• Check and calibrate instruments as the maker or lab rule says.
• Repeat measurements and compare; large differences point to errors.
• Never change records to fit a hope; correct errors with a note, date and initials.
• Round numbers only at the end, not during the working.
• Label every container and sheet with sample number, date and your initials.
• Zero the instrument, or check it against a known standard, before each session.

Activity. Measure the same item ten times, record results and calculate average and spread.

Standard to meet. Task: collect and summarize data. Condition: with a calibrated tool. Standard: units shown, errors noted, average and range computed correctly.

Science must be safe and fair. Several kinds of rules apply.

• Research with people needs ethics review under the national research ethics policy. Check with the research ethics office of your institution or partner.
• Work with animals needs approval from an animal care body. Check the current rules.
• Lab safety training, safe storage and waste rules apply. Check the provincial workplace safety rules.
• Research with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities should follow community agreements and data-governance rules. Ask the community first.
• Check what consent a person must give and what they must be told before they join a study.
• Check the rule on the storage and disposal of chemicals and samples.
• Ask the community how results will be shared with it before you collect data.

Activity. Build a rules table for a study you might run with enforcer, action and date checked.

Standard to meet. Task: build a rules table. Condition: using official pages. Standard: each row has a dated source; community rights and safety steps are included.

Numbers need careful reading. Learn to say what the data does and does not show.

• Show the data in a clear table or chart with labels and units.
• Compare groups with averages and spread, not only one number.
• Say what the data cannot show, such as small samples or missing groups.
• Do not claim that one thing causes another unless the design supports it.
• Plot the data before you calculate anything and look for odd points.
• Report how many samples were used in each group.
• Show the same data in a table and in a chart so the reader can check both.

Activity. Analyse a small dataset and write a half-page result with a chart and limits.

Standard to meet. Task: analyse and report. Condition: provided dataset of 20 to 50 rows. Standard: correct averages, a clear chart, limits stated and no overclaiming.

Services such as testing or data analysis must pay their way.

• Costs: tools, supplies, lab time, travel, waste disposal, your time, insurance.
• Price per sample, per hour or per project, and use the method that matches how the client buys.
• Margin = price minus cost. Break-even = fixed cost divided by margin.
• Federal and provincial research incentives exist for some work; check current eligibility with the program offices.
• Count the cost of each sample: supplies, time, waste disposal.
• Add a charge for reporting, since writing the result takes time.
• Offer a small paid trial for a new client before a larger contract.

Activity. Build a cost sheet for one testing or analysis service.

Standard to meet. Task: cost and price a service. Condition: real supplier prices. Standard: units shown, formulas visible, three what-if cases, mentor check.

Trust in science depends on honest sharing and careful data care.

• Report all results, including those that did not work.
• Give credit for ideas and data you used.
• Store data safely with backups, access limits and clear file names.
• Protect personal data; remove names unless needed and permitted.
• Write the report so a person without your training can follow it.
• Keep a copy of the raw data with the final report.
• Ask permission before sharing data that came from a person, a firm or a community.

Activity. Write a data plan of one page: what you keep, where, who sees it, how long.

Standard to meet. Task: write a data plan. Condition: reviewed by a mentor. Standard: backup, access, retention and privacy covered in plain words.

Now run a small real project and learn from it.

• Define scope, time, measures and a stop rule.
• Keep the notebook, weekly review and risk list.
• Present results to a panel in plain words and answer questions.
• Write a 12-month plan: next question, skills, partners and budget.
• Pick a question small enough to finish in the time you have.
• Check the budget weekly and compare it with the plan.
• Record what you would change if you did the project again.

Activity. Run a 30 to 60 day small study or service, then present to a panel of three.

Standard to meet. Task: run a small project. Condition: safe, approved and low-risk. Standard: notebook complete, limits stated, panel can repeat the work.

L1: Practice aware learner. You can define: name the main terms, people and rules of scientific Services. Focus module: Know the words and parts of scientific work (Understand, 6 h). Science finds out how things work by asking a question and testing it. Learn the basic words first. Key points: Terms: question, hypothesis, variable, control, sample, data, result, error. A hypothesis is a testable guess. A control is the part left unchanged for comparison. Science services include lab testing, field surveys, data analysis and research support. Read one short public research summary and mark its question, method and result. Learn the difference between a measure of the middle (average) and a measure of spread (range). Name the parts of a report: question, method, results, limits, conclusion. Write one question from daily life and decide what you would measure to answer it.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Question: does a new fertilizer raise plant height? Variable: fertilizer. Control: plants with none. With 10 plants in each group, the study has 10 + 10 = 20 plants, and each group is watered and lit the same way. Then set the activity: Pick a short research summary and fill a table: question, method, sample, result, limit. Mark against the standard: Task: summarise a study in a table. Condition: one short public summary. Standard: all five parts filled correctly in plain words. Check at this level: What is a hypothesis? Model answer: A testable guess. Level note: Start here if new. Evidence: a one-page glossary and a visit or interview note.

L2: Assistant. You can describe: explain how scientific Services works from first contact to result. Focus module: Explain how a study runs from question to report (Apply, 6 h). A good study follows clear steps so that others can repeat it. Key points: Steps: question, plan, approval where needed, collect data, clean, analyse, report, share. The plan states methods, sample size, measures and how errors are handled. Write the method so another person could repeat it. Keep a lab or field notebook with dates and initials. Choose the sample size before you start and write why it is big enough for your purpose. Write what you will do if an instrument fails or a sample is lost. Share the plan with a peer and fix any step they cannot follow.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Notebook line: '2026-03-04, sample 12, temperature 21 C, reading 4.8, checked by AB.' If 24 samples are planned at 6 per day, the study takes 24 / 6 = 4 days of collection, plus time to clean and analyse. Then set the activity: Write a one-page study plan for a simple question and have a peer try to follow it. Mark against the standard: Task: write a repeatable plan. Condition: simple low-risk question. Standard: a peer can follow the steps without asking questions. Check at this level: Why write a method others can repeat? Model answer: So others can check and trust the result. Level note: Evidence: a flow chart and a two-minute spoken explanation.

L3: Associate. You can apply: carry out a routine task in scientific Services to a written standard. Focus module: Measure and record data to a standard (Apply, 10 h). Good data comes from careful measurement and honest records. Key points: Use the right units and write them down every time. Check and calibrate instruments as the maker or lab rule says. Repeat measurements and compare; large differences point to errors. Never change records to fit a hope; correct errors with a note, date and initials. Round numbers only at the end, not during the working. Label every container and sheet with sample number, date and your initials. Zero the instrument, or check it against a known standard, before each session.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Three readings: 4.8, 4.9, 4.8. Average = (4.8 + 4.9 + 4.8) / 3 = 14.5 / 3, about 4.83. A fourth reading of 7.1 is checked, a spill is found, and the note explains why it is excluded. Then set the activity: Measure the same item ten times, record results and calculate average and spread. Mark against the standard: Task: collect and summarize data. Condition: with a calibrated tool. Standard: units shown, errors noted, average and range computed correctly. Check at this level: How do you correct an error in a notebook? Model answer: Add a note with date and initials; do not hide the original. Level note: Evidence: a supervised task record that meets the standard once.

L4: Practitioner. You can analyse: diagnose why a scientific Services result missed its target and fix it. Focus module: Know research ethics, safety and Canadian rules (Evaluate, 8 h). Science must be safe and fair. Several kinds of rules apply. Key points: Research with people needs ethics review under the national research ethics policy. Check with the research ethics office of your institution or partner. Work with animals needs approval from an animal care body. Check the current rules. Lab safety training, safe storage and waste rules apply. Check the provincial workplace safety rules. Research with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities should follow community agreements and data-governance rules. Ask the community first. Check what consent a person must give and what they must be told before they join a study. Check the rule on the storage and disposal of chemicals and samples. Ask the community how results will be shared with it before you collect data.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Before surveying residents, you submit a short plan to the ethics office and wait for approval. If review takes 6 weeks and the survey takes 3 weeks, the earliest finish is week 9, so do not promise results before then. Then set the activity: Build a rules table for a study you might run with enforcer, action and date checked. Mark against the standard: Task: build a rules table. Condition: using official pages. Standard: each row has a dated source; community rights and safety steps are included. Check at this level: When is ethics review needed? Model answer: For research with people, under the national research ethics policy. Level note: Evidence: a fault or gap analysis with a fix and a repeat test. This course targets this level.

L5: Senior practitioner or team lead. You can evaluate: judge options for scientific Services against cost, risk and quality. Focus module: Price and plan a science service (Create, 6 h). Services such as testing or data analysis must pay their way. Key points: Costs: tools, supplies, lab time, travel, waste disposal, your time, insurance. Price per sample, per hour or per project, and use the method that matches how the client buys. Margin = price minus cost. Break-even = fixed cost divided by margin. Federal and provincial research incentives exist for some work; check current eligibility with the program offices. Count the cost of each sample: supplies, time, waste disposal. Add a charge for reporting, since writing the result takes time. Offer a small paid trial for a new client before a larger contract.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. An example price of 150 CAD per hour at 20 hours a month brings in 3,000 CAD. Cost is 35 per hour, so 20 x 35 = 700. Margin is 150 - 35 = 115 per hour, so 20 x 115 = 2,300 a month. Teaching figures only. Then set the activity: Build a cost sheet for one testing or analysis service. Mark against the standard: Task: cost and price a service. Condition: real supplier prices. Standard: units shown, formulas visible, three what-if cases, mentor check. Check at this level (this question is covered in module 5: Analyse results and judge how sure you are): Why state limits of the data? Model answer: To avoid claiming more than the data can show. Level note: Evidence: an options paper with numbers and a recommendation defended to a panel.

L6: Practice or programme head. You can create: design and pilot a new offer or process in scientific Services. Focus module: Share findings honestly and manage data (Evaluate, 6 h). Trust in science depends on honest sharing and careful data care. Key points: Report all results, including those that did not work. Give credit for ideas and data you used. Store data safely with backups, access limits and clear file names. Protect personal data; remove names unless needed and permitted. Write the report so a person without your training can follow it. Keep a copy of the raw data with the final report. Ask permission before sharing data that came from a person, a firm or a community.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A file name rule: project_date_version, such as soil_2026-04-10_v2. If a file has versions v1 to v4 and you need the version before the last, you open v3. Files that follow the rule can be found in seconds. Then set the activity: Write a data plan of one page: what you keep, where, who sees it, how long. Mark against the standard: Task: write a data plan. Condition: reviewed by a mentor. Standard: backup, access, retention and privacy covered in plain words. Check at this level: What does a data plan cover? Model answer: Storage, backup, access, retention and privacy. Level note: Evidence: a pilot with measured results over at least 30 days.

L7: Partner or director. You can lead: run a team or business in scientific Services and develop others. Focus module: Run a small project and review it (Create, 8 h). Now run a small real project and learn from it. Key points: Define scope, time, measures and a stop rule. Keep the notebook, weekly review and risk list. Present results to a panel in plain words and answer questions. Write a 12-month plan: next question, skills, partners and budget. Pick a question small enough to finish in the time you have. Check the budget weekly and compare it with the plan. Record what you would change if you did the project again.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Stop rule: 'If more than 20 percent of samples fail the quality check, pause and fix the method.' With 50 samples, 20 percent is 10. If 11 samples fail, the rule is triggered and work stops until the cause is found. Then set the activity: Run a 30 to 60 day small study or service, then present to a panel of three. Mark against the standard: Task: run a small project. Condition: safe, approved and low-risk. Standard: notebook complete, limits stated, panel can repeat the work. Check at this level (this question is covered in module 7: Share findings honestly and manage data): What does a data plan cover? Model answer: Storage, backup, access, retention and privacy. Level note: Evidence: a record of results over a year and of people you have coached to a higher level.