PARTS
OF THE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
Part A: TOPIC SELECTION
- HOW DO I CHOOSE A TOPIC?
- Choose something I am interested in (life, computers,
earth, space, engineering, physical science, etc.). Think of everyday things that
maybe do not work right, think of consumer items, things that affect your everyday life,
things you wonder about. Invent something and show that it works better. Ideas might come
from my hobbies or problems I see that need solutions. Expand the science/engineering
aspects of other projects you may be working on, such as Invention Fairs, Engineering
Fairs, Scouts, 4-H, etc.
- Choose something I can investigate, something that I can
work with. (Stars and volcanoes are interesting, but are difficult for you to
investigate directly. Reports, collections, information/brochure displays, models, and
demonstrations are not appropriate topics for an investigative project.)
- Write a question about my topic which can be answered with
an experiment. Narrow the general question to my specific topic.
| Things that Interest Me |
Questions I Can Ask About Them |
| 1. |
1. |
| 2. |
2. |
- LIBRARY RESEARCH
Go to the Library and read everything I can on my topic. I
can observe related topics around me. I can talk to a professional in the field or write
to companies for specified information. I will gather all information on my topic I can.
WHAT OTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED?
- I must READ, READ, READ, about my topic in published
materials!
- I could use trade journals, books, magazines, newspapers,
and computer searches. (Usually NOTHING published more than 5 years ago.)
- I should take notes in my logbook and write down each
reference.
- I could talk with experts, visit businesses and government
agencies to provide a well-rounded approach to the project. Write these in the logbook.
| Books |
Person Visited: |
Encyclopedia Articles: |
| Author: |
Name: |
Author: |
| Title: |
Title: |
Article Title: |
| Place of Publication: |
Occupation: |
Encyclopedia Name: |
| Publishing Company: |
Place of Work: |
Volume, Date, Page Numbers: |
| Copyright Year: |
Date: |
|
| Magazines/Journal Articles: |
Place Visited: |
Computer Search: |
| Author: |
Name: |
Keyword(s): |
| Article Title: |
Where: |
Author: |
| Name of Magazine/Journal: |
Why: |
Article Title: |
| Volume, Date, Page Numbers: |
|
Date: |
Part B: PROJECT PLANNING
- DEVELOPING A HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis is what I think the answer to my question will
be, by looking at the possible solutions and making my best guess based on what I know.
Organize everything I have learned about my topic. Now, I should narrow down my hypothesis
by focusing on a particular idea.
HYPOTHESIS: WHAT DO I PREDICT
THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION IS?
- Use what I already know or found out in my review of
published material
to help me predict the answer to my question.
| My Hypothesis: |
I predict that ... |
| |
because ... |
PLANNING YOUR EXPERIMENT
Once I have a reasonable project idea, I need to write an
experiment plan. This research plan should explain how I will do my experiment and exactly
what it will involve. I will need to fill out the Research Plan (1A)
form.
PROCEDURE: HOW WILL I CARRY OUT MY EXPERIMENT?
- I need a general plan of what I am going to do to test my
hypothesis
- Find out what the dependent and independent variables are
for my question.
- From the general plan, I can list each step of my experiment
like a recipe.
- The steps should be simple and clear enough for someone else
to repeat.
- My experiment should show the effect of one variable on
another.
- Check with my Adult Sponsor to see if additional approval is
needed before I do my experiment.
SAMPLE SIZE AND TRIALS
- How many times will I repeat my experiment?
- How many samples will I use for each trial?
- Never do just one trial or use just one sample - the more
the better!
My General Plan: In order to test my hypothesis, I
will...
Write the above entries and dates in the logbook.
VARIABLES: WHAT THINGS MIGHT AFFECT THE EXPERIMENT?
- I should record ALL the different things
that my affect the outcome of my experiment. (These are called variables
- I must plan my experiments so that I change only
one variable at a time. (The independent variable or the manipulated
variable.)
- I will keep all other variables constant.
- The data that I will collect will be the result of change.
(The dependent variable or the responding variable.)
CONTROL
- The control is a reference experiment so that I can
recognize a change if it happens.
- In order to know I have a change, I must have another
experiment where ALL the variables are kept constant (the same). This is
my CONTROL experiment.
- To see the change, I will compare the data
from the manipulated experiment(s) to the data from the control experiment(s).
- Observational projects of natural events where no
manipulation is involved do not usually have a control.
I should review my original timetable to see if I can
perform the experiment within the allocated time or will I have to adjust the schedule to
allow extra experiments. I should allow plenty of time to experiment and collect data -
even simple experiments do not always go as I might expect the first time, or even the
second time.
MATERIALS: WHAT (EQUIPMENT) MATERIALS WILL BE USED?
- All measurements must be metric
- List what items are used in the experiments.
- List how much, how many, what size and what kind of
everything used.
- The backboard materials are not included!
Materials I need:
How much?
How many? |
Description of Items |
What size? |
The Step-by-Step Procedure I will follow in the investigation:
| 1. |
| 2. |
| . |
| . |
| etc. |
- list all steps in the logbook
|
Write the above entries and dates in the logbook.
Part C: EXPERIMENTATION AND
DATA COLLECTION
During experimentation, keep detailed notes of each and
every experiment, measurement, and observation. Do not rely on your memory!
Remember to change only one variable at a time when experimenting, and make sure to
include control experiments in which none of the variables are changed. Make sure you
include sufficient numbers of test subjects in both control and experimental groups. A
group must have five or more subjects to be statistically valid.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Before starting, I should decide exactly what
observations to write down.
- I will use the main part of my logbook for recording:
- ---observations as the occur by date, etc.
(Observations may be counts, measurements, events, actions)
- accurate metric measurements.
- use constant time intervals during the experiment.
- sketches and/or photographs of my experimental setup and
happenings.
- I will record data in a suitable form, such as, in a table.
- I will label the parts of my experiment with names or
numbers or colors.
- I will record raw numbers from both the manipulated
and control experiments in the logbook.
- I will write down step by step everything I do - everything
I observe - every mistake I make - every change I make.
The experimental Data Table:
Click on the image for a full size view.
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