- What is the Scientific Method
- Selecting a Science Project
- Planning and Conducting the Investigation
- Online Science Fair Resources
What is the Scientific Method?
A successful project requires use of the "scientific method." That is not difficult; it only requires that the student: Observe, Plan, Experiment, and Explain what happens in the project.
Usually applied in a series of steps, the scientific method includes:
- Observing a single event or a group of events and recognizing a problem.
- Identifying a question to be asked.
- Formulating a hypothesis or attempting to explain what should happen.
- Designing and planning for experimentation or testing of the hypothesis.
In order to form a generalized conclusion, an investigation must include a number of observations of the events being investigated. For example, if the question is "Does the presence of sunlight affect the growth of petunia plants?" then a dozen petunia plants must be examined over a time interval in the presence of sunlight (experimental group), while another dozen plants must be subjected to the same conditions but in the absence of sunlight (control group). Using one or two plants in each group will not produce a valid investigation.
Conducting the experiment
- Keep daily records, recording observations in an orderly manner in tables and charts.
- Be certain observations include the units of measurement being used.
- Determine whether results recorded in tables can be more easily understood with the use of graphs.
- All graphs must have a title which tells the reader what the graph is explaining.
- The abscissa (x-axis) and ordinate (y-axis) should be labeled indicating the units and dimensions.
- Drawing conclusions–Making sense of what has been observed. Making a generalization based on observations and results.
When deciding on a topic to investigate, ask these questions:
- What topic interests me? What is a question for which I would like to seek an answer?
- Is this question too difficult for me to solve?
- What materials will be needed? Does this problem require sophisticated or expensive materials?
- Is the problem a safe one?
- Is it a valid one? Will it be possible to obtain results from this investigation?
- Is it of significance to today’s society?
In choosing a project title, it is best to state the title in question form, such as "what are," "how is," or to use such phrases as:
- The Effects of…
- A Comparative Study of…
- The Observation of…
- An Investigation of…
- A Study of…
Planning and Conducting the Investigation
To ensure that science fair projects are done well, they should be started no later than the beginning of the school year. The student should make a planning timetable so that there will be sufficient time to carry out all the steps in the process. Below is a suggested timetable and plan of action to help give direction.
| Week | |
| 1-2 | Select a problem/begin research. Read publications, textbooks, and reference books. Consult teachers and other scientists who might help you. |
| 3-4 | Continue research. Design experiments and method of investigation. Discuss with others. |
| 4-5 | Collect material needed. Set up necessary equipment to do experiments. Outline research paper. |
| 5-13 | Begin experiments. Complete experiments. Be sure to set aside time for observing and recording each day. When making observations and recording results, organize data in orderly tables and charts. |
| 13-16 | Interpret results and data, draw conclusions, consider applications. Consult with teachers or other scientists. Construct models, illustrations, and/or displays. Finish research paper. Prepare for oral presentation of the project report. Remember, some of the most useful information can come from talking to other people who are interested in your topic. |
I. Research Paper
A report of the research should be presented in a formal research paper. A suggested format follows:
A. Title
B. Abstract–a brief condensation of the entire report, in one page or less
C. Statement of the problem
D. Experimental methods
E. Results–this may include tables and graphs
F. Conclusions
G. References–use correct bibliographic form in repeating references. One quick means of determining correct form is to look at an article in a scientific publication, such as Scientific American, Science, The Science Teacher, Journal of Chemical Education, or American Biology Teacher. Note the bibliographic form used in references at the end of an article in a recent issue of one of these journals.
II. Suggestions
A. Do the Work Yourself
This is your project! One purpose of the science fair is to encourage you to do experiments. Do most of the work yourself; develop the idea on your own. Ask a question and then design an experiment to try to answer it.
You are encouraged to get advice from others, and you may need them to help with construction of an apparatus, but the project should be basically your project.
B. Start Early
It always takes longer than you think to do a good science project. You may have delays getting materials, constructing the apparatus, writing the report or making the display. Your proposed project may not work as you feel it should, and you may wish to start another one.
C. Work Regularly
Do not put it off until you have time; make time! Set aside a regular time to work even if only for a short time. Keep a written record at every stage of the project.
III. Exhibit Size
Displays will be restricted to a space 122 cm wide (side to side), 76 cm deep (front to back), 198 cm in height (from tabletop), or 274 cm in height (floor to top).
IV. Oral Presentation
Students should be at their exhibit during judging at the State Fair. Judges will have some questions about your project.
A. Questions commonly asked by judges
- "Tell me about your project."
- "What did you find out?"
- "Why did you do your project this way?"
- "What does that word mean?"
- "Why do you think your results turned out as they did?"
- "If going to study this more, what would you do next?"
B. Suggestions
- Be able to explain your project in 1/2 to 1 minute.
- Talk clearly and simply. Act interested and enthusiastic.
- Dress neatly and attractively.
- Practice your talk before others. Get others to ask you questions; learn answers to questions that you do not know.
Archimedes Initiative
http://archimedesinitiative.org
The Initiative aims to help youth and young adults enhance their interest in science and engineering. We've used the open forum of the Science Fair as the main method to share the experiments and exploration in which people are already involved.
Scotch Science Fair Central
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral
is organized into three, easy to navigate sections. In the website's/ Getting Started/ section, teachers and science fair leaders learn how to jumpstart their students' projects with a searchable database of more than 100 project ideas and useful pointers on topics, including choosing a project type, validating a project, and gathering resources. Student worksheets and checklists are included in this section to help science fair participants choose a research or invention topic of interest, develop and complete a successful plan, monitor the time needed to complete the project, and prepare the presentation.
Science Buddies
http://www.sciencebuddies.org
Science Buddies is a non-profit organization that provides free online resources for science education. The website helps K-12 students do better science fair projects. The Topic Selection Wizard offers a large online library of project ideas and Starter Kits. Science Buddies also offers Ask an Expert, an online forum in which students can ask questions about their projects and get answers from scientists and engineers who volunteer as e-mentors. Science Buddies also maintains a set of teacher resources for science fair planning and a science fair project help guide.
A Time for Science
http://www.atimeforscience.org/
A Time for Science is non-profit nature and science learning center dedicated to advancing science literacy and competency by encouraging and supporting student participation in science, engineering, and math competitions. Its hallmark program is one of providing a supportive environment for the conduct of student research projects through sponsorship of age related (3rd through 12th grades) science/math Clubs, A Time for Science also develops and presents other appropriate programs and activities that foster these objectives.
The WWW Virtual Library - Science Fairs
http://physics1.usc.edu/~gould/ScienceFairs/
Science fairs are held around the world. If you want to see what others are doing this site has hyperlinks to local, regional, state, foreign and even VIRTUAL science fairs.
Science Fairs and Science Projects - Resource Page http://sciencevideos.com/products/fair/science_fairs/science_fairs-1.html
contains everything that teachers and students need to know about science fairs including links to the best resources on the Internet. If you are looking for great science fair videos or any printed materials check out the web site.
The Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/
contains the Science Fair Resource Guide that offers teachers, students and parents a complete listing of web sites dedicated to science fairs and projects. The site provides links to how to do a science fair project, samples, ideas, magazines and resources. This site is arranged from the basic to the most detailed, with special notes to teachers and parents. For more information about this resource, check out their web site.
MadSci Net
http://www.madsci.org/libs/areas/sci_fair.html
a component of the MAD Scientist Network. This site contains links and resources on everything you ever wanted to know about science fairs, age-specific ideas for projects, as well as how to put a science fair together. Some of the links include: School Science Fair Homepage, Science Fair Idea Exchange, The Society of Amateur Scientists, Practical Hints for Science Fair Projects and Yahoo's listing of science fairs.
The Discovery Channel's Science Fair Studio
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/
Something for everyone! The "Student" sections are Handbook, Project Ideas, Links and Books. The "Teacher" section deals with issues related to organizing a science fair. The "Parent" section titled "Helping Your Young Scientist" emphasizes that the most important outcome of your child's science project is the joy and learning that comes from scientific discovery—not winning a competition! It provides helpful hints to parents about selecting a project and resources available.
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
http://www.sciserv.org/isef/
The Olympics, the World Cup and the World Series of science competitions. Held annually in May, the Intel ISEF brings together over 1,200 students from 48 states and 40 nations to compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prize: a trip to attend the Nobel Prize Ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden. Science Service founded the ISEF in 1950 and is very proud to have Intel as the title sponsor of this prestigious, international competition.
The CSMEE Science Fair Companion
http://www.ericse.org/scifair.html
Science Fair Guides, Science Fair Resource Centers, and Links to Science Fairs and Competitions.
Updated 8/27/09