Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Applying the scientific method
• Part 2 of 2: Explain and present your project

A scientific research project uses the scientific method to study and test an idea of ​​how something works. It involves researching a topic, formulating a working theory or hypothesis that can be tested, conducting the experiment, and reporting and reporting the results. You probably need to follow this procedure if, for example, you plan to do a project for a science project at school. Knowing how to conduct a research project is useful for anyone interested in the sciences, and basically anyone looking to improve their problem-solving skills.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Applying the scientific method

1. Ask a Question. Often the most challenging part of a research project is figuring out what to research. Take your time choosing, because all of the following steps are based on the idea you choose.
   • Think about something that interests, surprises, or confuses you, and see if it is something that you can reasonably research for a project. Formulate a single question that summarizes what you would like to research.
   • Let's take an example that we'll elaborate on in this section: suppose you've heard that you can make a simple solar oven from a pizza box. However, you are skeptical as to whether this can be done, or at least done consistently. So your question may be, "Could a simple solar oven be made that works consistently under different conditions?"
   • Make sure the topic you select is manageable within your timeframe, budget, and skill level, and that it doesn't violate any assignment / grant / competition rules (for example, no animal testing). You can search online for ideas if you need help, but don't just copy a project you find there; this will also be against the rules and it is unethical.
2. Research your topic. You can do this by reading reference books and science books, searching online, or consulting with knowledgeable people. More in-depth knowledge of your topic can help set up your research project.
   • Be aware of the requirements for your project. Many science fairs require you to use at least three solid, reliable, useful resources as references.
   • Your sources should be unbiased (not tied to a product, for example), current (not a 1965 encyclopedia), and credible (not some anonymous commentary on a blog post). Online resources supported by a scientific organization or journal are a good bet. Ask your teacher or project leader for advice if you need it.
   • For example, the query "How to Make a Solar Oven Out of a Pizza Box" will produce an abundance of resources, some more scientific in nature (and therefore more reliable) than others. The number of search results for an article on the subject in a recognized, reputable journal can be considered a valid source.
   • On the other hand, blog posts, anonymous articles and crowdsource information will likely be insufficient. As valuable as a resource like wikiHow is (and there are articles on pizza boxes and solar ovens), it may not be considered a valid resource for your research project. Choosing well-written articles with numerous footnotes (which themselves are linked to solid resources) will increase the likelihood of acceptance, but please discuss this with your instructor, show organizer, etc.
3. Form a hypothesis. The hypothesis is your working theory or prediction, based on the question you asked and your subsequent research. It must be precise and clear, but it does not need to be proven correct for your research project to be successful (failed experiments are just as important as successful ones in science).
   • It is often helpful to turn your question into a hypothesis by thinking in "if / then" terms. You may want to phrase your hypothesis (at least initially) as "If [I do this] then [this will happen]".
   • In our example, the hypothesis may be: "A solar oven made from a pizza box can consistently heat food when there is abundant sunlight."
4. Design your experiment. After you formulate your hypothesis, it is time to test whether or not it is valid. The experiment you design should be solely aimed at confirming or disproving your hypothesis. Remember, it is not important whether you are right, it is important which procedure you follow.
   • Handling variables is key in setting up your experiment. Scientific experiments have three types of variables: independent (which are changed by you); dependent (which are changed in response to the independent variable); and controlled (which remain the same).
   • When planning your experiment, you should consider what materials you will need. Make sure they are readily available and affordable, or even better yet - use materials you already have around the house.
   • For our pizza box solar oven, the materials are easy to obtain and assemble. The oven, food for cooking (smores, for example), and full sun are all controllable variables. Other environmental factors (time, day, or time of year, for example) are then independent variables; and "doneness" of the food is the dependent variable.
5. Run your experiment. Once your preparation and planning is complete, the time has finally come to test the validity of your hypothesis.
   • Carefully follow the steps you have planned for testing your experiment. However, if your test cannot be performed as planned, please reconfigure your steps or try different materials.(If you really want to win the science competition, this will be an important step for you!)
   • It is common for science fair that you have to take a test at least three times to get a scientifically valid result.
   • For example, for our pizza box oven, you decide to test your solar oven by placing it in direct sun on three similar days of 32 degrees Celsius in July, three times a day (10am, 2pm, 6pm).
6. Record and analyze your results. Even the most interesting and enlightening test will be useless for your research project without accurately recording and analyzing the results.
   • Sometimes it's best to write your data as a chart, graph, or simply as a journal entry. However you write the data down, you need to make it easy to view and analyze. Keep a record of all results, even if they don't go the way you hoped or planned. This is also part of the science!
   • According to the solar oven tests at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on three sunny days, you should take advantage of your results. By noting the doneness of your s'mores (based on the melting of the chocolate and marshmallow, for example), you can conclude that only the 14-hour test was consistently passed.
7. Draw your conclusion. Now that you've conducted the experiment and your hypothesis has either been confirmed or disproved, it's time to state your findings clearly and accurately. In fact, you are now answering the question you originally asked.
   • If you started with a simple, straightforward, and straightforward question and a similar hypothesis, it will be easier to formulate your conclusion.
   • Remember that concluding that your hypothesis was completely wrong will not make your research project a failure. If you have made clear scientific findings and presented them well, it can and will be a success.
   • In the pizza box solar oven example, it was hypothesized that "A solar oven made from a pizza box can consistently heat food in abundant sunshine." Our conclusion may be, "A solar oven made from a pizza box is only consistently successful at heating foods in the midday sun on a hot day".

Part 2 of 2: Explain and present your project

1. Know how your project will be evaluated. Whether it is a science assignment for school, a project for a science competition, or something else, it is important to understand what criteria are used to evaluate your research project.
   • For a science competition, for example, the assessment may be based on the following criteria (adds up to 100%): research paper (50%), oral presentation (30%); presentation poster (20%).
2. Make a summary. More than likely, you will be required to write a brief summary of your research project, also known as an abstract. It should clearly state your idea, your hypothesis and how you tested it, and the conclusion.
   • Research project summaries are often limited to one page, and perhaps 250 words. In this short space, you will focus on the purpose of your experiment, procedures followed, results and all possible applications.
3. Write a research paper. If the summary provides the basic information, then the research paper provides the substantial details and analysis of your research project. It's easy to think that the experimentation itself or the poster you can create is more important (perhaps because they are more fun to do), but the research paper is often the most important part of evaluating your project.
   • Use the guidelines provided by your teacher or the science competition organization for information on how to format the research paper.
   • For example, your paper may need to be divided into categories, such as: 1) Title page; 2) Introduction (where you explain your topic and hypothesis); 3) Materials & methods (in which you describe your experiment); 4) Results & discoveries (where you outline your findings); 5) Conclusion & recommendations (where you give the "answer" to your hypothesis); 6) References (where you list your sources).
4. Prepare your oral presentation. The speaking time and detail of the oral presentation of your research project (if necessary) can vary greatly. You may need to speak for 5 minutes or 20 minutes. Make sure you know what the requirements are in advance; whether, for example, a PowerPoint presentation is expected.
   • Write your research paper first, and use it as your guide in building your oral presentation. Follow a similar framework setting out the hypothesis, experiments, results, and conclusions.
   • Focus on clarity and conciseness. Make sure everyone understands what you did, why you did it, and what you discovered.
5. Create a visual aid. Most science competitions still require a poster presentation of your project. It is essentially a visual representation of your research paper.
   • Science competitions usually use a standard board, divided into three panels, approximately 90 cm high and 120 cm wide.
   • Format the poster as the front page of a newspaper, with your title at the top, the hypothesis and conclusion front and center, and support materials (methods, resources, etc.) clearly placed under headings on either side of it.
   • Increase the visual appeal of your poster with images, diagrams, and the like, but don't sacrifice content for visual appeal.