Science Fair Project

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Science Fair Project
Hiram High School
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Purpose of the Project

• To use science process skills including
  observation, classification, communication,
  measurement (metric), prediction, inference, and
  collecting and analyzing data
• To design and conduct a scientific experiment
  that identifies the problem distinguishes
  manipulated,responding and controlled variables
  collect, analyze, and communicate data and makes
  valid inferences and conclusions
• To use traditional reference materials and
  current technologies to explore background,
  historical, and current information related to a
  science concept

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Comparison of the Writing of a Lab Report versus
the Science Fair Project

• Lab Report
• Title Page
• Introduction
• Materials/Procedures
• Experiment
• Data/Discussion
• Conclusion

• Science Fair Project
• Choose a Problem
• Research the problem
• Develop a hypothesis
• Write Procedures
• Experiment
• Collect data Discuss
• Report Results (Research Paper)

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Seven Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project

• Select a Topic
• Research
• Purpose and Hypothesis
• Experiment
• Research Paper
• Exhibit
• Judging

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Seven Steps to prepare a Science Fair Project

• Step 1
• Select a Topic
• Select something that is of interest to you!
• Be as specific as possible. Time and resources
  may be limited.
• Write it as a question that you want to answer.

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Seven Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project

• Step 2
• Research
• This means you look for any and all information
  associated with the topic you have chosen.
• Use any and all sources of information available
  to you.(Books, magazines, Internet,
  interviews, etc.) Keep a Working Bibliography in
  your Log Book.
• Write a Research Plan that includes a problem,
  hypothesis, procedures, and bibliography. This is
  to be submitted for approval of your project.
• Identify any equipment that you may need.
• Obtain all necessary forms.
• Use the information to establish a time line of
  events.

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Seven Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project

• Step 3
• Purpose and Hypothesis
• The Purpose is a description of what you will be
  doing and why.
• This is part of the introduction of your Research
  Paper and must capture the attention of the
  reader.
• The Hypothesis is the conclusion of the
  introduction. It is a testable, educated guess
  that answers the question posed by your topic.

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Seven Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project

• Step 4
• Experiment
• List materials and procedures to be followed
• How will the equipment be used?
• Identify the control and experimental groups.
• Identify all Safety Concerns
• Provide a detailed description of the experiment
  being performed
• Take detailed notes of measurements and
  observations. Record these in your Log Book!
• Upon completion of the experiment, provide a
  detailed discussion of the experimental results
  and any sources of error .

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Seven Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project

• Step 5
• The Research Paper
• Compile your work into a comprehensive report
  that presents
• The background and history of your topic
• Any information collected
• Complete description of your experiment
• A discussion of your findings
• A conclusion that refutes or accepts your
  hypothesis

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Seven Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project

• Step 6
• The Exhibit
• This is your visual presentation of your project.
  It should be an organized, eye-catching,
  attention-grabbing presentation from the title of
  your project to the construction and
  presentation.
• It must contain It Cannot contain
• Log Book Moving parts
• Research Paper Living or dead specimens
• Photographs LASERS
• Charts Live electrical devices (unless approved
  by SRC)
• Graphs Photos or Visuals of vertebrates in
• Abstract other-than-normal conditions
• Required Forms Chemicals including water
• It is restricted to a specific size.
• Depth 76 cm (30 in.)
• Width 122 cm (48 in.)
• Height 274 cm (108 in.) Floor
  Display

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Seven Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project

• Step 7
• Judging
• You will be asked to present your topic to a
  group of qualified scientists. Therefore, know
  your project!
• Judges will evaluate you and your project on
• How well you followed the scientific method.
• The detail and accuracy of notes.
• Whether tools/equipment were used in the best
  possible way.
• How well thought out the research was.
• How freely and confidently you can speak about
  your project. Be prepared to answer questions
  outside the scope of your project.
• The appearance and presentation of your display.

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Areas Of Concern

• Bibliography
• Project Notebook
• Log Book
• Research Paper
• Abstract
• Appendices
• Forms

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Bibliography

• This is defined as a listing of the resources and
  references used during the research phase of your
  project to develop your hypothesis.
• The bibliography should be written in the APA
  Style. This is the prescribed style for
  scientific papers. The APA Handbook is available
  in most libraries. Your English teacher can
  assist in this format as well.

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Bibliographic examples
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Project Notebook

• Contains the Originals of the following
• Abstract on the Official Abstract Form
• Form (1) Teacher/Sponsor Checklist
• Form (1A) or Team (1A) Research Plan
• Form (1B) Approval Form
• Any additional forms as required by your project
• Research Paper

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Log Book

• Your log book should contain detailed and
  accurate notes of everything you do.
• Requirements
• All entries should be dated
• It must be written in ink only (blue or black).
  No computer generated log books will be accepted!
  
• It must be in a composition notebook that is
  bound (glued and stitched).
• It must be divided into sections and each page
  numbered,
• It must contain your Working Bibliography.
• It must contain the rough draft of your Research
  Plan.
• It must include your raw data and your thoughts
  about the results obtained.

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Divisions of the Log Book
 
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Log Book
(Example of how a page should look)
Table of Contents   Page Review of
Literature.. ? Description of the
experiment ? Materials.
? Data. ? Conclusion
.. ? Bibliography
? Appendices. ?
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Log Book(Contents of each Division)

• Review of Literature Daily Log
• Working Bibliography
• Notes
• Sketches
• Additional questions
• End with a rough draft of the introduction for
  your Research Paper

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Log Book(Contents of each division)

• Description of Experiment
• Step-by-Step listing of Procedures
• Identify all Safety Precautions
• List all materials and equipment to be used
  (include quantities, qualities, dimensions, etc.)

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Log Book(Contents of each division)

• Data (Daily Log)
• All notes, observations, sketches, drawings,
  precautions, comments, etc. are to be recorded in
  this section.
• There should be a Discussion of the Data at the
  end of this section.

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Log Book(Contents of each division)

• Conclusion
• Revisit your hypothesis. Restate it.
• State whether you accept or refute your
  hypothesis.
• State specific facts, associated with your data,
  that support your conclusion.

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Log Book(Contents of each division)

• Bibliography
• You may use the MLA guidelines taught in your
  English courses.
• It is highly recommended that you use the APA
  format.
• (a copy of the Publication Manual of the American
  Psychological Association is available in most
  libraries)

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Log Book(Contents of each division)

• Appendices
• (This is any information that you refer to, but
  did not have room to place it in the document.)
• Photographs
• Charts
• Graphs
• Data Tables
• Acknowledgements

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Research Paper

• A paper describing your research is required, and
  should be
• displayed in your Research Project Notebook,
  along with any
• necessary forms, or other relevant written
  materials
• A good research paper includes these sections
• TITLE PAGE
• Project title, name, address, school and grade
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Number each section as you finish writing
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/CREDITS
• Credit assistance received from mentors, parents.
  teachers. And other sources

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Research Paper

• INTRODUCTION
• The introduction should explain the background
  information about your topic and the reasoning
  behind your choice of study Refer to previous
  research as
• well as your own experiments. Establish a strong
  rationale for the study by emphasizing unresolved
  issues or questions Conclude by stating the
  research hypotheses
• MATERIALS PROCEDURES
• Describe in detail the methodology used to derive
  your data and observations Use photographs and
  drawings of your equipment to describe your
  experiment further. Include a precise description
  of the sample, any apparatus that was constructed
  or modified for the study, and methods of data
  collection

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Research Paper

• RESULTS
• Present the data collected in the experiment in
  tables and graphs summarize the data in
  narrative form Include statistical analysis of
  the data Do not include raw data Include only
  information collected during the current year's
  study
• DISCUSSION
• Your results and conclusions should flow smoothly
  and logically from your data. Be thorough Compare
  your results with theoretical values, published
  data, commonly held beliefs and/or expected
  results. A
• complete paper should include a discussion of
  possible errors or problems experienced
• CONCLUSION
• Briefly summarize your results. Discuss if your
  data supported of your hypothesis and what your
  next steps in experimentation may be

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Research Paper

• REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Your reference list should include any material
  that is not your
• own (ie, books, web sites, papers, journal
  articles and communications cited in the paper)
  Follow the prescribed bibliographic style manual
• APPENDIX
• Include critical information that IS too lengthy
  for the main section of the paper, such as raw
  data, additional tables and graphs, copies of
  surveys or tests, and diagrams of specialized
  equipment.
• For additional information www.uga.edu.oasp

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Abstract

• PREPARING AN ABSTRACT
• When you finish your research and experiments,
  you are required to
• write a (maximum) 250-word abstract on the
  Official Abstract Form.
• An abstract is a concise summary of the entire
  research project.
• The following elements should be included in a
  proper
• abstract
• TITLE
• The title should be brief and descriptive. The
  title must be used for all forms and display. The
  Title is limited to 65 characters and spaces.
• PROBLEM
• The statement of the problem tells the reader
  what specific questions are addressed in the
  study. The variables and limitations are
  identified. The intent and objectives of the
  research effort are made explicit in this
  statement.

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Abstract

• PURPOSE
• The purpose states the usefulness of the study.
  It answers the question why the project was
  undertaken.
• HYPOTHESIS
• The hypothesis is an educated guess that shows
  the relationship between a set of observed facts
  and a theory. The hypothesis limits the scope of
  the
• investigation and unifies the research design.
  Oftentimes it is an IF/Then statement.
• P ROCEDURE
• The procedure provides a brief summary of what
  was done.
• CONCLUSIONS
• The conclusions provide a concise statement of
  the outcomes of the investigation. They should be
  written in nontechnical language and be related
  directly to the hypothesis. The conclusions
  should identity unsolved
• aspects of the original problem or any new
  problems identified.

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Abstract

• RULES FOR ABSTRACTS
• .The abstract must be typed on the Official GSEF
• Abstract Form, in Officifical Rulebook and also
  found on the web site.
• .The abstract is limited to the square on the
  form.
• Do not include cover sheets, graphics, etc.
• .The abstract must be 250 words or less.
• ONE Copy of the abstract must be attached to the
• GSEF registration form and the original placed in
  your
• notebook or on your Exhibit Board.

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Abstract

• HELPFUL HINTS
• .Use past tense and third person
• .Use correct spelling and sentence structure
• .Try to avoid use of highly-specialized words or
  abbreviations
• .Restrict procedure to identification of method
  or type of process employed
• .State results, conclusions, or findings in
  clear, concise fashion