STEPS IN A SCIENCE, MATH OR ENGINEERING RESEARCH PROJECT
1. Select a topic
2. Gather background information on your topic.
3. Follow the scientific method - use Form 1A to record this information.
a. State the Problem - use question format, please.
b. State your Hypotheses - predict what you think will happen
Null Hypothesis: There will be no statistically significant difference in ....
Alternate Hypothesis: There will be a statistically significant difference in...
NOTE: Middle School students only need to write a single hypothesis (prediction). High School students should write both a null and an alternate hypothesis.
c. Identify your variables :
Independent Variable - controlled by the experimenter (i.e., time, temperature, etc)
Dependent Variable - what you measure or what varies with the independent variable (i.e., # of cricket chirps)
d. Identify your control - used to compare your results to
e. Describe your experiment , how you will change the thing you selected, and how you will measure your results.
f. List your materials - if they are solutions, give concentration. BE SURE TO GET MSDS Sheets on all chemicals used.
g. Prepare your bibliography . Be sure to include references for all Rules. (See the Rules Page).
4. Submit all of your forms to your classroom teacher for approval BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH :
a) Form 1 - Checklist for Adult Sponsor/Safety Assessment Form
b) Form 1A - Research Plan and attachment
c) Form 1B - Approval Form
d) Form 1C - Registered Research Institution (for projects involving recombinant DNA, antibiotic sensitivity, pathogenic organisms, nonhuman vertebrates, controlled substances)
e) Form 2 - Qualified Scientist form - humans, nonhuman vertebrates, animal tissues, recombinant DNA, pathogenic organisms, controlled substances, etc
f) Form 3 - Designated Supervisor - for any of above special projects or hazardous chemicals/devices
g) Form 4A - Human Subjects Form (even if there is no risk involved)
h) Form 4B - Informed Consent Form (even if there is no risk to humans in the experiment)
i) Form 5 - Non-Human Vertebrate Animal Form - when using any vertebrate, even if there is no risk
j) Form 6 - Human and Non-Human Vertebrate Animal Tissue - includes blood and meat from food store
k) Form 7 - Continuation Form - if you worked on any part of this project before this year.
YOU MUST RECEIVE PERMISSION/SIGNATURES ON ALL FORMS BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH.
5. Some research projects will require SRC (Scientific Review Committee) approval PRIOR to beginning your research. If your projects involves ANY of the following, you will need SRC approval BEFORE you can begin your research: Human Subjects (even if no risk); Recombinant DNA; Nonhuman Vertebrate Animals; Human/Animal Tissues (including blood, meats from food store, etc.); Pathogenic or Potentially Pathogenic Agents (all bacteria, viruses, fungi); Hazardous Chemicals or Equipment; and Controlled Substances. BE SURE TO CHECK THE RULES TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE PERMITTED TO DO AND WHAT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO. ALSO CHECK IF YOU MUST COMPLETE YOUR RESEARCH AT A REGISTERED RESEARCH INSTITUTION (Hospitals are not usually a registered research institution).
6. Check to see if you need a Qualified Scientist to work with you. You will need a qualified scientist for research using Humans, Nonhuman Vertebrate Animals, Pathogens or Potentially Pathogenic Organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi), controlled substances, most recombinant DNA research, tissue studies. A QUALIFIED SCIENTIST is an individual with a PhD, MD or DVM degree of a person with a master's degree in the science field in which you are working, who has a working knowledge of the techniques you are using.
7. Run your controlled experiments and collect your data. RECORD EXPERIMENTS AND DATA IN YOUR RESEARCH LOG.
8. Graph your data - use line graphs rather than bar graphs whenever possible. DO NOT USE PIE GRAPHS.
9. Write an abstract . Remember to use FFFS form.
10. Construct your display . (See Display/Safety Page).
11. Write a short report (20 pages maximum).
12. Practice Presenting to Judges. (See Judging Page)