Introduction to Scientific Research Mr. Maske

State your research question What question are you trying to answer? The question must be able to be answered through experimentation or observation. Example: How does caffeine affect the growth of a plant?

State the purpose What is the reason for asking the question? What are you trying to discover? Example: The purpose of this project is to find out if a pea plant will grow taller when given caffeine rather than water.

Background Research Find research or experiments in the field of your question prior to starting the experiment. Do the findings support or oppose your purpose? Example: Develop 3 questions that you want to answer about your topic. Suggested sources: books, magazines, and internet. https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/eggs/eggscience.html http://www.finecooking.com/articles/the-science-of-vinegar.aspx http://www.explainthatstuff.com/water.html

Bibliography Cite all sources using APA format.

Create a Hypothesis Predict the outcome of your experiment based on what you already know. The hypothesis doesn’t have to be correct at the end of the experiment. Suggestion – you can use the “If I ____, then I think ____.” format Example: If I pour 100mL of coffee on our pea plants and pour 100mL of water on our pea plants, then I think the plants with coffee will grow taller because the caffeine will stimulate the plants.

List the Materials It is best to list the materials in the order that they are used.

Describe the Procedure This is done in a step-by-step process. Someone should be able to follow the procedure and get similar results. Design your experiment so that they only test for one thing. Make sure that you do the same things to all groups of objects being tested. Example: Use the same seeds, plant all of them with the same soil, put them all in the same amount of light for the same amount of time – the only difference is coffee vs. water

Procedure To increase the validity of your experiment Make sure to keep a control group Keep in mind sample size The more objects in your sample the more valid your experiment is going to be Use multiple trials (at least three)

Materials Make a complete list of everything you will use in your experiment Tell how many and how much of each object used Use metric measures only

Example Procedure 1. Get 8 pea plants (100cm tall) 2. Place 4 pea plants on each tray 3. Label one set “Coffee” 4. Label the second set “water” 5. Pour 100mL of coffee onto the soil of each plant twice a week 6. Pour 100mL of water onto the soil of each plant twice a week 7. Measure each plant with a metric ruler 8. Record data in record book

Make Charts and Graphs Display data using charts, tables, and/or graphs

Record the Results Results, along with experiment notes, should be handwritten in a composition notebook. Each entry should be initialed and dated. One must use a blue or black pen & should never scratch out a mistake. If a mistake is made, simply put a single line through the mistake along with the initials and date.

Results Example: From reading my charts and graphs, I know that Plant Group #1 grew an average of 40cm with 100mL of coffee. Plant Group #2 grew an average of 20cm with 100mL of water. The Plant Group that was given coffee grew 20cm more on average than the Plant Group that was given water.

Make A Conclusion According to the results, was your hypothesis proven or disproven? What changes would you make if you could do this experiment over again? Be sure to use the term “My hypothesis was/was not supported.” Do not say “I was right/wrong”

Example Conclusion Example: My hypothesis was supported. The plants that were watered with coffee grew taller than those that were given water. Therefore, caffeine has a positive effect on the growth of pea plants. This may be due to the fact that caffeine is a stimulant. The caffeine could have stimulated the plant to grow.

Write An Abstract GENERALLY! Explain your experiment all the way through. This is to give a general idea of your project without every detail. Someone should be able to read your abstract and get an overall understanding of your experiment, but not know exactly how it was done.

Acknowledgements Acknowledge your great teacher who helped you in your time of need. Example: Mr. Maske was a great asset to my science fair project. I couldn’t have done it without him. He is a gentleman and a scholar! That is all.

Title Page & Table of Contents Title Page – Name of Your Experiment Table of Contents