1. Chapter 12: Researching Your Question!
“I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!
Ecclesiastes 1:13

2. Introduction How do you learn more about the topic you have chosen?
Do some reading, it isn’t that hard. - On the computer or at the library and take some notes.
REMEMBER to take notes in your journal!
Record the important points about what you read.
It demonstrates to the judge that you are going through the proper process to really answer your question clearly.
It also shows them you are asking a good question.

3. Library Research Get started researching at home with the internet.
GET A LIBRARY CARD!!! You may reserve library books on-line and have them sent to your nearest branch for pick up.
Go to the local library website: Search the website for your topic.
Reserve any books that you think address your question.
Example: if you were going to work on a project involving acid rain, search both rain and acid rain to see what books come up.

4. Database Research
Does your project deal with more traditional topics??
If so, you need to search a database with academic journals.
The easiest database to access is probably your local library:
Databases are located under research tools > academic search. Enter your library card number and you will be able to search the database.

5. Internet Research
The internet contains an amazing amount of information.
Search it to see what wwwebsites come up that are related to your chosen topic.
You must use some caution. Not everything on the internet is accurate and true.
If you come upon a website (also called a source) that does not seem to agree with everything else you read in other places, maybe you should leave that source out.
However, maybe that website is correct and the common assumptions are wrong? Test it and find out.

6. Take advantage of that opportunity!!!
Interview Research
Talk to an expert!!
What do you do if you happen to have a neighbor, friend, or relative that really knows a lot about the question you want to research?
Take advantage of that opportunity!!!
Conduct an interview, record it in your journal and use it as a reference.

7. Take notes!
When you find a source that looks like it has good information, print the article so you can refer to it later.
No matter whether it comes from a book or the internet, make a reference at the top of the page in your journal and take notes there.
What next?

8. Note Taking Tips
Record references for all the books and other materials you read during your research.
Keep complete and accurate notes about the books and articles you find, At the top of the page in your journal you should record: Author(s) Title Source of book or journal
Take notes on simpler experiments (if you can find them) on which to base your experiment.
Keep notes and drawings used in similar experiments you find in books.
Keep notes on ideas of how to collect data.
Make lists of materials that you might want to order and their suppliers.
Take notes on everything you have read and done in your scientific research.
One good resource to use as a science fair project guide is Science Fair Projects Made Easy. It includes helpful tips for researching your science project and is available for electronic download. Find it at the following website: projects.html

9. Sample Reference Page Here’s a sample reference page.
Your journal references should look something like this.
Note that you should put one reference per page with notes after.
Book
Author: John Jones
Found: at Nanini Library
Title: The science of slime
Ref: Sticky publishers, GooTown NY, 2025, pgs 1-55.
On the spaces below, take notes. Make one reference per page.
Journal
Author: Sam Smith
Found: at Woods Library
Title: Glow in the dark slime
Ref: The Journal of Slippery Science, Vol 7, No 23, 1/1/2024. Pgs 1-3.
Interview
Expert: Phineas Fandangle
Interviewed at U of A Science Lab
Developed Flubber and is Flubber researcher
Record notes of interview. Use one page or more. Do not combine 2 interview on 1 page.
Internet
Author: Herb Ivorus
Web address:
Title of Web Page: Eat Only Plants
Ref: date published 2024, date accessed 12/25/25
Title of article or section: Stems or Roots? Which is best?

10. Tip - Wikipedia is a great place to start reading about basic information, but it is NOT considered a reliable and valid source to use as a reference. This is because it is easily changed by almost anyone and the authors may or may not have expertise in the area they are writing about.
Remember to write in your scientific notebook. After you have finished your reading, did you change your question in any way? If so, rewrite your updated question in your journal.