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The purpose of the Background Research Report is for you to gain knowledge about your Science Fair Project topic. This way you will be able to interpret the results of your experiment and draw conclusions based on the previous knowledge you gained by writing this report.
The purpose of the Background Research Report is for you to gain knowledge about your Science Fair Project topic. This way you will be able to interpret the results of your experiment and draw conclusions based on the previous knowledge you gained by writing this report.
Here are some useful resources to help you ask, investigate, and experiment with your scientific questions!
Here are some useful resources to help you ask, investigate, and experiment with your scientific questions!
...and remember to record....
...and remember to record....
Keywords!!!!
Keywords!!!!
ADDITIONAL SCIENCE WEBSITES
ADDITIONAL SCIENCE WEBSITES
This site allows you to pose questions to scientists or to read through previously asked questions.
This site allows you to pose questions to scientists or to read through previously asked questions.
Interactive calculators for many measurement systems both commonly used like metric and U.S. and quite exotic like Ancient Greek and Roman.
Interactive calculators for many measurement systems both commonly used like metric and U.S. and quite exotic like Ancient Greek and Roman.
A great interactive Periodic Table of the Elements.
A great interactive Periodic Table of the Elements.
An online publication that is searchable and contains articles about science and engineering.
An online publication that is searchable and contains articles about science and engineering.
A collection of videos that explain science and engineering terms.
A collection of videos that explain science and engineering terms.
A searchable site created by the US Government that allows you to search for various topics.
A searchable site created by the US Government that allows you to search for various topics.
NASA's environmental science page designed for students.
NASA's environmental science page designed for students.
A site that has numerous and up-to-date articles about environmental problems and issues.
A site that has numerous and up-to-date articles about environmental problems and issues.
Designed by NASA, this page explains how planes work.
Designed by NASA, this page explains how planes work.
Lessons about force and motion from Khan Academy. These are presented as videos.
Lessons about force and motion from Khan Academy. These are presented as videos.
This page explains forces and motion and provides examples and videos.
This page explains forces and motion and provides examples and videos.
The US government's biometrics page that explains what biometrics is and how it work.
The US government's biometrics page that explains what biometrics is and how it work.
A page that explains all aspects of forensic science
A page that explains all aspects of forensic science
A leader in robotic innovation, Carnegie Mellon University offers a wide array of information about what they are doing and have done.
A leader in robotic innovation, Carnegie Mellon University offers a wide array of information about what they are doing and have done.
A robotic competition and ideas for what students are doing with robots now
A robotic competition and ideas for what students are doing with robots now
Find out more about the basics of robotics!
Find out more about the basics of robotics!
A source for kits that students can purchase to build robots
A source for kits that students can purchase to build robots
BACKGROUND RESEARCH
BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Background research is necessary so that you know how to design and understand your experiment. To make a background research plan — a roadmap of the research questions you need to answer — follow these steps:
Background research is necessary so that you know how to design and understand your experiment. To make a background research plan — a roadmap of the research questions you need to answer — follow these steps:
Identify the keywords in the question for your science fair project. Brainstorm additional keywords and concepts.
Identify the keywords in the question for your science fair project. Brainstorm additional keywords and concepts.
Find information or prior research on your topic. This is your background information that will educate you on your topic and help you make predictions for your science project.
Find information or prior research on your topic. This is your background information that will educate you on your topic and help you make predictions for your science project.
Use a table with the "question words" (why, how, who, what, when, where) to generate research questions from your keywords. For example:What is the difference between a series and parallel circuit?
Use a table with the "question words" (why, how, who, what, when, where) to generate research questions from your keywords. For example:What is the difference between a series and parallel circuit?
When does a plant grow the most, during the day or night?
When does a plant grow the most, during the day or night?
Where is the focal point of a lens?
Where is the focal point of a lens?
Why are moths attracted to light?
Why are moths attracted to light?
Which cleaning products kill the most bacteria?
Which cleaning products kill the most bacteria?
HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis is a tentative, testable answer to a scientific question. Once a scientist has a scientific question she is interested in, the scientist reads up to find out what is already known on the topic. Then she uses that information to form a tentative answer to her scientific question. Sometimes people refer to the tentative answer as "an educated guess." Keep in mind, though, that the hypothesis also has to be testable since the next step is to do an experiment to determine whether or not the hypothesis is right!
A hypothesis is a tentative, testable answer to a scientific question. Once a scientist has a scientific question she is interested in, the scientist reads up to find out what is already known on the topic. Then she uses that information to form a tentative answer to her scientific question. Sometimes people refer to the tentative answer as "an educated guess." Keep in mind, though, that the hypothesis also has to be testable since the next step is to do an experiment to determine whether or not the hypothesis is right!
A hypothesis leads to one or more predictions that can be tested by experimenting.
A hypothesis leads to one or more predictions that can be tested by experimenting.
Predictions often take the shape of "If ____then ____" statements, but do not have to. Predictions should include both an independent variable (the factor you change in an experiment) and a dependent variable (the factor you observe or measure in an experiment). A single hypothesis can lead to multiple predictions, but generally, one or two predictions is enough to tackle for a science fair project.
Predictions often take the shape of "If ____then ____" statements, but do not have to. Predictions should include both an independent variable (the factor you change in an experiment) and a dependent variable (the factor you observe or measure in an experiment). A single hypothesis can lead to multiple predictions, but generally, one or two predictions is enough to tackle for a science fair project.
DESIGNING AN EXPERIMENT
DESIGNING AN EXPERIMENT
Scientific experiments have specific parts. In the design of your experiment, be sure to include the following details.
Scientific experiments have specific parts. In the design of your experiment, be sure to include the following details.
independent (or manipulated) valuable - the single variable you're changing or testing
independent (or manipulated) valuable - the single variable you're changing or testing
dependent variable - the variable that may change as result of the independent variable - it should be MEASURABLE
dependent variable - the variable that may change as result of the independent variable - it should be MEASURABLE
controlled variables - the variables that will not change, and are designed to be the same for each sample
controlled variables - the variables that will not change, and are designed to be the same for each sample
PROCEDURE
PROCEDURE
The procedure to your experiment is like the directions to a recipe. The more though the recipe, the more likely another scientist will be able to replicate your experiment.
The procedure to your experiment is like the directions to a recipe. The more though the recipe, the more likely another scientist will be able to replicate your experiment.
include repeated trials
include repeated trials
include times if necessary
include times if necessary
The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method
At the core of biology and other sciences lies a problem-solving approach called the scientific method. The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback step:
At the core of biology and other sciences lies a problem-solving approach called the scientific method. The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback step:
1. Make an observation.
1. Make an observation.
2. Ask a question.
2. Ask a question.
3. Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation.
3. Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation.
4. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
4. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
5. Test the prediction.
5. Test the prediction.
Feedback: Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or predictions.
Feedback: Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or predictions.
Here are a few sources of inspiration in choosing a Science Fair topic:
Here are a few sources of inspiration in choosing a Science Fair topic:
Look to your hobbies!
Look to your hobbies!
If you're a science nerd, coming up with a project that interests you might be easy. But even if science isn't really your thing, the great thing about the Scientific Method is that it can be applied to a huge range of areas. Pretty much any hobby or interest you have can serve as inspiration for a great science project. Here are just a few examples to get your creative juices flowing.
If you're a science nerd, coming up with a project that interests you might be easy. But even if science isn't really your thing, the great thing about the Scientific Method is that it can be applied to a huge range of areas. Pretty much any hobby or interest you have can serve as inspiration for a great science project. Here are just a few examples to get your creative juices flowing.
Solve Life's Mysteries
Solve Life's Mysteries
Everyday life is full of small mysteries—weird phenomena, old wives' tales that may or may not be true, a microscopic world we can't see but that affects us. By applying the Scientific Method, you can use your Science Fair project to address a real-life question that has always bugged you. Here are a few of the questions that I wonder about—try making a list of your own:
Everyday life is full of small mysteries—weird phenomena, old wives' tales that may or may not be true, a microscopic world we can't see but that affects us. By applying the Scientific Method, you can use your Science Fair project to address a real-life question that has always bugged you. Here are a few of the questions that I wonder about—try making a list of your own:
Can people really tell the difference between tap water and bottled water?
Can people really tell the difference between tap water and bottled water?
Do batteries last longer if you keep them in the freezer?
Do batteries last longer if you keep them in the freezer?
Does chocolate give people zits?
Does chocolate give people zits?
What makes ice cream get those nasty ice crystals?
What makes ice cream get those nasty ice crystals?
What everyday objects and surfaces carry the most bacteria?
What everyday objects and surfaces carry the most bacteria?
Is it my imagination, or does the radio get better reception if I touch the antenna?
Is it my imagination, or does the radio get better reception if I touch the antenna?
Use What's Handy
Use What's Handy
Taking advantage of particular resources available to you is a great way to make your project unique and/or easy to manage. If you live on a farm, you've got access to things most kids don't. If you live near a river or the ocean, or in the desert, you might want to study the ecology of your surroundings. What do your parents do for a living? If they are doctors or chemists or physicists, they might be able to get you special equipment, and they can certainly provide guidance. But even if they are not scientists, they may have access to helpful resources. If they work in offices, they might be able to help you collect samples of bacteria from computer keyboards. If they are teachers, maybe you can use their students as subjects for an experiment.
Taking advantage of particular resources available to you is a great way to make your project unique and/or easy to manage. If you live on a farm, you've got access to things most kids don't. If you live near a river or the ocean, or in the desert, you might want to study the ecology of your surroundings. What do your parents do for a living? If they are doctors or chemists or physicists, they might be able to get you special equipment, and they can certainly provide guidance. But even if they are not scientists, they may have access to helpful resources. If they work in offices, they might be able to help you collect samples of bacteria from computer keyboards. If they are teachers, maybe you can use their students as subjects for an experiment.
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