Task 1 - Pilot Study Presentation (30%)

NESA requires that task 1 assess the skills developed in Section 1 of the Scientific Research Portfolio. The focus of the task is to demonstrate the research process and application of skills developed in the planning stages of scientific research.

Outline of the task

This task requires students to conduct a 'pilot study', where they propose an initial research question and hypothesis based on a literature review, and develop a plan for the methodology they will use for the main research task. Students are strongly encouraged to conduct some initial data collection and analysis as part of their pilot study.

Students will present their pilot study in a manner similar to how research would be presented at a scientific conference. There are two aspects to this task.

Part 1: Poster

Your poster should effectively communicate the outcome of your pilot study. It should contain the following elements:

1. Title
2. Abstract
3. Scientific research question and hypothesis
4. Background
5. Proposed methodology
6. Analysis of initial data (if obtained) OR Proposed analysis (if no initial data obtained)
7. Timeline, milestones and rationale about the timeline

Part 2: Presentation

You will use your poster as a visual support to explain your pilot study, either to myself (Dr. Humphrey), or to your peers and myself (this will be decided after consultation with students).

Science Extension outcomes assessed in this task (in bold):

• SE-1 refines and applies the Working Scientifically processes in relation to scientific research
• SE-2 analyses historic and cultural observations, ethical considerations and philosophical arguments involved in the development of scientific knowledge and scientific methods of inquiry
• SE-3 interrogates relevant and valid peer-reviewed scientific research to develop a scientific research question, hypothesis, proposal and plan
• SE-4 uses statistical applications, mathematical processes and/or modelling to gather, process, analyse and represent reliable and valid datasets
• SE-5 analyses and applies the processes used in reliable and valid scientific research to solve complex scientific problems and inform further research
• SE-6 analyses and reports on a contemporary issue or an application of science informed by either primary or secondary-sourced data, or both, in relation to relevant publicly available data sets
• SE-7 communicates analysis of an argument or conclusion incorporating appropriate scientific language and referencing techniques in a scientific report

Overview and motivation for the task

Your pilot study is a 'miniature' research project, designed to allow you to develop an initial scientific question, hypothesis and methodology which can then be refined in response to the outcome of the pilot study.

Obtaining and processing some initial data will allow you to do some initial tests of your proposed methodology and identify and solve any serious problems before spending substantial amounts of time taking large amounts of data.

Presenting your poster and obtaining feedback from teachers and peers will allow you to obtain constructive feedback, suggestions and creative ideas during a formative stage of your project - it can lead you in directions you might not have thought of exploring on your own and enhance the quality of your final research project.

This is designed to assess the quality of your pilot study/research proposal and the effectiveness of your scientific communication (as well as give you an opportunity to practice and enhance your skills in both research and scientific communication)

Details of the poster design task

Your poster should include the following (adapted from the NESA specifications for your final report):

Title

Your title should be specific, precise and informative (ideally, but not compulsorily, engaging). It should clearly express the aim of the investigation.

Abstract

The abstract is a one paragraph (approximately 100–200 words) summary of your pilot study. It should contain the question, a summary of the methodology, initial results and proposed directions for the main research project. It should be accurate and precise. Referencing is not needed in the abstract.

Background

What we already know and how your research fits in with what is known (if your research is novel, then how your research fills a gap in what is known). Include between 3 and 5 citations to the most relevant papers from your initial literature review.

Scientific research question and Hypothesis

The scientific research question should be clear, precise and specific; written in scientific language, and be developed from the review of the literature. A hypothesis is a statement that relates an independent variable to a dependent variable in a causal relationship that can be tested.

Proposed methodology

The proposed methodology should be written in passive voice and contain enough specific and detailed information so that it can be repeated by another scientist to obtain the same results. Your methodology section should include effective visual communication techniques as appropriate for project, for example diagrams, photographs or flow charts.

Analysis of initial results OR Proposed analysis of results

If some data has been taken and some initial results have been obtained as part of the pilot study, should include an appropriate visual presentation of these results and a discussion of the analysis performed.

If no initial data has been taken then this section should contain a proposed approach to analysing data.

Timeline, milestones and rationale about the timeline

A brief outline of your plan for completing the project, including justification.

Details of the oral presentation

You will prepare a short (approximately 3-5 minute) oral presentation of your research. No palm cards or support other than your poster should be used during your oral presentation. Make sure your diagrams in your poster are large enough to be seen and understood by your audience standing a meter or so from your poster as you talk.

Your presentation needs to effectively communicate your research question and hypothesis, and how it fits with and extends previous research in this field. You need to outline your proposed methodology and any initial results you have obtained and your analysis (or proposed analysis, if no initial data) of these.

Most of all, you need to engage your audience, even if it is at the expense of explaining details. If your audience is interested, they will ask you for any details that they would like to know about. As my PhD supervisor suggested to me (thanks Heiner!), when you are planning your talk it might help to imagine that your audience are your guests on a short scenic train ride, and you are pointing out the sights to them. Your aim is to make your talk a pleasant, relaxing, interesting experience for your audience.

Marking rubric

(You will need to be logged in with your James Ruse google account to see this document)

Materials to support you in this task