2025-2025 - Research Guide

Decide on your topic or problem. Choose a topic that you have an interest in and a topic that can answer the following questions:

Is it safe?*
Is it realistic?
Is it testable?

*GRSEF rules do not allow students to complete projects that test on vertebrate animals, grow microorganisms (including fungi) outside of a lab environment, or require participants to ingest anything.

*No Elementary students can do projects involving culturing micro- organisms (bacteria, mold, fungus, etc.) in any location (school, home, or regulated institution) no exceptions.

All projects are subject to safety review before data is collected

Use the "10 Question Strategy" to develop a list of questions that you need to answer before proceeding with your project.

Use your local library, internet, texts, scientific journals, or your teacher to help you find answers to these questions.

This information will be what you use to guide the writing of your research plan, so make sure your questions are well aligned to your topic.

Use your background information to write your research plan. There are several components to the research plan:

Problem / Topic
Hypothesis
Variables
Materials
Procedure
Safety Risks
Resource Bibliography

Use a template to write out your research plan.

You must submit your research plan online and it must be approved before you can proceed with your research.

(Use your pre-written research plan to help you enter the information.)

Once your research plan has been reviewed by the SRC, you will receive an email that includes feedback about your project. Please read the feedback before beginning your project.

When your project is approved by the SRC, then you should move forward with your research. You will begin collecting data and then you analyze this data to determine your project's results and conclusion. Make sure during your research to follow any safety recommendations provided from the SRC.