Developing a Research Plan

Begin by selecting your subject.

Ideally, it should be something that interests you. Research websites, books, and databases and talk to friends and family for possible ideas.

Ask a testable question about your subject.

What is the effect of _____ on _____?

How does _____ affect _____?

Write a hypothesis.

Predict an outcome based on your experiences or information you've collected from research.

Determine your materials and methods.

List the equipment and materials you will need to complete your experiment. Will you need to enlist any special help from experts?

List a step by step sequence of how you will conduct your experiment.

Record your results.

Use your project notebook to keep meticulous records of observations and results. Be sure to note any accidents/mistakes and unexpected results.

Use charts and graphs to present your data.

Write your conclusion.

Using the data from your experiment results, answer your original testable question, explaining how your results matched or didn't match your hypothesis.

Keep track of your research!

You will submit a final bibliography with all your project research.