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STEP 2 Research, Variables and Hypothesis Now that your topic has been approved, you need to do more research for Background Information. You may use your science textbook, encyclopedias, computer CD's, internet, etc. As you do your research, make certain that you keep the information about the books, internet sites, etc, for your bibliography (collection of resources). You will need to have at least one typed page of Background Information for your logbook and board. Please list the sites here and write the background information in your log book: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. At this time you will also decide on your question that you will ask for your project. This is your problem. This will go on the problem section of your board. This question should only include one question that can be answered by an experiment. It must be very definite in its wording. For example: The question: "Which water is the cleanest or healthiest?" is too general. How do you define "clean" or "healthy" scientifically? The question: "Which water has more solids?" would be correct because it can be easily measured. Also, you want to make certain that your question is only asking one definite thing. For example, you would not ask how does the lack of light AND nutrients affect plant growth. You would only want to ask either: "How does the lack of light affect plant growth?" or "How does the lack of nutrients affect plant growth?" Once you have decided on your question, then you use your research to come up with a hypothesis or educated guess. Your hypothesis should be written as follows: If (manipulated or independent variable) then (responding or dependent variable). For example: "If a plant gets more light then I think it will grow taller than a plant with less light." or "If a plant receives less nutrients then I think it will not grow as tall as a plant with more nutrients." HYPOTHESIS: You also need to type your problem and hypothesis for your backboard. Also at this time you need to decide on a title for your project. You will need a title for your backboard and a title page for your written report. The title should be catchy but still reflect what you are doing in your experiment. Please write your title below: TITLE: |
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