I-Sweeep Handbook

Student Handbook

George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, texas

Science ReSeaRch and Scientific MethodS
A science project is an investigation using the scientific method to discover the answer to a scientific problem. Before starting your project, you need to understand the scientific method. The scientific method is the “tool” that scientists use to find the answers to questions. It isthe process of thinking through the possible solutions to a problem and testing each possibility for the best solution. The scientific method involves the following steps: doing research, identifying the problem, stating a hypothesis, conducting project experimentation, analyzing gathered data, and drawing a conclusion. The hypothesis should make a claim about how two variables relate. In otherwords, the statement should include independent variable and its expected effect on responding variable. You don’t change your hypothesis even if experimentation does not support it. You should repeat or redesign the experiment to confirm your results.

4. contRoLLed eXPeRiMentation
Project experimentation is the process of testing a hypothesis. The factors that have an effect on the experimentare called variables. There are three kinds of variables that you need to identify in your experiments: independent, dependent, and controls. The independent variable is the variable you purposely manipulate (change). The dependent variable is the variable being observed that changes in response to the independent variable. The variables that are not changed are called controlled variables. Acontrol is a test in which the independent variable is kept constant in order to measure changes in the dependent variable. In a control, all variables are identical to the experimental setup—your original setup—except for the independent variable. Factors that are identical in both the experimental setup and the control setup are the controlled variables. You should have only one independent variablein the experiment. Also, you need to repeat the experiments to verify the consistency of your results. During the experimentation, you should keep detailed notes about each single step of the experiments, observations, and measurements. You can use data
I-SWEEEP 3

1. ReSeaRch
Research is the process of collecting information from your own experiences, knowledgeable sources, and data fromprevious experiments. The research topic should be data driven. It means that you should design a research project that provides quantitative data through experimentation followed by analysis and real life applications of that data.

2. PRoBLeM
The problem is the scientific question to be solved. It is best expressed as an “open-ended” question, which is a question that is answered with astatement, not just a yes or a no. You should choose a problem that can be tested experimentally.

3. hYPotheSiS
A hypothesis is an educated guess about the solution to a problem, based on knowledge and research. While the hypothesis is a single statement, it is the key to a successful project. All of your project experimenting will be performed to test the hypothesis.

Elements of a SuccessfulProject
tables and charts to record your quantitative data.

6. concLUSion
Using the trends in your experimental data and your experimental observations, try to answer your original questions. Is your hypothesis correct? Now is the time to pull together what happened, and assess the experiments you did. You can also discuss the followings in your conclusion: If your hypothesis is not correct, whatcould be the answer to your question? Summarize any difficulties or problems you had doing the experiment. Do you need to change the procedure and repeat your experiment? What would you do different next time? How would you improve the project in the future? How could this project apply to real life?

1.) Project Journal
As you conduct your experiment, record the results as they are...