Science Research Science Research ModuleModule
Getting StartedGetting Started
Writing proposalWriting proposal
TopicsTopics Introduction to experimental researchIntroduction to experimental research Writing proposalWriting proposal
• Choosing a research topicChoosing a research topic• Hypothesis, objectivesHypothesis, objectives• Proposal Assessment RubricsProposal Assessment Rubrics• PlagiarismPlagiarism
SOP for science project safetySOP for science project safety
Experimental Research Experimental Research Category (Cat#1)Category (Cat#1)
InvolvesInvolves• formulation of hypothesis & formulation of hypothesis &
objectivesobjectives• Designing experiments to collect Designing experiments to collect
datadata• testing and analyzing the data testing and analyzing the data
obtainedobtained• Drawing a conclusion Drawing a conclusion
Getting started – Crafting Getting started – Crafting ideasideas, , hypothesis, objectiveshypothesis, objectives
Ideas/choosing a topic:Ideas/choosing a topic: Ask questions Ask questions
• do your reading up (literature search)do your reading up (literature search)• find out what has been done find out what has been done • identify area/topic of interestidentify area/topic of interest• think of a question you want to think of a question you want to
answeranswer• identify a problem you want to solveidentify a problem you want to solve
Sources of ideas:Sources of ideas: books, magazines, books, magazines, journals (scholarly papers), online journals (scholarly papers), online sources, people, HCI Projects sources, people, HCI Projects Competition websiteCompetition website
Sources of ideasSources of ideas Science buddies website Science buddies website - -
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/ All Science Fair Projects -All Science Fair Projects -
http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html Cyber Fair -Cyber Fair -
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/welcome.html The WWW Virtual Library:Science Fairs - The WWW Virtual Library:Science Fairs - http://physics.usc.edu/%7Egould/ScienceFairs/ Pubmed (scholarly papers) -Pubmed (scholarly papers) -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/ Scirus -Scirus - http://www.scirus.com/ National student research center -National student research center -
http://youth.net/nsrc/sci/sci.index.html HCI Library online resources -HCI Library online resources -
http://www.hwachong.edu.sg/ContentPage.asp?SID=8
Feasibility of ideasFeasibility of ideas
Evaluate ideas:Evaluate ideas:• InterestInterest• Availability of Availability of
materials/equipment/expertisematerials/equipment/expertise• Availability of fundsAvailability of funds• Level of difficultyLevel of difficulty• DurationDuration• Results obtainable?Results obtainable?
Getting started – Crafting ideas,Getting started – Crafting ideas, hypothesishypothesis, , objectivesobjectives
Hypothesis:Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a possible explanation A hypothesis is a possible explanation
for something you have observed.for something you have observed. Turn your research questions into Turn your research questions into
hypothesis (statement)hypothesis (statement)QuestionQuestion: Do fruit peels contain anti-: Do fruit peels contain anti-cancer compounds?cancer compounds?HypothesisHypothesis: Fruit peel extract contain : Fruit peel extract contain anti-cancer compoundsanti-cancer compounds
One hypothesisOne hypothesis per projectper project
ObjectivesObjectives list what you will set out to do/measure to test your list what you will set out to do/measure to test your
hypothesishypothesis E.g.E.g.Question: Do fruit peels contain anti-cancer compounds?Question: Do fruit peels contain anti-cancer compounds?Hypothesis: Fruit peels contain anti-cancer compoundsHypothesis: Fruit peels contain anti-cancer compoundsObjectivesObjectives::
1.1. To prepare extracts from fruit peelsTo prepare extracts from fruit peels2.2. To screen fruit peel extracts for anti-tumour To screen fruit peel extracts for anti-tumour
compoundscompounds3.3. To identify anti-tumour compounds in the fruit To identify anti-tumour compounds in the fruit
extractsextracts
Getting started – Crafting ideas, Getting started – Crafting ideas, hypothesis,hypothesis, objectivesobjectives
ExerciseExercise Question:Question: Does chitin from crab Does chitin from crab
shells have a greater ability to bind to shells have a greater ability to bind to fats?fats?
HypothesisHypothesis:: Chitin from crab shells has a greater Chitin from crab shells has a greater ability to bind to fats.ability to bind to fats.
ObjectivesObjectives:: 1.1. To extract chitin from crab and prawn To extract chitin from crab and prawn
shells for comparison.shells for comparison.2.2. To compare the abilities of crab and To compare the abilities of crab and
prawn shells to bind to fatsprawn shells to bind to fats
Writing a proposalWriting a proposal
Refer to rubrics Sample proposal Plagiarism Plagiarism
PlagiarismPlagiarism Plagiarism is using other people's Plagiarism is using other people's
work, words, ideas without work, words, ideas without acknowledging. Includes copying the acknowledging. Includes copying the exact words and citing the author.exact words and citing the author.
Do not plagiarise.Do not plagiarise. Paraphrase your readingsParaphrase your readings Summarise what you read in your Summarise what you read in your
own wordsown words Keep the key wordsKeep the key words
SOP for projects safetySOP for projects safety Students to fill in parents consent for lab Students to fill in parents consent for lab
work work (submit today)(submit today) Mentors to assess nature of project if it Mentors to assess nature of project if it
involves the following:involves the following:• Biohazard materials/organismsBiohazard materials/organisms• Chemical hazardsChemical hazards• Potentially hazardous devices/equipmentPotentially hazardous devices/equipment
Apply for approval by Science Research Apply for approval by Science Research Council (SRC, SSEF) after prelim judging Council (SRC, SSEF) after prelim judging (i/c – Mrs Goh Cheng Wai)(i/c – Mrs Goh Cheng Wai)
Approval of research plan by teacher-mentor.Obtain parental consent for laboratory work.
Projects not involving potentially hazardous
biological agents, substances or
devices
Proceed with experimentation
Yes
Can the project be carried out using the school’s
resources?
Consult relevant project coordinators and technicians regarding safety & availability
of resources
Proceed with experimentation
Are there any available external
resources ?
No
Continued next page
External experts vet through protocols to ensure all safety requirements are met
Projects involving potentially hazardous
biological agents, substances or
devices
Seek approval from SRC and external experts***
*** submit after prelim round for SSEF projects
Are there any available external
resources?Redesign the research
or reject proposal
No
Redesign the research or reject proposal
No
Approve research plan, obtain parental consent & proceed to conduct research in external organization
Yes
Teacher mentors approach the organisation individually or through Research Coordinators
Can the external organization
accommodate the request?
Yes
Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment All groups are required to do a risk All groups are required to do a risk
assessment assessment Attach form (signed by mentor) to Attach form (signed by mentor) to
proposal for submissionproposal for submission Deadline for submission of proposal + Deadline for submission of proposal +
form: form: 31 Mar 201131 Mar 2011 Forms to be signed by mentor and Forms to be signed by mentor and
submitted to Mdm Lim Cheng Fui (Senior submitted to Mdm Lim Cheng Fui (Senior Lab Manager, Science Research Lab Manager, Science Research Centre@HCI) if you want to start lab work Centre@HCI) if you want to start lab work before 31 Mar 2011before 31 Mar 2011
Questions?Questions?
ReferencesReferences Knisely Karin (2005) A student handbook for Knisely Karin (2005) A student handbook for
writing in Biology, 2writing in Biology, 2ndnd Edition. W.H. Freeman and Edition. W.H. Freeman and Company. [574 Kni]Company. [574 Kni]
Discovery school website (2006) Science Fair Discovery school website (2006) Science Fair Studio. Available: Studio. Available: http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifhttp://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/scientificmethod.htmlairstudio/handbook/scientificmethod.html [last [last accessed 30 Dec 06]accessed 30 Dec 06]
VanCleave, Janice (1997) Guide to the Best VanCleave, Janice (1997) Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Science Fair Projects. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Wedgwood, Marilyn (1987) Tackling Biology Wedgwood, Marilyn (1987) Tackling Biology Projects. Macmillian Education Limited.[570 Wed]Projects. Macmillian Education Limited.[570 Wed]
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