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]