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What is a Science Project?
The Parts of a Science Project
Checklist
A Good Start
Categories
Guidelines for a Project Log
Controls and Variables
Results and Conclusion
Guidelines for a Report
Guidelines for Charts, Drawing and Graphs
Graphs and Data
Bibliography Format
Guidelines for Display Board
Guidelines for Oral Presentation
Science Project Glossary
 Bethune: Project "Science Project"
STEP 4 A Good Science Project begins with a good QUESTION and a reasonable HYPOTHESIS. |
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A Good Start
Purpose
Your PURPOSE should be in the form of a question.
A good QUESTION…
- …is clear
- …is specific
- …identifies the variables ("What is the effect of X on Y?")
- …is measurable
A bad QUESTION…
- …is a question answered by "yes" or "no"
- …has only two options ("Do plants do better in fresh or salt water?")
- …is one you already know the answer to ("Do plants grow better in the dark or in the light?")
- …is one you could find the answer to in a book ("Why do volcanoes erupt?")
Hypothesis
Your hypothesis is your educated guess to the question that you will ask.
A HYPOTESIS must be…
- …based on information gathered through thorough research
- …clear and concise
- testable
- be in the form of an "If/then" statement
- answer the QUESTION
- include variables and the effect of one on the other
If (a change is made to the manipulated or independent variable), then (the result to the responding or dependent variable is this).
Do you want help with your QUESTION?
