Science research

A science fair project examines a scientific problem and finds a solution to it by using a scientific method. In this article, I will show you how to use the scientific method by using simple examples. Scientists use the scientific method as an “aid” to find solutions to scientific problems. It helps them to think of many workable solutions and test each solution to find out which one is the best.

Allow me now to take you through all the 5 steps one by one:

Step 1: Conducting Research Research for your science fair project involves gathering facts and figures from your personal observations, educative material and experiments. These facts and figures must be neatly organized. I would suggest that your research must have two parts:

Topic for Research: This step involves finding a topic of your research. For example, you may have noticed bread mold or fungi that grow on white bread and give rise to new offspring (reproduction). Bingo! Your topic is ready- ‘Reproduction of Fungi’.

Project for Research: This step involves knowing more about the topic, pinpointing a problem, asking “what if…” questions, proposing answers (hypothesis) and setting up experiments that will answer your “what if…” questions. An example of a project for research could be placing a white bread slice in a box for a few days and examining what happens.

Step 2: Identifying the Problem The question to be answered using scientific method is called the problem. Let me help you to form your questions:

The question must be open-ended and specific: Ask questions such as, “What effect does light have on bread mold reproduction?” This calls for extensive thought and research. This question is also specific: A specific factor- light, a specific life process- reproduction, a specific mold type- bread mold and a specific bread type- white bread. Such a question would rule out other molds.

The answer must require an experiment: For example, “What are bread molds?” is something that can be looked up in an encyclopedia. But, “How fast does bread mold reproduce at room temperature?” would prompt you to conduct an experiment.

Step 3: Forming a Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a claim made, an answer proposed or an assumption made in the form of a single statement. Your experimentation is carried out to test your hypothesis. Your hypothesis must not be based on your fancies, but on knowledge and a detailed study. You can form the hypothesis for your science fair project as follows: “I am of the opinion that light does not affect mold reproduction over white bread. My hypothesis is based on these facts:

Light is required for the survival of organisms that contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is not present in bread mold. In exploratory experiments conducted by me, mold was found to be growing on white bread placed in dark bread boxes.”

Your hypothesis should never be changed if it is not supported by your experimentation results.

Step 4: Conducting Relevant Experiments As mentioned earlier, this step will test the hypothesis of your science fair project. You may set up your experiment by placing slices of bread in a number of closed cardboard boxes. Along with these boxes you must also place the same number of open cardboard boxes that receive light, to show that light affects mold reproduction. This is called a control setup. You must have accurate ways to measure the results of your experiment.

Step 5: Arriving at a Conclusion In this step you must neatly summarize the results of your experimentation. You must state whether the results support the hypothesis or not. If not, give reasons for the same. In case your hypothesis is supported by your results, you can conclude in this way: “As my hypothesis mentions, I am of the opinion that light does not affect mold reproduction over white bread. The same has been supported by my experimentation results. Spores do germinate in the absence of light. After a week’s time, the spores continued to germinate and grow, in full light or without light. To rule out the possibility of light entering the boxes, light-proof boxes may be used in the future.”

I hope you liked my ideas. Now go on and create your own science projects using the scientific method.

By: Aurora Lipper

Tags: 5 Steps, Bingo, Bread Mold, Bread Slice, Conducting Research, Few Days, Hypothesis, Mold Type, Molds, Offspring, Personal Observations, Project Success, Reproduction Of Fungi, Science Fair Project, Science Fair Projects, Science Project, Scientific Method, Step 2, White Bread, Workable Solutions