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GUIDE TO SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING PROJECTS

INTRODUCTION:
A science project is one in which a student sets out to answer a question. A question about their surroundings using the techniques of professional scientists. This project is NOT simply a library report or term paper. The student will design and conduct an experiment outside of class to answer this question under the supervision of parents, instructor, and community consultants. The main research, thinking, experimental design, procurement of equipment, writing, and backboard construction are to be done by the student!

What follows is an outline of the process used at this school site in assisting students in their understanding of the EXPERIMENTAL scientific method - Please read and reread this Guide completely. Be sure to meet all due dates! Good Luck!

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS:

1) Do NOT choose a topic which cannot be completed by the last week in December. Be sure you can get all equipment, subjects, skills to do experiment!!

2) Get started with library research EARLY (NOW!).

3) Make sure your PROCEDURE really tests the question asked. Keep your TOPIC and QUESTION very narrow... Don't try to answer everything. BE SURE YOU ARE CHANGING ONLY ONE VARIABLE, AND HAVE GOOD CONTROLS !
When you run into snags in your procedures, or have difficulty finding equipment, most colleges and universities can put you in touch with someone who may be able to assist you. San Diego State University and University of California at San Diego are two resources. Just look in the phone book under the name of the university and then find the phone number of the DEPARTMENT under which your project category most fits. Also, we may have a business partnership who may furnish
consultants. ASK US!!

4) Always design experiments where MEASUREMENTS can be made-- length, volume, mass, time intervals. ALWAYS USE THE METRIC OR SI SYSTEM !! Keep DATA (numbers, etc.) in TABLES AND CHARTS.

5) If working with living organisms, know their life cycles, needs, and times needed for reproduction of offspring... example: fruit flies actually need 4-5 weeks to produce new offspring... so plan these "waiting periods" into your procedure... TIME MUST BE CONSIDERED WHEN PLANNING ANY SCIENCE PROJECT... TRY TO FORESEE ALL CIRCUMSTANCES!!

6) Run many tests (as many experimental runs as possible!). Use large sample sizes... At least 50 or 100 subjects is usually the minimum!! You will need MANY REPEAT EXPERIMENTS (at least 3 runs ) to really say whether or not a pattern exists. ONE EXPERIMENT IS NOT ENOUGH!

7) If things do not go well, FEEL FREE to change your procedures... YOU ARE NOT LOCKED INTO DOING THINGS ONLY ONE WAY. If at least 1 month is left before the School Fair, you can even change your topic, with the teacher's Permission .

8) If you can, try to apply a statistical test to your final results to determine HOW SIGNIFICANT they are... Did results occur by RANDOM CHANCE, or is there a good probability that a REAL PATTERN has resulted? To help in interpreting numerical data, several statistical tests are available involving some mathematics. Some of the more common tests are the Chi-square Test and the t-Test. Additionally, tests to determine standard deviation, median, mode, average, etc., can be used. Consult your teacher ( if they have a reference book on mathematical statistical tests) or seek out information from either a math teacher or a consultant.

9) Know the difference between the word "affect" and "effect"!
GENERALLY, in science, "affect" is an action word. "Effect" is a NOUN.
Look at the following examples: AFFECT: (action) EFFECT: (noun)
How will light AFFECT the photocell? The EFFECT was not measurable.
The music AFFECTED his concentration. The antibiotic had a growth-limiting EFFECT. Can electricity AFFECT plant growth? EFFECT on the mold. The hormone AFFECTS the embryo. What is the EFFECT of sucrose on snail respiration?

10) More than anything, be sure this is a project that YOU ARE really interested in!

The most successful projects I have seen were those where the students actually enjoyed doing them!!

HAVE FUN!!