EASY STEPS OF SCIENCE INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. One of its simpler classifications is the science investigatory projects usually done by the students. A Science Investigatory Project uses the scientific method to study and test an idea about how something works. It involves researching a topic, formulating a working hypothesis that can be tested, conducting the experiment, and recording and reporting the results. You will probably need to follow this procedure if you are planning to enter a project in a division science fair, for instance. However, knowing how to do an SIP is useful for anyone interested in the sciences and really anyone who wants to improve his/her problem solving skills. Here are the steps that you need to consider in conducting the science investigatory project.

Step One is to ask a question. Often, the most challenging part of an SIP is figuring out what you want to investigate. Take your time in choosing, because all of the subsequent steps will be based on the idea you select. Think about something that interests, surprises, or confuses you, and consider whether it is something you can reasonably investigate for a project.

Step Two is researching your topic. You can do this by reading reference and science books, searching online, or discussing it with knowledgeable people. Knowing your topic in more depth will help you construct your SIP. Be aware of the requirements for your project. Many science fairs require that you have at least three solid, reputable, useful sources to use as references.

The Step Three is to form a hypothesis. The hypothesis is your working theory or prediction, based on the question you’ve asked and your subsequent research. It needs to be accurate and clear, but it doesn’t need to be proven correct in order for your SIP to be successful.

The Step Four is designing your experiment. After you have formulated your hypothesis, it is time to test whether it is valid or not. The experiment you design should focus exclusively on either confirming or refuting your hypothesis. Remember, it’s not important if you’re right, it’s important how you conduct the process. Consideration of variables is the key in setting up your experiment. Scientific experiments have three types of variables: independent (those changed by you); dependent (those that change in response to the independent variable); and controlled (those that remain the same).

The Step Five is conducting your experiment. Once your preparation and planning is complete, the time will finally arrive when you can test the validity of your hypothesis. Closely follow the steps that you have planned to test your experiment. However, if your test can not be conducted as planned, reconfigure your steps or try different materials. If you really want to win the science fair, this will be a big step for you. It is common practice for science fairs that you will need to conduct your test at least three times to ensure a scientifically-valid result.

The Step Six is the recording and analyzing your results. Even the most interesting and enlightening test will be useless to your SIP if you do not accurately record and analyze the results. Sometimes your data may be best recorded as a graph, chart, or just a journal entry. However when you record the data, make sure it is easy to review and analyze. Keep accurate records of all your results, even if they don’t turn out the way you hoped or planned. This is also part of science!

Lastly, make your conclusion. Now that you have conducted your experiment and either confirmed or refuted your hypothesis, it is time to clearly and accurately state your findings. In essence, you are now answering the question you originally asked. If you started out with a simple, clear, straightforward question, and a similar hypothesis, it should be easier to craft your conclusion. Remember, concluding that your hypothesis was completely wrong does not make your SIP a failure. If you make clear, scientifically-grounded findings, and present them well, it can and will be a success.

Following these steps will help you make your science investigatory project reliable and credible. Conducting your SIP in a rightful manner gives you an opportunity to address the gaps that were not yet discovered, it is also a chance for you to contribute to the pool of knowledge in which many scientist are striving for so many years.

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The author is Science Teacher at Dona Asuncion Lee Integrated School