A research paper is a required part of the science fair ...



A research paper is a required part of the science fair project. The science fair paper should look very much like the journal articles you used in your research. The scientific paper should contain these sections:

• Title Page

• Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Materials and Methods

• Data Analysis & Results

• Conclusions

• Acknowledgments

• Works Cited

• Appendix

Each section of the paper must be clearly labeled with a heading. The paper should be computer generated in black ink, 12 point font, and double spaced. The paper should be written in passive voice, past tense. Do not refer to yourself in the paper, and do not use contractions. All information should be directly related to the problem you are investigating. Put all information in your own words; do not copy sentences directly from articles. You will also need to include an abstract as a separate document, typed on the official ISEF form. Descriptions for the sections of the paper follow.

Title Page

Center the project title on the page. In smaller font, include your name, teacher’s name, course name and date at the bottom right of the page.

Table of Contents

Include a page number for the beginning of each section of the paper.

Introduction

The introduction will have three major components – an analysis of others’ research, general background information about your research, and a problem statement.

From your review of journal articles, describe at least two research studies performed by other scientists. The description should include the purpose of their investigation, a brief overview of their experimental design, and the major findings of their research. Explain how this information applies to your experiment. If their study had unresolved issues or questions, this leads nicely into your rationale. It should be very obvious to you that citations will be necessary in this section. Use parenthetical (in text) citations.

The general background information is the section where you will identify and provide critical information about the independent and dependent variables. Summarize the information essential for understanding the research project. Does the reader need this information to understand the rest of the report/experiment? If so, be sure to include it. Use parenthetical (in text) citations appropriately.

The last component of the introduction is your statement of the problem. You should start with the rationale. This is your explanation for the importance of your investigation. Why do we care about the results of this experiment? Explain why and to whom the results are important (who would use these results)? On whom or what will the conclusion have the most impact? Second, you should address the purpose of the experiment, which should be a causal question. Last, you need to include your hypothesis statement, in the appropriate if…and…then…format. Remember that the “hypothesis” portion of this statement is an explanation for the causal question, not a prediction for your experiment.

Materials and Methods

In paragraph form and past tense, describe the materials and procedures used to conduct the study. Step listings are not acceptable. Provide sufficient detail to allow a reader to repeat the study. Include precise descriptions of the sample, any apparatus that was constructed or modified for the study, and the methods of data collection. Indicate how all variables were controlled during the experiment. The design should allow for both the IV and DV to be measured accurately. An appropriate strategy for repeated trials and measurements should be part of the design. If necessary, address safe-handling procedure, disposal procedure and care of organisms. Safe handling procedures may be cited from a source that is documented in the works cited. They do not have to be completely rewritten. Include detailed photographs or drawings of self-designed equipment; these should be in the appendix and referenced here.

Data Analysis & Results

Using titled graphs and tables, present a summary of your data processing. This may include scatter plots, box-and-whisker plots, frequency distributions (histograms) or other relevant ways for you to summarize the data. Include the equations for lines of best fit or other relevant summarizing descriptive statistics. Do NOT include tables of the raw data; this belongs in the Appendix for the reader to reference if needed.

Next, include the summary table for the results of your statistics test. This should follow the format given in the instructions sheet for each statistical test. You should NOT simply copy and paste the table from Excel or your calculator.

Next, write a paragraph about your results (results statements). Refer to your data, which will be included in the appendix. Do not place raw data in this section. Present the analysis of data as described in the appropriate statistical test file. Following the guidelines in the statistics word document, write a paragraph of results statements.

Conclusions

Refer to the appropriate statistical document to write these paragraphs. Restate the purpose of the experiment, the major findings and support of the hypothesis by the data. Focus on interpretation of the results based on the statistics. Compare your findings with the research of others; propose explanations for similarities and differences in findings. Be sure to provide appropriate literature citations. In addition, make suggestions for improvements to the experimental design and recommendations for further study.

Acknowledgments

Credit assistance received from mentors, parents, teachers and other sources. As directed by your teacher, include statements by mentors that certify the precise nature of your work.

Works Cited

This should be a separate page at the end of the research paper. List all books, papers, journal articles, internet sources and communications cited in the paper. Your reference list should include any documentation that is not your own. It is expected that you have a minimum of five resources, including at least two journal articles.

Appendix

Include your raw data in the appendix (make this Appendix A). You may also include critical information that is too lengthy for the main section of the paper, such as additional tables and graphs, copies of surveys or tests, and diagrams of specialized equipment. Label additional appendices (B, C, D…).

Abstract

This must be typed on the official ISEF form; it is not included in the body of your report. Write a concise summary of your project that includes the purpose of the experiment, hypothesis, procedures, principal results, and conclusions. Do not exceed 250 words and include a word count. An abstract should not contain acknowledgments.

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