Organize my Investigation
Whole Project
Urban Advantage provides a suggested tri-fold poster layout for your science investigation. This layout is recommended for a science EXPO event because the audience can easily view the project and gather the project’s big ideas. Using other media, such as Keynote or PowerPoint, is also an important learning experience, and we also make Keynote / PowerPoint templates available.
Remember the poster layouts, and investigation rubrics, shown here are suggestions. If you are a student, check with your teacher to see if they recommend a layout or use a specific rubric. If you are a teacher, note the resources available are suggested and should be adapted to your own needs, and the needs of your students.
Procedure
The procedure is a detailed, step-by-step description of the way in which the investigation was performed. The procedure should be written so that another student can replicate the investigation and should use precise language and scientific vocabulary. All materials and equipment used should be included in the appropriate portion of the procedure. In addition to being replicable, it is important that the procedure be appropriate for the investigation. The procedure should be one that will allow the student to answer the question posed and should be consistent with the investigation design.
Experimental Design
(the ID diagram used in UA PD may be included as a graphic organizer here)
Using the five components below, describe the design of the investigation:
1. Independent variable: the variable that the student changes on purpose. (In a field study we describe the independent variable as the category(ies) that the student chooses. In a secondary research project, we describe the independent variable as the variable that the student lets change and does not keep constant.)
2. Dependent variable: the variable the student measures that is affected (changes) as a result of changes purposely made in the independent variable.
3. Constants (also called constant variables): the variable(s) in an investigation that are kept the same and not allowed to change or vary.
4. Levels of the independent variable: the values of the independent variable at which data is gathered. For example, when studying effect of the time of day on sea lion behavior, the levels might be: 8:30am, 12:30pm, 4:30pm, etc. as this is when the student is observing the sea lion. When studying the effect of the mass of a ball on the distance it pushes something, the levels might be: 1g, 5g, 10g.
5. Number of repeated trials: the number of times that a level of the independent variable is tested in an investigation, or the number of objects or organisms tested at each level of the independent variable. Typically, at least three trials are conducted at each level in a middle school investigation.
Data/Results
Students use the data reported in this section to determine whether or not their hypothesis was supported and to make a claim answering or addressing the original question. Data reported in this section must be directly related to the question and the hypothesis.
Students make their own observations for the following types of projects: controlled experiments, field studies and design projects. Students use observations or data reported by other investigators when they do secondary research.
Data should be shown in tables, charts, and/or graphs as appropriate. All data tables and graphs should be accurate and include titles, axis labels, units of measure, etc. Overall trends and patterns in the data should be discussed (with numeric or other data being provided to demonstrate any trend or pattern).
Title
The title should state both the independent variable and the dependent variable.
Sample format: “The effect of (the independent variable) on (the dependent variable).”
Background information
Students should be researching scientific concepts and knowledge related to their question both before and after they perform their investigation. Students should provide relevant, well-chosen facts and scientific concepts, definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples related to the relationship between the IV and the DV.
This background information provides the basis of the prediction. Students should consider the question: “What did I read that makes me predict this outcome?”
Background information should also be used to support the scientific reasoning within the Discussion/ Conclusion. See the Discussion/Conclusion description for more information.
Often students will provide basic facts about things related to their investigation. However, information that is not clearly related to the hypothesis or to scientific reasoning within the discussion / conclusion should not be included.
Hypothesis and Prediction Statement
A “Hypothesis and Prediction Statement” has two parts, a hypothesis which is a tentative or initial explanation of the phenomenon under study and a prediction which follows from that hypothesis.
The hypothesis or tentative explanation is based on earlier observations and/or scientific knowledge such as that gained from doing background research or prior investigations.
The “Prediction” should be a statement about what the investigator thinks will happen in their investigation, the effect that a change purposely made in the independent variable will have on the dependent variable. The hypothesis part should state why the investigator thinks this will happen (“because…”).
Sample format: I think (independent variable) will affect (dependent variable) and I expect (predicted result) because (describe the scientific reasons of why you expect this relationship between the variables. Include scientific concepts that relate to this prediction).
Sample format: If (summarize investigation or action being planned, i.e., changing the independent variable) then (predict result, i.e., effect on dependent variable) because (describe the scientific reasons of why you expect this relationship between the variables. Include scientific concepts that relate to this prediction).
Question
The question describes the focus of the investigation. The question should ask how the independent variable will affect the dependent variable. The question should be written so that someone else can easily understand it.
Sample format: “How will (the independent variable) affect (the dependent variable)?”
Discussion/Conclusion
This is one section that is scored based on two different items: “the scientific explanation” and “reflections.”
The overall Discussion/Conclusion portion should follow a format similar to the one below:
“In this investigation, the hypothesis (was/was not) supported.” Students should then make their claim and provide evidence and reasoning for that claim (the scientific explanation – see below). Students should then discuss sources of error and possible future investigations.
Discussion/Conclusion: Scientific Explanation
The scientific explanation begins with a claim that addresses or answers the original question asked. This claim should then be supported by relevant, accurate data from the students’ investigation. Relevant science concepts and knowledge should be used to explain this data and relate it to the claim. Students should use words, phrases and clauses that connect and clarify the relationships between the claim, evidence (data) and reasoning in a formal style.
Discussion/Conclusion: Reflections
Students should state whether or not the hypothesis was supported by the data. This statement usually comes at the beginning of the discussion section. At the end of the discussion section, students should explain any possible causes of error as well as how they might prevent these possible errors in the future. Students should also explain how they might use the data or ideas from this investigation in future investigations.
Literature Cited
The project should include a list of sources used. Sources should be varied (books, articles, websites…), clearly related to the topic, and at the appropriate level. Citations should include title, author, publisher, year, and URL (if website) in a format that aligns with school expectations and ELA standards by grade level. These sources should be cited in the text of the hypothesis, background research, conclusion and other sections as appropriate.