| The process of scientific discovery is first | | | | Each section will be assigned a specific amount of |
| explored in elementary school, usually around the | | | | time. For example, students can give themselves |
| third grade. This is when students are introduced | | | | a week to do what is necessary to get from a |
| to what is called the scientific method. The | | | | topic to a hypothesis. The time frames need to |
| scientific method is a step-by-step process that | | | | be appropriate for the amount and depth of |
| takes a scientist from a science question to a | | | | research required for each stage of the science |
| conclusion. This method can be applied to scientific | | | | fair project. |
| discovery of all levels, including student science fair | | | | Step four is to list the research that is required |
| projects. | | | | during each phase. Between the topic generation |
| Science Fair Project Research Plan | | | | and hypothesis creation phase, for example, |
| A science fair project research plan is basically an | | | | students will need to conduct basic research on |
| outline of what the student needs to do to | | | | their topic. The information that is collected will |
| complete their science fair project. It focuses | | | | help the student to narrow down their topic and |
| specifically on the research that the student will | | | | to make a prediction that will form their |
| need to do to understand their topic, to develop | | | | hypothesis. |
| their hypothesis, to create an experiment, to | | | | Other types of research that will need to be done |
| analyze their data and finally to draw | | | | include research that has all ready been done on |
| substantiated results. This research plan will not | | | | the relationship that is being explored in the |
| only identify what needs to be researched, but it | | | | project and about the variables that the student |
| will also identify how much time the student has | | | | wants to test. Experiment design research can |
| to conduct their research and when each phase | | | | also be helpful. |
| of research needs to be completed by. | | | | Step five is to list a desired outcome at the |
| How to Complete a Research Plan | | | | bottom of each section. A desired outcome can |
| The first step in completing a research plan is to | | | | be "develop a hypothesis," "design an experiment" |
| select a topic. The topic will be used to guide the | | | | or "outline your methodology." The desired |
| rest of the research activities. | | | | outcome will help keep students focused on what |
| The second step is to create a time table based | | | | they need to accomplish during each phase of |
| on when various parts of the science fair projects | | | | their science fair project research plan. |
| need to be completed by. This time table will | | | | The final step is to develop a chart that will help |
| usually be influenced by the time table offered by | | | | the student track their progress. This chart will |
| the student's teacher or by the rules and | | | | need to have rows for each phase of the |
| guidelines of the science fair that the student | | | | research project and columns for the description |
| wants to enter. This time table will break up the | | | | of the phase, the due date and for the marking |
| research plan into sections. | | | | off the sections that have been completed. |