Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

To whom it may concern:
I am doing the Going Green as You Clean: Are 'Green' Detergents Less Toxic Than Conventional Detergents? science project. My school requires me to write an investigation plan, the "problem" is that I am following the exact procedure given by the Science Buddies site. How do I write my investigation without plagiarizing? My second question is that I am supposed to "state the change in data needed to verify the hypothesis" in my investigation plan. What would be the best way to do this for this project? Also, is testing one pair of detergents (one "green" and one conventional) considered one experiment? Could other cleaning agents (such as all-purpose cleaner and dish-washing soap) be tested also using the given procedure? I really appreciate any help you can provide.

Hi sunshine7,

Great project choice! I'm glad to hear that you're making sure not to plagiarize.
The immediate suggestion I have for you is to paraphrase, or explain the procedure in your own words. Check with your teacher, but you might also want to cite the Science Buddies page in your bibliography as well to make sure credit is given where it's due.

Additionally, Science Buddies has some modifications you can add to your procedure to make it your own: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... eityourown

For your second question, you would need to determine what variation in the worms' appearance would indicate to you that they're not as healthy. I'd suggest researching more about the health of worms and what indications there may be in a change of their condition...

And yes, you can test the variation with one conventional and one green detergent in the same experiment--this would also be an excellent control, or standard of comparison for you!

Hope this helps! Please post back with more questions.
Thanks!
scibuddyAK

One thing that you could do to avoid plagiarism would be to draw out the procedure by making tables and diagrams. Afterwards, you can explain the diagrams in words, and thus, you would write your procedure. You can also alter the concentrations of the detergent solutions, use different organisms besides worms, or alter the type of "green" and "nongreen" products that you use in the experiment. You might also want to read the comments posted by people who had completed this project, because doing so might help you develop ideas about you can alter or even improve this experiment.

Thanks so much to both of you!!! This has been instrumental in assisting me!! Unfortunately, I am not allowed to draw diagrams in my plan. I need just a one more clarification. I am still unsure if testing one pair of detergents (one "green" and one conventional) considered one experiment? Also, I am having difficulty finding the forums with other students who did this experiment. Any suggestions on how I can better find them?

Hi sunshine7,

Yes, testing one pair of detergents would still be considered one experiment -- you absolutely can test two factors in the same experiment and even compare their respective results!
To the best of my knowledge, I think the Ask an Expert Forums contain all the potential threads you could be looking for... what forum exactly are you searching for?

Hope this helps,
scibuddyAK

I'm not exactly sure how to term it. I guess I was just looking for some articles from others who have done this project. Thanks again!