Background Research Plan

2 - Background Research

Background research is necessary so that you know how to design and understand the results of your experiment.

Task #2A: Background Research Plan

1. Read the Science Fair Project Background Research Plan for more information about why background research is important and how to set up a background research plan.
2. Answer the following questions to check your learning:
   1. Which of the following is NOT a reason to conduct background research before starting an experiment?
      To learn from the experience of others

      To understand the theory behind your experiment

      To figure out the right answer to your project question

      To avoid repeating mistakes others have made
      Well done! Finding the answer to your project question is not a reason to conduct background research.
      Nice try! Review the section on why background research is needed to understand the valid reasons.
   2. What is the correct order of steps in creating a background research plan?
      Identify keywords, generate research questions, conduct experiments

      Conduct experiments, identify keywords, generate research questions

      Identify keywords, generate research questions, throw out irrelevant questions

      Generate research questions, identify keywords, throw out irrelevant questions
      Correct! The steps are to identify keywords, generate research questions, and throw out irrelevant questions.
      Nice try! Review the section on making a background research plan to understand the correct order of steps.
   3. How do the "question words" (why, how, who, what, when, where) help in creating a background research plan?
      They help in formatting the final report

      They generate relevant research questions from your keywords

      They provide a list of references

      They help in conducting experiments
      Correct! The "question words" help generate relevant research questions from your keywords.
      Nice try! Review the section on using the question words table to generate research questions.
3. Identify Your Project Question: What question is your project trying to answer? Look back at ‘Ask a Question’ if you don’t remember your question.
   Your Project Question:
4. List Key Vocabulary Terms or Concepts: Make a list of keywords and important concepts you will need to research and understand better to complete your project. If you are using a Science Buddies project, you can use the project Introduction and list of Terms and Concepts to help you get started.
   Key Vocabulary Terms or Concepts:
5. Identify Key Formulas or Equations: To analyze the results from experiments, you may need to know some key formulas or equations. Think about your own experiment and write down any step or task that requires a formula or equation. Don’t worry if you already understand the formula or equation—you’ll learn more when you do your background research.
   Key Formulas or Equations:

6. Develop Research Questions:

   • Use your keywords to build some questions to guide your background research. Develop at least 2-3 questions for each “question word” in the table below. If you are using a Science Buddies project, you can also use the Questions section to help you.

   • Substitute your keywords (or versions of them) for the blanks in the middle column. Write down the relevant questions in this column. Put an asterisk ( * ) next to the top 3-4 questions you need to research.

   • Review this Science Fair Project Background Research Plan to learn more about how to complete the question table below and for examples of what types of questions you might develop.

   • Remember to document your background research questions in your lab notebook.

   Question Word Table
   Swipe left to see more

   Question Word	Possible Questions  (you can think of others)	Your Questions Substitute your keywords (or versions of them) for the blanks in the middle column. Write down the relevant questions in this column. Put an asterisk (*) next to the top 3-4 questions you need to research.
   How	How does ____ happen? How does ____ work? How does ____ detect ____? How does one measure ____? How do we use ____? How ____________?
   Why	Why does ____ happen? Why does ____ ____? Why ____________?
   Who	Who needs ____? Who discovered ____? Who invented ____? Who ____________?
   What	What causes ____ to increase/decrease? What is ____ made of? What are the characteristics of ____? What is the relationship between ____ and ____? What do we use ____ for? What ____________?
   When	When does ____ cause ____? When was ____ discovered? When ____________?
   Where	Where does ____ occur? Where was ____ discovered? Where ____________?