Project Guides (Page 11)

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At some top science fairs, like the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), big display boards are the norm. We define "big boards" as those substantially larger than the standard, three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36" tall by 48" wide. Important! Before planning your display board, be sure to check the rules for your fair to make sure that you do not build a board that is too large. While a large board gives you additional room to… Read more

Chemistry Lab Techniques

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Proper Laboratory Technique Before starting any experiment, you should understand the entire procedure that you will be following. You need to make sure that you have the proper equipment, and that you know how to use it. When you are trying an unfamiliar procedure for the first time, it is a good idea to practice at least one "dry run" without chemicals. That way, you can make sure you have all the materials you will need at hand, and that your workflow will proceed smoothly. You… Read more

Data Analysis for Advanced Science Projects

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Sandra Slutz, PhD, Staff Scientist, Science Buddies Kenneth L. Hess, Founder and President, Science Buddies Introduction Whether your goal is to present your findings to the public or publish your research in a scientific journal, it is imperative that data from advanced science projects be rigorously analyzed. Without careful data analysis to back up your conclusions, the results of your scientific research won't be taken seriously by other scientists. The sections below discuss… Read more

Data Presentation Tips for Advanced Science Competitions

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Introduction As discussed in the guide to Judging Tips for Top Science Fair Competitions, different top science competitions require participants to present their work in different formats. Some competitions rely heavily on display boards (for more details, see Big Display Boards for Top Science Competitions), others on PowerPoint presentations, and still others on written research papers. All of these formats require you to summarize what is likely a large body of research into a single, well… Read more

Designing a Study in Sociology or Human Behavior

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Most experiments designed to study sociology or human behavior require data collection from human subjects. This data can be collected either through observation studies or questioning the subjects directly. An observation study is one where the researcher simply "observes" the subjects, and has little or no interaction with the subjects while gathering the data. The questioning method of data collection involves direct interaction between the researcher and the subjects, through the use of… Read more

Designing an Observation Study

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There are many different ways to design an observation study, depending on the objective of your study, the type of data you are trying to collect, and the resources you have available for your study. Following are five different features that you should consider when designing the ideal observation study for your project: Natural vs. Contrived Settings: Conducting the study in a natural setting essentially means that you are simply observing your subjects in their "real life" environments. … Read more

Easy (No Cook) Homemade Play Dough Recipe

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Play dough can be used for many science, engineering, and math explorations including our Play-Doh Math project. Here is an easy recipe for making play dough at home. Ingredients 2 cups flour ½ cup salt ¾ cup hot or boiling water 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil or baby oil 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar Food coloring (optional) Instructions Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a bowl. Add the oil, food coloring, and… Read more

Engineering & Programming Project Tips

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Outline Comparing the Scientific Method and the Engineering Process Overview of the Engineering Process Who should use the engineering process for their science fair project? Define a Need Instead of Asking a Question Background Research Plan & Bibliography Define your target user or customer Research what already exists to fill the need you defined Do research that will help you establish your… Read more

Exploring Semiconductors: The Brains of Modern Technology

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Have you ever wondered how computers, cell phones, video game consoles, drones, and self-driving cars work? They all depend on semiconductors, which make up the "brains" or computer chips in modern electronics. Making semiconductors smaller, faster, and more efficient allows us to build faster, more compact, and more powerful devices. That's why today's pocket-sized smartphones have more computing power than entire room-sized computers did decades ago! What… Read more

Finding an Idea for an Advanced Science Fair Project

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We gathered six extremely successful high school science competition participants to discuss their experiences finding an idea for their science fair project. The conversation covered a broad range of topics, from where to find ideas to the importance of originality. MODERATOR: For a middle school student doing his or her first science fair project, coming up with the idea is often considered the hardest part of the entire project. Is finding a project idea just as difficult for the advanced… Read more

Project Guides (151 results)

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