Project Guides (Page 12)

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

Genetics Home Reference Tutorial

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The Genetics Home Reference is an online tool and resource for the general public to identify and learn about genetic mutations responsible for genetic diseases. With a basic understanding of genetics (see Table 1 below for resources) and with this guide, anyone can learn to use the Genetics Home Reference. Below are instructions, tips, and advice on how to get started using this resource. What can I use Genetics Home Reference for? The Genetics Home Reference has information on hundreds of… Read more

How to Get Started Downloading and Using Storytelling Alice

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Note: this tutorial was originally written for Storytelling Alice, an older version of the Alice programming software. While you can still download Storytelling Alice, it is no longer officially supported. You can download the most recent version of the Alice software and access the latest tutorials at the Storytelling Alice website. Storytelling Alice (from Carnegie Mellon University) is an exciting 3-D computer programming environment that allows you to create your own animated stories… Read more

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