Research

What is Research?

- Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It
involves the unbiased collection, organization and analysis of information to increase
understanding of a topic or issue. A research project may be an expansion on past work in the
field.

3(Three) main purposes of Research:

Exploratory research

Researchers conducting exploratory research are typically at the early stages of examining their topics.
These sorts of projects are usually conducted when a researcher wants to test the feasibility of conducting
a more extensive study; he or she wants to figure out the lay of the land with respect to the particular
topic. Perhaps very little prior research has been conducted on this subject. If this is the case, a researcher
may wish to do some exploratory work to learn what method to use in collecting data, how best to
approach research participants, or even what sorts of questions are reasonable to ask. A researcher
wanting to simply satisfy his or her own curiosity about a topic could also conduct exploratory research.
Conducting exploratory research on a topic is often a necessary first step, both to satisfy researcher
curiosity about the subject and to better understand the phenomenon and the research participants in order
to design a larger, subsequent study.

Descriptive research

Sometimes the goal of research is to describe or define a particular phenomenon. In this case, descriptive
research would be an appropriate strategy. A descriptive may, for example, aim to describe a pattern. For
example, researchers often collect information to describe something for the benefit of the general public.
Market researchers rely on descriptive research to tell them what consumers think of their products. In
fact, descriptive research has many useful applications, and you probably rely on findings from
descriptive research without even being aware that that is what you are doing.

Explanatory research

The third type of research, explanatory research, seeks to answer “why” questions. In this case, the
researcher is trying to identify the causes and effects of whatever phenomenon is being studied. An
explanatory study of college students’ addictions to their electronic gadgets, for example, might aim to
understand why students become addicted. Does it have anything to do with their family histories? Does
it have anything to do with their other extracurricular hobbies and activities? Does it have anything to do
with the people with whom they spend their time? An explanatory study could answer these kinds of
questions. 

The 6(Six) Science Process Skills

1.  Observing
 
This is the most basic skill in science.  Observations are made by using the 5 senses.  Good observations
are essential in learning the other science process skills. 
 
Examples:
 
The learner will be blind folded and make observations using the sense of touch.  
 
The learner will create observations about a coin using the 5 senses.
 
The learner will mix primary colors to create more colors.

2. Classifying
 
After making observations it is important to notice similarities, differences, and group objects according
to a purpose.  It is important to create order to help comprehend the number of objects, events, and living
things in the world.
 
Examples: 
 
The learner will use a magnet to classify objects as magnetic or nonmagnetic.
 
The learner will use a balance and sort objects according to mass.
 
The learner will combine different liquids with water to determine which is more or less dense.

3.  Measuring
 
Measuring is important in collecting, comparing, and interpreting data.  It helps us classify and
communicate with others.  The metric system should be used to help understand the scientific world.
 
Examples:
 
The learner will find the mass of different liquids that have the same volume.
 
The learner will use technology to find the speed of a toy truck.
 
The learner will measure the distance a marble travel.

4.  Communicating
 
It is important to be able to share our experiences.  This can be done with graphs, diagrams, maps, and
spoken word. 
 
Examples:
 
The learner will create a line graph showing the relationship between speed and the mass of a marble.
 
The learner will discuss possible errors with other classmates.

5.  Inferring
 
An inference is an explanation based on an observation.  It is a link between what is observed and what is
already known.
 
Examples: 
 
The learner will write a conclusion at the end of each investigation.
 
The learner will create inferences about observations they made about a mystery object.  I infer it is solid
rather than hollow.

6.  Predicting
 
What do you think will happen?  It is an educated guess based on good observations and inferences about
an observed event or prior knowledge. 
 
Examples:
 
The learner will predict what is a box based on observations using the sense of touch.
 
The learner will write a hypothesis about the effect of increasing the salt on the buoyancy of an egg.
 Variables

What is a Manipulated Variable?

In a controlled scientific experiment, a variable is a factor that changes. There are multiple types of
variables in an experiment. The definition of a manipulated variable is a factor that is purposefully and
specifically changed by the experimenter. The manipulated variable is also called the independent
variable or test variable.
Variables are manipulated, or altered on purpose, to identify cause and effect relationships. Scientists will
change a certain factor and measure the outcomes as a result of that change. It is critical that an
experimenter only manipulates one variable in an experiment. The reason for this is so that data in the
experiment can be directly attributed to the manipulated variable.
If a scientist were to manipulate two or more variables at a time, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to
identify which change caused the effect.
Manipulated Variable vs. Controlled Variable vs. Responding Variable
An experiment is a specific plan of action to test a prediction or hypothesis. In a controlled experiment,
all factors are kept the same except for the factor being tested (the manipulated variable). Data is
collected and often organized into graphs or tables for easy analysis. A quality experiment has many trials
and is replicated by other scientists to improve reliability.
In a well-planned experiment, there is a control group and an experimental group. A control group is a
collection of samples that do not have a manipulated variable. It is used as a baseline or comparison group
for the scientist. The experimental group is a collection of samples that have a specific variable
manipulated.
The three types of variables in an experiment are:

 Manipulated variable-the variable the scientist changes on purpose to study its effects; also
called an independent variable
 Controlled variable-a variable that is kept the same or constant, which helps ensure the
manipulated variable is the only one that is changed
 Responding variable-the variable that is changed as a result of the manipulated variable and
measured by the scientist; also called dependent variable

Manipulated Variable Examples

The most effective way to understand manipulated variables is to examine simple controlled experiments.
The following examples will describe basic experiments and strategies for identifying the manipulated
variable.

Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Ask a Question

The scientific method starts when you ask a question about something that you observe: How, What,
When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?

For a science fair project some teachers require that the question be something you can measure,
preferably with a number.
2. Do Background Research

Rather than starting from scratch in putting together a plan for answering your question, you want to be a
savvy scientist using library and Internet research to help you find the best way to do things and ensure
that you don't repeat mistakes from the past.

3. Construct a Hypothesis

A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work. It is an attempt to answer your question with
an explanation that can be tested. A good hypothesis allows you to then make a prediction:
"If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen."

State both your hypothesis and the resulting prediction you will be testing. Predictions must be easy to
measure.

4. Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment

Your experiment tests whether your prediction is accurate and thus your hypothesis is supported or not. It
is important for your experiment to be a fair test. You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change
only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same.

You should also repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just an
accident.

5. Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion

Once your experiment is complete, you collect your measurements and analyze them to see if they
support your hypothesis or not.

Scientists often find that their predictions were not accurate and their hypothesis was not supported, and
in such cases, they will communicate the results of their experiment and then go back and construct a new
hypothesis and prediction based on the information they learned during their experiment. This starts much
of the process of the scientific method over again. Even if they find that their hypothesis was supported,
they may want to test it again in a new way.

6. Communicate Your Results

To complete your science fair project, you will communicate your results to others in a final report and/or
a display board. Professional scientists do almost exactly the same thing by publishing their final report in
a scientific journal or by presenting their results on a poster or during a talk at a scientific meeting. In a
science fair, judges are interested in your findings regardless of whether or not they support your original
hypothesis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the six steps of the scientific method?

 The six steps of the scientific method include: 1) asking a question about something you observe, 2)
doing background research to learn what is already known about the topic, 3) constructing a hypothesis,
4) experimenting to test the hypothesis, 5) analyzing the data from the experiment and drawing
conclusions, and 6) communicating the results to others.
What is a scientific method example?
A simple example of the scientific method is:

 Ask a Question: Why does Greenland look so large on a map?

 Background Research: Learn that Greenland is a quarter the size of the United States in land mass. Also
learn that Mercator projection maps are made by transferring the images from a sphere to a sheet of paper
wrapped around the sphere in a cylinder.
 Hypothesis: If I make a Mercator projection map, then the items in the middle of the map will look their
true size and the items at the poles will look larger than they really are.
 Experiment: Use a sphere with 1-inch by 1-inch squares at each pole and the equator to make a Mercator
projection map. Measure the squares on the Mercator projection map.
 Analyze Data and Make Conclusions: The middle-of-the-map squares average 1 inch per side while the
squares at the poles average 3 inches per side. In conclusion, the projection process used to make
Mercator projection maps creates distortion at the poles, but not at the equator. This is why Greenland,
which is close to the North Pole, looks larger than it is.
 Communicate: Make a video, write a report, or give a presentation to educate others about the
experiment.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research

Quantitative research
Quantitative research is expressed in numbers and graphs. It is used to test or confirm theories and
assumptions. This type of research can be used to establish generalizable facts about a topic.
Common quantitative methods include experiments, observations recorded as numbers, and surveys with
closed-ended questions.
Qualitative research
Qualitative research is expressed in words. It is used to understand concepts, thoughts or experiences.
This type of research enables you to gather in-depth insights on topics that are not well understood.
Common qualitative methods include interviews with open-ended questions, observations described in
words, and literature reviews that explore concepts and theories.