Generic Structure of the Materials and Procedure Section of a STEM Capstone Project

Materials and Procedure

Test Device
- This subheading pertains to the intervention that will be manipulated in an experiment
- This subheading may be encoded as Intervention or Experimental Substance (if it is an
extract or a drug) or Test Device (if your intervention is a machine).
- You may enumerate the subparts of the series of activities in this subsection as follows:
1. Identification/ Authentication
- This refers to having the source of the intervention certified as a sample of the
actual specimen being referred to in the research as the intervention per se, or
the source of the intervention. A government agency or a private institution
offering authentication services may provide for this requirement. Secure a
certification during this phase.
- If this is a device, there is no need to have it authenticated as long as the
packaging shows it is the device being referred to. As much as possible, try to
obtain the best brand for the experiment.
2. Collection of the Materials
- Discuss how the raw materials to make the intervention will be obtained and
where it will be obtained.
- Here, you narrate the steps how will you obtain the intervention: will you
develop it, construct it, or will you procure it? If you will develop it, then
narrate the steps on how it is going to be constructed , concocted or obtained
from a source (by procurement or by lease)
3. Preparation (or Procurement /Development) of the Intervention/Test Substance
- Discuss the specific steps on how the intervention is going to be produced. Do not
enumerate the steps as though they are part of a cooking recipe. Use passive voice
in writing this part.
- State how many units of the intervention are you going to prepare/develop or use
in your experiment
- Show the plan/actual picture/documentation of the development/preparation of the
intervention
- Seek professional/expert assistance in the preparation of the test intervention. At
times only professionals are allowed to prepare the intervention. In this case,
student researches may be allowed to be present during the manufacture/
preparation of the intervention to witness how the intervention is prepared.
4. Phytochemical Screening or Initial testing/Validation
- If your intervention is a chemical, say plant extract, use the term ‘Phytochemical
screening’. If it is a device, then name this step ‘Initial testing’ or ‘Validation’
- This is the time the intervention is determined if it indeed possesses the
substances purported to produce the hypothesized or desired effect; or, if it is a
device, this is the time it is initially tested to make sure it works before it is going
to be used in the experiment
- For test substances, this may also refer to the pilot testing or pre-experiment trials
so the researchers can rehearse the steps of the experiment. Seek
professional/expert assistance in preparing, screening and using interventions as
 may be required or advised by the Scientific Research committee during the oral
research defense.
- Present and discuss all the tests to be conducted to identify all the active
constituents, including what are the indicators of the presence or absence of those
active substances
- If there is a control group, discuss also the control group/s. provide specifications
as to the amount/dosage/type of the (positive) control group intervention to be
used.
Example:

The researchers developed a scale model of a canal system. The scale

model is designed to simulate a roadside canal with a manhole or opening covered

with the drainage canal filtration system made of plastic mesh. The plastic mesh is

a commercially available plastic sold as window screens to prevent entry of

mosquitoes and even dust. The plastic screen mesh is cut to fit the size of the

opening of the basin underneath, attached on a wooden frame and secured using

small nails and rivets. The mesh measures 12” X 8.” It is fastened to the rim of

the basin to secure it and prevent it from getting detached once the experimental

flood water wastes are drained into it repeatedly.

The other materials needed in the manufacture of the scale model like

nails, rivets were bought from a local hardware store in San Carlos City,

Pangasinan on April ____, 2022. The refrigerator basin was recovered from an

old non-functional refrigerator.

The basin underneath the test plastic net mesh simulates the drainage

canal. It is made up of an old unused vegetable and fruit crisper tray recovered

from a non-functional refrigerator. It was cleaned and labelled in milliliters to

facilitate volumetric measurements.

The transparent refrigerator basin was chosen for this experiment as its

transparency will allow the researchers to see through as the filtrate drains into it.
 The researchers marked the exterior with volumetric measurements (in

millilitres, ml) to allow more efficient measurement of the filtrate (See Figure 2).

Only one scale model of the drainage canal system with the plastic. The

scale model shall be used for all trials and treatment groups in this investigation.

Figure 2.
Photo of the improvised drainage canal scale model

Test Materials

- This pertains to any living organism or device that will be used to test the efficacy or
activity of the intervention
- This subsection may be given the subheading Test Organisms (if you are going to use
living organisms or species such as rats or mosquitoes or bacteria) or Test Device (if it is
an electronic device that you will use to assess the effect of the intervention)
- Here, discuss how are your test materials/devices/organisms will be obtained (Procured?
Donated?). If your research requires the use of lab animals such as rats and rabbits, make
sure that they are procured from an accredited lab animal supplier; not from pet shops.
Obtain a certificate of accreditation as much as possible, as proof that the test animals were
grown and raised in accredited laboratory animal facilities
- Specify the date/dates of the procurement, the scientific name of the organism,
acclimatization of the test animals, arrival and days of actual use of these test materials
after acclimatization period (test organisms need to acclimatize prior to being used in
experiments)
- Secure animal use approval from concerned government regulatory agencies o the use of
laboratory animals in experiments (IACUC) from the Bureau of Animal Industry)
- In this subheading, discuss the treatment groups of your experiment. Use a table to show
the basic design of your treatment groups, with the number of replicates and/or trials also
shown.

Example:

Three groups of materials shall be used in this experiment: (1) mixture of 5liters of water

and 500g of soil and sand; (2) mixture made of 5 liters of water and 500g of assorted plastic
materials made of shampoo sachets, candy wrappers, plastic straws and plastic bags and (3)

mixture of 5 liters of water and 500g of assorted dry leaves.

The solid wastes shall be sourced and developed as follows:

a. About 500g of sample soil and sand shall be obtained from the backyard where the

research site is located. This shall be obtained and placed in a dry bucket and stored

in the makeshift laboratory room at least three days prior to the date of the experiment

to ensure that is dry.

b. Actual plastic materials such as shampoo packaging, candy wrappers and plastic

beverage straws shall be recovered at least two days before the date of experiment

from the household wastes where the research site is located. They shall be cleaned

prior to being used in the experiment.

c. Leaves from various plant species shall be collected fresh from their mother plants at

least one week before the experiment. This window time will allow the leaves to dry

up completely in time for the actual day of experiment.

The three groups of solid wastes to be used as test materials shall be prepared in three

sets each for the three trials for every treatment group.

These three groups of test materials shall also serve as basis for the treatment groups,

which are all going to make up the three experimental groups and no control group for

comparison.

Treatment group number 1 will be the mixture of 5liters of water and 500g of soil and

sand. Treatment number 2 shall be comprised of the mixture made of 5 liters of water and 500g

of assorted plastic materials made of shampoo sachets, candy wrappers, plastic straws and plastic
bags and Treatment group 3 shall be made up of the mixture of 5 liters of water and 500g of

assorted dry leaves.

Each treatment group shall have three trials. The trials shall be prepared on the day of the

experiment on April _____, 2022.

Outcome Variable (DV): Experimental Experimental Experimental

waste filtration Group 1 (T1) Group 2 (T2) Group 3 (T3)
Plastic net mesh fixed in an improvised drainage canal
Intervention
scale model
5 l. of water 5 l. of water
Test materials: Solid waste 5 l. of water
and 500g of soil and 500g of
mixed in water: and 500g of
and sand dried assorted
plastic wastes
mixture leaves
No. of Trials 3 3 3
1. Average volume of residue
Variables to be measured 2. Average volume of filtrate
3. Filtration rate

Table 2 shows the treatment groups and the variables to be measured.

Table 2. Treatment Group Plots

Laboratory Structures

- This section discusses WHERE the experiment will take place

- Mention specifically the community and the name of the research facility where the
experiment will be conducted
- Discuss also who are the experts and/or professionals who will assist in the experiment
where there expertise is required
- Also, discuss here how this facility and all the materials to be used in your experiment will
be prepared for the actual day/s of experimentation.

Example:

The researchers chose an unused storage room of one of the group members as their

makeshift laboratory site. The place is secured to minimize if not eliminate potential hazards or

unnecessary disruption once the experiments is started. The permission to convert and use the

room for experimentation was sought from the concerned head of the household. The research

site is in Sitio ____, Barangay ____ , San Carlos City Pangasinan.

An experiment table was placed at the center of the well-lit room. Aside from the scale

model drainage system, four (4) buckets of pre-measured tepid tap water measuring five liters

each shall be placed beside the experiment table to be used as part of the mixtures with the

various solid wastes that will comprise the four experiment groups.

A standard weighing scale is placed on the experiment table to be used for assessment of

weights of the residues and the filtrate for every trial. The weights to be observed will be in

grams up to two decimal places.

The makeshift laboratory will be ready for experimentation at least two days before the

first day of the actual experiment.

The researchers shall wear personal protective equipment (goggles, gloves and laboratory

gown and boots) during the entire duration of the experimentation for safety.

Data Collection

- Identify what is the actual instrument to be used. Specify its structure.

 - Discuss how it looks like (provide a table or an image) and how it will be used to record
the data
- Present a tabulation of how the observation looks like to give a clear insight on what
data/variables will be obtained and on what exact days are these data going to be collected.

Example:

Observation shall be the main tool for data collection.

Specifically, the researchers will record the residue and the filtrate weights using a digital

weighing scale. A pre-designed observation template was prepared by the researchers that clearly

indicates the treatment groups, replications or trials to be made or performed as well the

variables and actual data to be gathered, including units of measurement.

Table 2 shows the observation template for this research.

Table 2. Observation Data Sheet

Variables/ T1
Parameter Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Residue weight (g)
Filtrate weight (g)
Filtration rate (g)
Variables/ T2
Parameter Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Residue weight (g)

Filtrate weight (g)

Filtration rate (g)
Variables/ T3
Parameter Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Residue weight (g)

Filtrate weight (g)

Filtration rate (g)

Data Collection Procedure

 - State all the steps of the processes oof the experiment, what materials are to be used and
the exact activities to be conducted/implemented. Avoid merely enumerating a set of items
or materials to be used.
- State how the intervention/s will be used.
- Specify how many times the test organism/device will be used, and how they will be
disposed, especially if they are test organisms. There are ethical ways on the proper
disposal of experiment animals. The steps of disposal must be stated in the application for
approval of using animals in experiments.
- State if one and the same device will be sued repeatedly for different treatment groups.
- Clean the device prior to using it for another treatment or for another trial or another
replicate.
- Discuss how the outcomes of interest are going to be recorded. Specify the units of
measurement.

Example:

The lone scale model of the drainage canal shall be used for all treatment groups.

For the first experimental treatment, the 6.5 kg mixture of water, soil and sand will be

poured on top of the mesh. The transparent basin underneath the mesh will catch the filtrate, and

shall be measured in terms of volume. The catch basin was pre-labelled with volumes to

facilitate real time measurement of filtrate volume. Meanwhile, the solid wastes that will be

trapped on top of the mesh, called residues, shall be collected by placing them on a lightweight

plastic basin and shall be weighed as well. The scale model shall be thoroughly cleaned before

its next cycle of use for the next experimental treatment groups. After the measurement is

assessed, the procedure will be done two more times and corresponding weight assessment shall

then be conducted.

The second experimental group of test materials made up of tap water and mixed plastics

shall be poured onto the plastic mesh. Just like in the first treatment setup, the residue and the

filtrate shall be accordingly measured. The procedure for the second experimental group will be

repeated two more times, similar to what the first treatment group went through.

The third experimental treatment shall undergo the same process as the first two, with the

solid waste this time in the form of water and dried leaves.