Writing and Conducting an

Investigatory Project
Objectives
• To provide students with opportunity to apply science-related
concepts
• To develop interest among students to engage in any scientific work
as manifested in their active participation and involvement in the
project
• To provide students with educational opportunities and experiences
through direct participation in scientific research
• To recognize the students efforts in completing the project by
displaying their work
Format Project Write-Up
• Title page – should briefly and accurately describe the contents of the
write-up

• Abstract – should consist of a short and concise description of the

problems and solutions. It includes
• Purpose / Aim of the Study
• Procedure / Methods
• Results / Discussion
• Conclusions
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• Acknowledgement – contain names of people and agencies that helped in the
conduct of the work described

• Table of Contents – list the different parts of the whole report with
corresponding page number of each part

• Introduction – Informs the reader of the problem under study

• Background of the Study – states the rationale of the study
• Statement of the Problem / Objectives – states the nature and scope of the problem with
clarity.

Two kinds of Objectives:

• General Objective – is related to the problem or the main aim of the study
• Specific Objectives – this states the purpose of each experiment conducted
• Significance of the study – the importance of the study is explained in
this part, relevance to the society

• Scope and limitations – states the coverage and extent of the study;
budget, time allotment

• Review of related literature – sufficient background information

should be presented to the readers to understand and evaluate the
results of the present study, references must be cited.
• Methods- provides enough details so a competent individual can
repeat the experiment.

• Materials/Equipment – exact quantities of materials to be used

• Treatment/General Procedure – Use a narrative form in the past tense
• Results and discussion – this may be divided in sub-sections
describing each set of experiment or observations

• Findings – the data may be presented in full and discussed descriptively in a

text of may be tabulated.

• Analysis of Data – the interpretation of the findings and the significant

features shown in tables, pictures and graphs are pointed out.
• Conclusions – generalizations, checks if the hypothesis is true or if the
objectives have been followed.

• Recommendations – consist of suggestions and on future actions

such as new direction of the research for further experiments to be
performed

• Appendix – pictures, formulas, standard procedures

• Bibliography – list of references used in guiding the research work or

writing of the paper, alphabetically arranged.
Simple Guide in Writing an Abstract
Sample Abstract
 Abstract
Aim of the study: The present study evaluates the Philippine medicinal plant Artemisia
vulgaris for antagonistic activity at selected biogenic amine receptors on smooth muscle of the
airways and gastrointestinal tract in order to explain its traditional use in asthma and
hyperactive gut. Materials and methods: The antagonistic activity of chloroform crude
extract (AV-CHCl3) and methanol crude extract (AV-MeOH) of Artemisia vulgaris was studied
against concentration–response curves for contractions of the guinea pig ileum and trachea to
5-hydroxytrptamine (5-HT2 receptors), methacholine (M3 muscarinic receptors), histamine (H1
receptors) and -phenylethylamine (trace amine-associated receptors, TAAR1). Results and
discussion: The Artemisia vulgaris chloroform (AV-CHCl3) and methanol (AV-MeOH) extract
showed histamine H1 antagonism in the ileum and trachea. Further analysis of AV-CHCl 3
isolated two major components, yomogin and 1,2,3,4-diepoxy-11(13)-eudesmen-12,8-olide.
Yomogin, a sesquiterpene lactone, exhibited a novel histamine H1 receptor antagonism in the
ileum. Conclusion: The presence of a specific, competitive histamine receptor antagonist
and smooth muscle relaxant activity in Artemisia vulgaris extracts on the smooth muscle in
ileum and trachea explains its traditional use in the treatment of asthma and hyperactive gut.
 Simple Guide in Writing the Background
of the Study / Rationale
Parameter 1 Parameter 2
e.g. Medicinal
e.g. Malaria
Plants

Overlap: The aim of the study or the Problem that needs to be addressed
Significance of the Study

Community

Parameter 1 Parameter 2
e.g. Medicinal
e.g. Malaria
Plants
Review of Related Literature

• WHAT IS IT?
A concise and organized account of what have been published about
the research topic or problem
CONTENT
• existing and accepted knowledge or concepts and related processes
• includes Related Literature on which the research is based (example:
Journal Articles, Books and other relevant materials)
Specific Content
1. Provide information on research materials used

• for living things such as plants, animals and microorganisms, indicate their:
• Taxonomy (classification and scientific name)
• habitat and relative abundance especially in the research area
• describe their anatomy or morphology/structure/physical characteristics
• c h emi c a l c omp o n e n t s (especially for plants)
• physiology and behaviour (how they move, obtain needed materials, eliminate wastes,
respond to stimuli like environmental stimuli, etc. as needed)
• life cycle uses/applications
• for non-living objects such as chemicals, hardware, etc., include their
• structure and composition
• uses/applications
• maintenance procedures
• Hazards
• availability in the research area
• for harmful objects (whether living or non-living), describe their
• proper handling procedures
• proper disposal procedures
2. Describe and explain important processes or procedures in the study.
Include the
• Purpose of the process/es
• Standard procedures or steps in conducting the process/es
• Practicality, accuracy, reliability, efficiency of the process/es
• Safety or hazards of the processes
3. Similarities/Differences of materials and procedures
4. Areas of controversy directly related to the topic
5. Trends/Variations in the relationships (correlation or cause-and effect
relationships) of the variables considered based on previous studies
On Organizing Ideas
• Group the concepts to be presented into sections
• Create an outline about the ideas to be presented

Sample Problem:

BIOREMEDIATION OF LEAD CONTAMINATED WATER USING Ganoderma

lucidum (Reishi Mushroom)
 BIOREMEDIATION OF LEADCONTAMINATED
WATER USING Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi Mushroom)
(Sample Outline of the Review of Related Literature)
A. Lead
A.1. Its Physical and Chemical Characteristics
A.2. Its Chemical Forms and Their Uses
B. Lead Contamination in Water
B.1. Causes
B.2. Effects
B.3. Current Solutions
C. Bioremediation
D. Ganoderma lucidum
D.1. Physical and Chemical Characteristics
D.2. Distribution and Abundance
D.3. Uses/Importance
E. Standard Methods of Determining Lead Concentration
Avoid the “copy-and-paste” practice:
• Summarize
• Paraphrase , otherwise “quote” ideas
• Synthesize
CITING REFERENCES:
THE BIBLIOGRAPHY IN FOCUS

WHAT ARE CITATIONS (IN RELATION TO RESEARCH REPORTS)?

• Citations are notes acknowledging the source of ideas, information,
and quoted passages used in a research paper. A complete citation
typically includes the author, title, publisher, date, and other
information to help readers locate the original source.
WHY CITE?
There are at least three good reasons for citing references:
1. It’s the right thing to do. Using another writer’s words or ideas
without citing the source is plagiarism.
2. Citations allow readers to look up your sources. This helps put your
ideas and conclusions into context.
3. For school papers, citations are usually required.
Common Types of Citations

Footnotes – citations written at the bottom part of a page in their order of

appearance in the texts on the same page
Endnotes – written at the end of a Chapter or Unit in a reference, normally a book
List of References/Bibliography/Works Cited – an alphabetized list of citations at
the end of a research paper.
Format:
· alphabetized
· double-spaced between entries and single spaced within entries
· written with a hanging indention; that is, the second and subsequent lines are indented
(0.5 inches) more than the first line
In-Text Citations (used hand-in-hand with any of the above types of
citations)
· These are references/sources that appear within the body of a
paper. The first time a source is mentioned, it should be cited as part
of the text.
· The citation, including the year of publication or page of reference,
is enclosed in parentheses
Building up a Library
• Using software and Apps like Google scholar or Endnote for collecting
and writing references