what does hypothesis mean in science fair

What is a hypothesis?

No.  A hypothesis is sometimes described as an educated guess.  That's not the same thing as a guess and not really a good description of a hypothesis either.  Let's try working through an example.

If you put an ice cube on a plate and place it on the table, what will happen?  A very young child might guess that it will still be there in a couple of hours.  Most people would agree with the hypothesis that:

An ice cube will melt in less than 30 minutes.

You could put sit and watch the ice cube melt and think you've proved a hypothesis.  But you will have missed some important steps.

For a good science fair project you need to do quite a bit of research before any experimenting.  Start by finding some information about how and why water melts.  You could read a book, do a bit of Google searching, or even ask an expert.  For our example, you could learn about how temperature and air pressure can change the state of water.  Don't forget that elevation above sea level changes air pressure too.

Now, using all your research, try to restate that hypothesis.

An ice cube will melt in less than 30 minutes in a room at sea level with a temperature of 20C or 68F.

But wait a minute.  What is the ice made from?  What if the ice cube was made from salt water, or you sprinkled salt on a regular ice cube?  Time for some more research.  Would adding salt make a difference?  Turns out it does.  Would other chemicals change the melting time?

Using this new information, let's try that hypothesis again.

An ice cube made with tap water will melt in less than 30 minutes in a room at sea level with a temperature of 20C or 68F.

Does that seem like an educated guess?  No, it sounds like you are stating the obvious.

At this point, it is obvious only because of your research.  You haven't actually done the experiment.  Now it's time to run the experiment to support the hypothesis.

A hypothesis isn't an educated guess.  It is a tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.

Once you do the experiment and find out if it supports the hypothesis, it becomes part of scientific theory.

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How to Write an Effective Hypothesis for a Science Fair Project

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

A scientific hypothesis is a statement that attempts to explain a certain phenomenon or natural occurrence. It is used as the basis for conducting experiments and collecting data in order to prove or disprove its validity. Writing an effective hypothesis for a science fair project requires breaking down the process into several steps. This article outlines the key components of a hypothesis, provides tips for creating a successful hypothesis and explains how to use data to support a hypothesis.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an Effective Hypothesis

When writing a hypothesis for a science fair project, there are several steps to follow. The first step is to identify the problem. A clear problem statement will help guide the rest of the process. Once the problem has been identified, formulate a question that can be answered through experimentation. After the question has been formulated, it is time to brainstorm possible explanations for the phenomenon. These explanations will form the basis for the hypothesis. Finally, the hypothesis should be stated in a clear and concise manner.

Components of a Scientific Hypothesis

In order for a hypothesis to be considered valid, it must contain certain components. First, the hypothesis must include both independent and dependent variables. An independent variable is the factor that is being manipulated in the experiment, while a dependent variable is the factor that is being measured. Second, the hypothesis must include operational definitions for each of the variables. Operational definitions are specific descriptions of how each variable is defined and how it will be measured in the experiment.

Creating a Testable Hypothesis

Once the components of the hypothesis have been identified, it is important to make sure the hypothesis is testable. To do this, the hypothesis must be developed further so that it can be tested through experimentation. This involves making predictions about what will happen if the hypothesis is correct. Additionally, it is important to consider any potential confounding variables that may affect the results of the experiment. By taking these factors into account, the hypothesis can be made more testable and accurate.

Benefits of Writing a Clear Hypothesis

Writing a clear and specific hypothesis has a number of benefits. First, it allows for greater clarity when conducting the experiment. This enables the experimenter to focus on the relevant variables and collect the most accurate data possible. Additionally, a clear hypothesis makes it easier to analyze and interpret the data collected during the experiment. This can help to ensure that the results are reliable and accurate.

Using Data to Support Your Hypothesis

Once the experiment has been conducted, it is important to analyze the data collected to determine whether it supports the hypothesis. To do this, it is necessary to collect data that is relevant to the hypothesis. This data should be collected in a systematic manner and recorded accurately. Once the data has been collected, it can be analyzed using various statistical methods to determine whether the hypothesis is supported by the evidence.

Writing an effective hypothesis for a science fair project is a crucial step in the experiment process. It is important to identify the problem, formulate a question, brainstorm possible explanations, and state the hypothesis clearly. Additionally, the hypothesis must include both independent and dependent variables as well as operational definitions. It is also important to make sure the hypothesis is testable and to consider any potential confounding variables. Finally, the data collected during the experiment should be analyzed to determine whether it supports the hypothesis. Following these steps will help to ensure the success of any science fair project.

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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Scientific Steps

Students who want to find out things as a scientist, will want to conduct a hands-on investigation. While scientists study a whole area of science, each investigation is focused on learning just one thing at a time. This is essential if the results are to be trusted by the entire science community.

Follow the Scientific Steps below to complete your scientific process for your investigation.

What do scientists think they already know about the topic? What are the processes involved and how do they work? Background research can be gathered first hand from primary sources such as interviews with a teacher, scientist at a local university, or other person with specialized knowledge. Or use secondary sources such as books, magazines, journals, newspapers, online documents, or literature from non-profit organizations. Don’t forget to make a record of any resource used so that credit can be given in a bibliography.

After gathering background research, the next step is to formulate a hypothesis. More than a random guess, a hypothesis is a testable statement based on background knowledge, research, or scientific reason. A hypothesis states the anticipated cause and effect that may be observed during the investigation.

Consider the following hypothesis: If ice is placed in a Styrofoam container, it will take longer to melt than if placed in a plastic or glass container. I think this is true because my research shows that a lot of people purchase Styrofoam coolers to keep drinks cool.

The time it takes for ice to melt (dependent variable) depends on the type of container used (independent variable.). A hypothesis shows the relationship among variables in the investigation and often (but not always) uses the words if and then.

Design Experiment

Once a hypothesis has been formulated, it is time to design a procedure to test it. A well-designed investigation contains procedures that take into account all of the factors that could impact the results of the investigation. These factors are called variables.

There are three types of variables to consider when designing the investigation procedure.

• The independent variable is the one variable the investigator chooses to change.
• Controlled variables are variables that are kept the same each time.
• The dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of /or in response to the independent variable.

Step A – Clarify Variable

Clarify the variables involved in the investigation by developing a table such as the one below.

Step B – List Materials Make a list of materials that will be used in the investigation.

Step C – List Steps List the steps needed to carry out the investigation.

Step D – Estimate Time Estimate the time it will take to complete the investigation. Will the data be gathered in one sitting or over the course of several weeks?

Step E – Check Work Check the work. Ask someone else to read the procedure to make sure the steps are clear. Are there any steps missing? Double check the materials list to be sure all to the necessary materials are included.

Data Collection

After designing the experiment and gathering the materials, it is time to set up and to carry out the investigation.

When setting up the investigation, consider...

Carrying out the investigation involves data collection. There are two types of data that may be collected—quantitative data and qualitative data.

Quantitative Data

• Uses numbers to describe the amount of something.
• Involves tools such as rulers, timers, graduated cylinders, etc.
• Uses standard metric units (For instance, meters and centimeters for length, grams for mass, and degrees Celsius for volume.
• May involve the use of a scale such as in the example below.

Qualitative Data

• Uses words to describe the data.
• Describes physical properties such as how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, or sounds.

As data is collected it can be organized into lists and tables. Organizing data will be helpful for identifying relationships later when making an analysis. Using technology, such as spreadsheets, to organize the data can make it easily accessible to add to and edit.

Analyze Data

After data has been collected, the next step is to analyze it. The goal of data analysis is to determine if there is a relationship between the independent and dependent variables. In student terms, this is called “looking for patterns in the data.” Did the change I made have an effect that can be measured?

Recording data on a table or chart makes it much easier to observe relationships and trends. There are many observations that can be made when looking at a data table. Comparing mean average or median numbers of objects, observing trends of increasing or decreasing numbers, comparing modes or numbers of items that occur most frequently are just a few examples of quantitative analysis.

Besides analyzing data on tables or charts, graphs can be used to make a picture of the data. Graphing the data can often help make those relationships and trends easier to see. Graphs are called “pictures of data.” The important thing is that appropriate graphs are selected for the type of data. For example, bar graphs, pictographs, or circle graphs should be used to represent categorical data (sometimes called “side by side” data). Line plots are used to show numerical data. Line graphs should be used to show how data changes over time. Graphs can be drawn by hand using graph paper or generated on the computer from spreadsheets for students who are technically able.

These questions can help with analyzing data:

• What can be learned from looking at the data?
• How does the data relate to the student’s original hypothesis?
• Did what you changed (independent variable) cause changes in the results (dependent variable)?

Draw Conclusions

After analyzing the data, the next step is to draw conclusions. Do not change the hypothesis if it does not match the findings.The accuracy of a hypothesis is NOT what constitutes a successful science fair investigation. Rather, Science Fair judges will want to see that the conclusions stated match the data that was collected.

Application of the Results: Students may want to include an application as part of their conclusion. For example, after investigating the effectiveness of different stain removers, a student might conclude that vinegar is just as effective at removing stains as are some commercial stain removers. As a result, the student might recommend that people use vinegar as a stain remover since it may be the more eco-friendly product.

In short, conclusions are written to answer the original testable question proposed at the beginning of the investigation. They also explain how the student used science process to develop an accurate answer.

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Do butterflies have a favorite spot to hang out? Students will create an observation chart, watch butterfly activity, and then analyze their results to select the ideal location for their Butterfly House.

Steps in a Science Fair Project

What are the steps in a science fair project.

• Pick a topic
• Construct an exhibit for results
• Write a report
• Practice presenting

Some science fair projects are experiments to test a hypothesis . Other science fair projects attempt to answer a question or demonstrate how nature works or even invent a technology to measure something.

Before you start, find out which of these are acceptable kinds of science fair projects at your school. You can learn something and have fun using any of these approaches.

• First, pick a topic. Pick something you are interested in, something you'd like to think about and know more about.
• Then do some background research on the topic.
• Decide whether you can state a hypothesis related to the topic (that is, a cause and effect statement that you can test), and follow the strict method listed above, or whether you will just observe something, take and record measurements, and report.
• Design and carry out your research, keeping careful records of everything you do or see and your results or observations.
• Construct an exhibit or display to show and explain to others what you hoped to test (if you had a hypothesis) or what question you wanted to answer, what you did, what your data showed, and your conclusions.
• Write a short report that also states the same things as the exhibit or display, and also gives the sources of your initial background research.
• Practice describing your project and results, so you will be ready for visitors to your exhibit at the science fair.

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Methodology

• How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Steps & Examples

How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Steps & Examples

Published on May 6, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 20, 2023.

A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested by scientific research. If you want to test a relationship between two or more variables, you need to write hypotheses before you start your experiment or data collection .

Example: Hypothesis

Daily apple consumption leads to fewer doctor’s visits.

Table of contents

What is a hypothesis, developing a hypothesis (with example), hypothesis examples, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about writing hypotheses.

A hypothesis states your predictions about what your research will find. It is a tentative answer to your research question that has not yet been tested. For some research projects, you might have to write several hypotheses that address different aspects of your research question.

A hypothesis is not just a guess – it should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means you can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations and statistical analysis of data).

Variables in hypotheses

Hypotheses propose a relationship between two or more types of variables .

• An independent variable is something the researcher changes or controls.
• A dependent variable is something the researcher observes and measures.

If there are any control variables , extraneous variables , or confounding variables , be sure to jot those down as you go to minimize the chances that research bias  will affect your results.

In this example, the independent variable is exposure to the sun – the assumed cause . The dependent variable is the level of happiness – the assumed effect .

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Step 1. Ask a question

Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of your project.

Step 2. Do some preliminary research

Your initial answer to the question should be based on what is already known about the topic. Look for theories and previous studies to help you form educated assumptions about what your research will find.

At this stage, you might construct a conceptual framework to ensure that you’re embarking on a relevant topic . This can also help you identify which variables you will study and what you think the relationships are between them. Sometimes, you’ll have to operationalize more complex constructs.

Step 3. Formulate your hypothesis

Now you should have some idea of what you expect to find. Write your initial answer to the question in a clear, concise sentence.

4. Refine your hypothesis

You need to make sure your hypothesis is specific and testable. There are various ways of phrasing a hypothesis, but all the terms you use should have clear definitions, and the hypothesis should contain:

• The relevant variables
• The specific group being studied
• The predicted outcome of the experiment or analysis

5. Phrase your hypothesis in three ways

To identify the variables, you can write a simple prediction in  if…then form. The first part of the sentence states the independent variable and the second part states the dependent variable.

In academic research, hypotheses are more commonly phrased in terms of correlations or effects, where you directly state the predicted relationship between variables.

If you are comparing two groups, the hypothesis can state what difference you expect to find between them.

6. Write a null hypothesis

If your research involves statistical hypothesis testing , you will also have to write a null hypothesis . The null hypothesis is the default position that there is no association between the variables. The null hypothesis is written as H 0 , while the alternative hypothesis is H 1 or H a .

• H 0 : The number of lectures attended by first-year students has no effect on their final exam scores.
• H 1 : The number of lectures attended by first-year students has a positive effect on their final exam scores.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

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A hypothesis is not just a guess — it should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means you can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations and statistical analysis of data).

Null and alternative hypotheses are used in statistical hypothesis testing . The null hypothesis of a test always predicts no effect or no relationship between variables, while the alternative hypothesis states your research prediction of an effect or relationship.

Hypothesis testing is a formal procedure for investigating our ideas about the world using statistics. It is used by scientists to test specific predictions, called hypotheses , by calculating how likely it is that a pattern or relationship between variables could have arisen by chance.

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Here's the Secret to *Really* Understanding Your Science Fair Results

How to Use Stats to Stand Out at the Science Fair

If you want to win your science fair, statistically analyzing your data is a great way to stand out from the competition, but when you get the result – say P = 0.04 – what does it actually mean ? You can do all the math from the first part of this post , but if you don’t truly understand the numbers statistical tests return, you still don’t really know what your experiment found.

For example: Can you reject the “ null hypothesis ” based on your result? What does that even mean? Is it possible your finding is due to chance? What does a correlation tell you about the relationship between two variables? These are the types of questions you’ll need to answer to get the interpretation of your science fair results right.

The Null Hypothesis

Whenever you do statistics, you’re pitting the “null hypothesis” against your “experimental hypothesis.” The null hypothesis is always basically the same: There is no relationship between the things you’re testing. In scientific experiments, you assume the null hypothesis is true until you have sufficient evidence to refute it. In other words, you don't assume you'll get a certain result from your experiments — you assume your hypothesis isn't true until the scientific results tell you otherwise.

Confused? Here's an example. Say you're doing a science project to find out if dogs are right- or left-handed. Your null hypothesis might be that dogs have no dominant paw. From there, your results will tell you whether your null hypothesis is true, or whether dogs seem to be right- or left-handed.

But how can you tell the difference between real results and what might happen by pure chance? Statistics, of course!

Determining what evidence is “sufficient” is the job of statistical tests, and because you’re testing the null hypothesis, it’s best to define exactly what it is for your experiment. You should really do this before you start your work, but even if you’ve focused on your experimental hypothesis (the relationship you suspect might actually exist) it’s easy to put together a null hypothesis after the fact.

P Values and Statistical Significance

If your experiment gives you sufficient cause to reject the null hypothesis, this is called a “statistically significant” result. But, as with most things in science, there is a very specific definition of what this actually means, and you should be clear about it when you’re looking at your science fair results. The definition comes down to the meaning of the P value you get from your statistical test.

The P value is often misinterpreted to mean “the probability that the result is due to chance,” and although this is close to the meaning it is not actually true . The P value instead tells you the chance that, if the null hypothesis was true, you would obtain your result due to random statistical noise. For example, if you were testing whether a coin was unevenly weighted (with a null hypothesis that it is a fair coin), a result of 45 heads to 55 tails would be fairly likely from flipping a fair coin due to general statistical variation, and this is what the P value quantifies.

The “significance level” is a cut-off value for P – anything below this is considered sufficiently unlikely for you to reject the null hypothesis. This is usually chosen as P = 0.05 (so there would only be a 5% chance that your results would be obtained in a world where the null hypothesis was true), but ultimately this is just a convention. In some circumstances, a significance level of P = 0.10 is perfectly fine, and in others, scientists “raise the bar” a little and set a more strict cut-off of P = 0.01. It’s usually best to just stick to P = 0.05, but understand that there's variation sometimes.

Interpreting Correlations

If you’re testing for a difference between two groups, understanding the meaning of statistical significance is enough, but if your test involves correlations between two variables (for example, the amount of light a plant receives and how tall it grows, or the number of previous attempts and your score at a game), things are a little bit different. Tests for correlations return values between −1 and +1, and understanding these and what either type of correlation implies for causality is essential to interpreting your results.

Firstly, the correlation score is easy to understand if you consider the extreme cases. Any positive correlation value means that both variables increase together , and a value of +1 is a perfect correlation, where the graph of one variable against another is straight line. In the same way, any minus correlation value means that when one variable increases, the other decreases, and a value of −1 is a perfect negative correlation. Finally, a value of 0 means there is no correlation at all. Of course, most results will be a decimal (like 0.65), with larger values (higher numbers, either positive or negative) meaning a stronger correlation.

However, a key caveat is that correlation does not imply causation . In other words, just because two things are correlated doesn’t mean that one causes the other, and you shouldn’t be tempted to draw such a conclusion in your writeup on the basis of a correlation alone. A good example is a correlation between yellow teeth and lung cancer: It isn’t that yellow teeth cause lung cancer; it’s that smoking causes both yellow teeth and lung cancer. In the same way, your results could be due to another factor you haven’t considered, so it’s always risky to make causal claims without very strong evidence beyond a simple correlation.

With these points in mind, whatever your science fair project, you should be able to do the statistics you need to and explain exactly what they show. You might not win, but what you’ve learned gives you the tools you need to really get the judges’ attention.

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About the Author

Lee Johnson is a freelance writer and science enthusiast, with a passion for distilling complex concepts into simple, digestible language. He's written about science for several websites including eHow UK and WiseGeek, mainly covering physics and astronomy. He was also a science blogger for Elements Behavioral Health's blog network for five years. He studied physics at the Open University and graduated in 2018.

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What Is a Hypothesis? (Science)

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A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a proposed explanation for an observation. The definition depends on the subject.

In science, a hypothesis is part of the scientific method. It is a prediction or explanation that is tested by an experiment. Observations and experiments may disprove a scientific hypothesis, but can never entirely prove one.

In the study of logic, a hypothesis is an if-then proposition, typically written in the form, "If X , then Y ."

In common usage, a hypothesis is simply a proposed explanation or prediction, which may or may not be tested.

Writing a Hypothesis

Most scientific hypotheses are proposed in the if-then format because it's easy to design an experiment to see whether or not a cause and effect relationship exists between the independent variable and the dependent variable . The hypothesis is written as a prediction of the outcome of the experiment.

• Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis

Statistically, it's easier to show there is no relationship between two variables than to support their connection. So, scientists often propose the null hypothesis . The null hypothesis assumes changing the independent variable will have no effect on the dependent variable.

In contrast, the alternative hypothesis suggests changing the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable. Designing an experiment to test this hypothesis can be trickier because there are many ways to state an alternative hypothesis.

For example, consider a possible relationship between getting a good night's sleep and getting good grades. The null hypothesis might be stated: "The number of hours of sleep students get is unrelated to their grades" or "There is no correlation between hours of sleep and grades."

An experiment to test this hypothesis might involve collecting data, recording average hours of sleep for each student and grades. If a student who gets eight hours of sleep generally does better than students who get four hours of sleep or 10 hours of sleep, the hypothesis might be rejected.

But the alternative hypothesis is harder to propose and test. The most general statement would be: "The amount of sleep students get affects their grades." The hypothesis might also be stated as "If you get more sleep, your grades will improve" or "Students who get nine hours of sleep have better grades than those who get more or less sleep."

In an experiment, you can collect the same data, but the statistical analysis is less likely to give you a high confidence limit.

Usually, a scientist starts out with the null hypothesis. From there, it may be possible to propose and test an alternative hypothesis, to narrow down the relationship between the variables.

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A Beginner’s Guide to the Science Fair

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While it’s unlikely that you have reached high school without having ever heard of a science fair, it’s completely possible that you’ve gotten this far without having ever participated in one. For many students, a science fair is a rite of passage. It could be the first time that you design and complete a scientific experiment outside of a teacher-led lab period. It may also be the first time you have formally presented your learning to a panel of independent judges, most of whom you have probably never met before. It can be an intimidating or overwhelming experience if you are not quite sure what to expect. But lucky for you, the CollegeVine team has some great tips for first-time science fair participants!

If you’ve never participated in a science fair before, you may be wondering what a science fair really is.

Generally, a science fair is a formal competition in which contestants present the findings of scientific experiments in the form of a display and/or model that they have created. A panel of independent judges is assigned to assess each project and scores them on a pre-determined rubric. At the end of the fair, high scorers are announced as the winners and often the winners of a local science fair will be invited to compete at higher-level fairs, such as regional or state fairs. Winners can even progress all the way to national and international science fairs.

The level of your science fair will determine what type of project is appropriate. Typically elementary school level science fairs will include collections and report-based projects displaying new knowledge gained through independent study. These include things like rock collections and habitat reports. At middle school fairs, you will begin to see demonstrations of scientific principles, such as the oh-so-common baking soda and vinegar volcano. You may also see engineering projects that involve designing or improving a device or material, like a new cup holder for a bike. By the high school level, though, these kinds of projects are no longer appropriate.

Science fair projects by students older than middle-school age should focus on true engineering or scientific experimentation.

Engineering projects should be in-depth evaluations of an existing device, material, or technology. They should thoroughly examine the ways in which the existing product falls short or becomes impractical in specific situations. Your work on an engineering project should result in the creation of a working prototype that addresses these shortcomings. You should produce an alternative model that is feasible in terms of production, cost, and ease of use. Successful engineering projects have included prototypes for new, portable water filtration systems or affordable, functional prosthetic limbs. Before you proceed with an engineering project, check with your science teacher or the fair’s organizers to make sure that this is an acceptable choice. Some science fairs might strictly accept experiments only.        

If you do not choose an engineering project, you will need to choose a scientific experiment. This is by far the most common type of project at the high school level and if you are familiar with the procedure for completing and writing up lab experiments in your science classes, you will be familiar with the process for completing a science fair experiment.

There are two primary differences between a class lab experiment and a science fair experiment. First, your science fair project is self-chosen rather than assigned. When you complete a lab for class, you are usually assigned a specific experiment to complete. In the science fair, you will need to come up with your own. Second, unlike a lab experiment in which the entire class usually replicates a single experiment, an experiment for the science fair is completed by only you, or you and a partner if partners are allowed. 

Before you begin brainstorming your specific project, make sure you have a lab notebook to keep track of all your work.

This could be a simple composition book or a duplicate style lab notebook. In any case, as soon as you get it, you should number all of the pages in it, leaving two blanks at the beginning to be labeled “Table of Contents”. This may seem tedious, but you will be grateful that you did so when you can easily add sections to your table of contents and find relevant research quickly.

You should use this notebook to keep a permanent record of all the work you do on your science fair project. It should contain initial brainstorming, notes from background research, and drafts of material lists and experimental designs. Even if you get halfway through your background research and choose a new topic, continue to use the same notebook. You never know when your previous brainstorming or research will come in handy. 

Once you have decided which type of project to pursue and you’ve set up a lab notebook, your work will begin in earnest. Below, find 9 key steps to a successful first science fair.

1. Know the Rules

Every science fair has rules outlining who is eligible to participate and what kind of projects may be entered. These rules are always available ahead of time, so be sure to check them early on and make sure that any work you do adheres to them. Some of the rules are designed to keep you safe, like limiting the ways in which potentially hazardous chemicals can be used. Other rules are designed to keep the environment safe, like placing restrictions on how you dispose of foreign substances or non-native species. There are also ethical rules that govern the use of human participants or vertebrate animals in your studies.

Any science fair associated with Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair is governed by their rules, available on their website here . Make sure to check which rules govern your school’s fair and how they might impact your ideas before you put any more thought into your project.    

2. Brainstorming and Background Research

You can start brainstorming for project ideas as soon as you’ve read the fair’s rules and decided whether to do an engineering project or a science experiment project. Keep a running list of possible projects based on your interests in the sciences and any scientific questions you may have. Also think about what specialized lab equipment you might have access to, and who you could ask to be your mentor. A mentor is not a necessity to participate in the science fair, but most competitors who go on to be successful at the state and national level have a mentor who has helped to shape their thinking and provide feedback through the testing process. For more information, about finding a mentor and choosing a topic, check out the CollegeVine “Guide to Choosing a Winning Science Fair Project”. 

The first real step in working on your specific science fair project comes in the form of background research. You should aim to become an expert in your field. You should be familiar with groundbreaking studies and with current work that is being done to increase understanding. Make sure to keep notes and a working citations list in your notebook. 

3 . Experimental Design or Prototype Design

It is only after extensive background research that you will be able to come up with an experimental or prototype design for your project.

If you’re doing an experiment, just as in a lab experiment, you will need to create a controlled study, accounting for all variables. You will need to make the test as “fair” as possible to isolate the variable you’re testing.

For example, if you’re comparing the effectiveness of three different kinds of fertilizers on pea plants, make sure that you have a fourth group that is the control group, grown without any fertilizer. Also ensure that all other variables are exactly the same; the plants need to receive exactly the same amount of light, water, and soil in order to compare growth across fertilizer groups.

If you’re doing an engineering project, you will need to create a specific design for your prototype, considering things like materials, cost, and function. It will often take more than one design before you come up with something that’s likely to work. Often, you will go back and forth between the prototype design and the prototype testing phase many times before you find a design that meets all of your criteria for success.

4. Data Collection or Prototype Testing

While you’re experimenting, take consistent, accurate measurements and input them straight into your lab notebook.

If you’re building a prototype, you will probably need to make several different models, comparing their function, cost, and ease of production before you can argue which is best.

For both types of projects, take lots of photographs. These will serve to document your work and will become valuable visual aids for your science fair display.

5. Evaluate your Data or Prototype

Once you have gathered your data or tested your prototype, you will need to evaluate it.

When interpreting data, be careful not to let your hypothesis influence your interpretation. If you are capable of running a statistical analysis to confirm the validity of your findings, definitely do so. This means using standard deviation to determine if your results are statistically significant. Running such an analysis is often above the skill set expected at the high school level, but if you know how to do so, you can definitely set yourself apart. If you cannot run a statistical analysis, instead think about ways in which you could further test your project’s findings.

If you’ve built a prototype, try to be its toughest critic. Come up with ideas for making it more streamlined, more cost-effective, more portable, or more visually appealing. Judges will appreciate your efforts to improve on your design, even if it’s already successful. 

6. Write a Scientific Report

Your report will contain all the same elements of a lab report. These include the following sections:

• Introduction
• Materials and Methods

Your report should be written in the passive voice, just as you would write a lab. In fact, it sometimes helps to think of it as a very long, in-depth lab report like you would write for class. Have a friend, teacher, or mentor proofread your paper and write at least two drafts of it. 

7. Create a Visual Display

When your paper is complete, you can work on your display. Your display should include a summary of your work in a visually appealing manner. You will need to have each section of your paper clearly labeled and available for reading. You should also include photos, graphs, diagrams, or any other visual aids that will develop your audience’s understanding. Usually, a regular poster board is not enough space to display a project like this, and often your display will need to be self-standing. A trifold display board similar to this can be found online or at your local office supply store.

If you have any hands-on elements that you’re able to bring, you should definitely do so. Your prototype itself is an ideal prop for showing off your hard work.

8. Practice Your Presentation

Just because you’ve finished your paper and put together your display, that doesn’t mean that your work is done. You’ll need to practice your presentation in much the same way that you would practice for an interview. Stand in front of a mirror and summarize your findings. Try to anticipate what questions a judge might have.   The most common questions from a science fair judge are “What would you do differently next time?” and “What would you do next?” 

9. On the night of the science fair . . .    

Dress for success. First impressions matter so make sure to wear something that would be appropriate for a professional event. This means at minimum a collared shirt and tie, or blouse and skirt or slacks. When the judges arrive (usually one at a time) greet them with a confident smile and a firm handshake. Introduce yourself and your project, and ask if they would like to have a look at your work or if they’d like you to introduce the project first. It’s easy to be nervous but try to relax and take the opportunity to learn as much as you can from them.

Your first science fair can seem intimidating if you don’t know where to start, but with a step-by-step approach to choosing your project, conducting your work, and preparing for the fair, you will find that each task on its own is completely manageable. A science fair is a great way to build experience in presenting information to independent judges, and an even better way to practice the skills that research scientists and engineers use on a daily basis. You might even form a lasting relationship with your mentor or fellow presenters. If you’re considering participating in the science fair, your aim should be to learn more about a topic that you’re interested in and to gain experience in conducting research and presenting your work. Though it’s always nice to win, there are many advantages to participating even if you come home without a blue ribbon.

If you are interested in engineering and want to pursue it further, check out CollegeVine’s article, “How to Spend Your Summer as an Aspiring Engineer” .   Or, if you’re interested in pursuing the sciences in college but haven’t yet taken many advanced science classes, read our guide on How the Classes You Take Affect Your Chances at Admissions .  

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.  

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The Ultimate Science Fair Project Guide – From Start to Finish

When our daughter entered her first science fair, we kept seeing references to the Internet Public Library Science Fair Project Resource Guide .  However, the IPL2 permanently closed… taking the guide with it.  Bummer !  After now participating in over a half-dozen elementary school science fairs (including a first-place finish!), we created our own guide to help other students go from start to finish in their next science fair project.  If this is your first science fair, have fun!  If you’ve done it before, we hope this is your best one!  Let’s science!

*Images from Unsplash

How to Use the STEMium Science Fair Project Ultimate Guide?

If you are just starting off and this is your first science fair, here’s how to get started:

• Start with the STEMium Science Fair Project Roadmap . This is an infographic that “maps” out the process from start to finish and shows all the steps in a visual format.
• Getting Started – Why Do a Science Fair Project . Besides walking through some reasons to do a project, we also share links to examples of national science fair competitions, what’s involved and examples of winning science fair experiments .  *Note: this is where you’ll get excited!!
• The Scientific Method – What is It and What’s Involved . One of the great things about a science fair project is that it introduces students to an essential process/concept known as the scientific method.  This is simply the way in which we develop a hypothesis to test.
• Start the Process – Find an Idea . You now have a general idea of what to expect at the science fair, examples of winning ideas, and know about the scientific method.  You’re ready to get started on your own project.  How do you come up with an idea for a science fair project?  We have resources on how to use a Google tool , as well as some other strategies for finding an idea.
• Experiment and Build the Project . Time to roll up those sleeves and put on your lab coat.
• Other Resources for the Fair. Along the way, you will likely encounter challenges or get stuck.  Don’t give up – it’s all part of the scientific process.  Check out our STEMium Resources page for more links and resources from the web.  We also have additional experiments like the germiest spot in school , or the alka-seltzer rocket project that our own kids used.

Getting Started – Why Do a Science Fair Project

For many students, participating in the science fair might be a choice that was made FOR you.  In other words, something you must do as part of a class.  Maybe your parents are making you do it.  For others, maybe it sounded like a cool idea.  Something fun to try.  Whatever your motivation, there are a lot of great reasons to do a science fair project.

• Challenge yourself
• Learn more about science
• Explore cool technology
• Make something to help the world! (seriously!)
• Win prizes (and sometimes even money)
• Do something you can be proud of!

Many students will participate in a science fair at their school.  But there are also national competitions that include 1000s of participants.  There are also engineering fairs, maker events, and hackathons.  It’s an exciting time to be a scientist!!  The list below gives examples of national events.

• Regeneron Science Talent Search
• Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
• Google Science Fair
• Conrad Challenge
• Microsoft Imagine Cup
• JSHS Program
• Exploravision

What’s the Scientific Method?

Before we jump into your project, it’s important to introduce a key concept:  The Scientific Method .  The scientific method is the framework scientists use to answer their questions and test their hypothesis.  The figure below illustrates the steps you’ll take to get to the end, but it starts with asking a question (you’ve already finished the first step!).

After we find a problem/idea to tackle, and dig into some background research, we create a guess on a potential solution.  This is known as our hypothesis.

Example of a Hypothesis

My brother can hold his breath underwater longer than I can (“our problem”) –> how can I hold my breath longer? (“our question”) –>  if I drink soda with caffeine before I hold my breath, I will be able to stay underwater longer (“our solution”).  Our hypothesis is that using caffeine before we go underwater will increase the time we hold our breath.  We’re not sure if that is a correct solution or not at this stage – just taking a guess.

Once we have a hypothesis, we design an experiment to TEST our hypothesis.  First, we will change variables/conditions one at a time while keeping everything else the same, so we can compare the outcomes.

Experimental Design Example

Using our underwater example, maybe we will test different drinks and count how long I can hold my breath.  Maybe we can also see if someone else can serve as a “control” – someone who holds their breath but does not drink caffeine.  For the underwater experiment, we can time in seconds how long I hold my breath before I have a drink and then time it again after I have my caffeine drink.  I can also time how long I stay underwater when I have a drink without caffeine.

Then, once we finish with our experiment, we analyze our data and develop a conclusion.

• How many seconds did I stay underwater in the different situations? 
• Which outcome is greater?  Did caffeine help me hold my breath longer? 

Finally, (and most important), we present our findings. Imagine putting together a poster board with a chart showing the number of seconds I stayed underwater in the different conditions.

Hopefully you have a better sense of the scientific method.  If you are completing a science fair project, sticking with these steps is super important.  Just in case there is any lingering confusion, here are some resources for learning more about the scientific method:

• Science Buddies – Steps of the Scientific Method
• Ducksters – Learn About the Scientific Method
• Biology4kids – Scientific Method
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – Scientific Method

What Science Fair Project Should I Do?

And science is no different.

Just know that if you can get through the idea part, the rest of the science fair is relatively smooth sailing.  Remember to keep an open mind and a positive outlook .  Each year 100s of 1000s of kids, teenagers and college students come up with new projects and ideas to test.  You’ve got this!

What Makes a Great Science Fair Project?  Start with a Problem To Solve

As we discuss below, good science experiments attempt to answer a QUESTION.  Why is the sky blue?  Why does my dog bark at her reflection?  First, we will step through some ways to find TESTABLE QUESTIONS.  These questions that you create will be what you work on for your science fair project.  Pick something fun, something interesting and something that you are excited about.  Not sure what that looks like?  Step through some of the tips below for help.

Use the Google Science Fair Idea Generator

Are you surprised Google made a tool for science fair projects??  Our post called the low-stress way to find a science fair project gives a more in-depth overview about how to use it.  It’s a great first stop if you’re early in the brainstorming process.

Answer your own questions

• What type of music makes you run faster?
• Can boys hold their breath underwater longer than girls?
• How can I be sure the sandwich I bought is gluten free?
• If we plant 100 trees in our neighborhood, will the air be cleaner?

Still stuck? Get inspiration from other science fair projects

Check out the Getting Started section and look at some of the winning science project ideas, our STEMium experiments and our Resource page.  We’ve presented a ton of potential idea starters for you – take time to run through some of these, but our suggestion is to give yourself a deadline to pick an idea .  Going through the lists could take you longer than you think, and in many cases sometimes it’s just better to pick something and go for it!  The next section will take you through how to create testable questions for your project.

Starting Your Project: Find A Testable Question

The best experiments start with a question.  Taking that a step further, the questions you useyou’re your science fair project should be ones that are TESTABLE.  That means something you can measure.  Let’s look at an example.  Let’s say I’m super excited about baking.  OH YEA!!  I love baking.  Specifically, baking cakes.  In fact, I love baking cakes so much that I want to do a science project related to cakes.  We’ve got two questions on cakes that we created.  Which question below could be most useful for a science fair project:

1)  Can eating cake before a test improve your score?

2)  Why isn’t carrot cake more popular than chocolate cake?

The second question isn’t necessarily a bad question to pick.  You could survey people and perhaps tackle the question that way.  However, chances are you will get a lot of different answers and it will probably take a lot of surveys to start to pick up a trend.

Although, the first question might be a little easier.  How would you test this?   Maybe you pick one type of cake and one test that you give people.  If you can get five people to take the test after eating cake and five people take the test with no cake, you can compare the test results.  There might be other variables beyond cake that you could test (example: age, sex, education).  But you can see that the first question is probably a little easier to test.  The first question is also a little easier to come up with a hypothesis.

At this point, you’ve got an idea.  That was the hard part!  Now it’s time to think a little more about that idea and focus it into a scientific question that is testable and that you can create a hypothesis around .

What makes a question “testable”?

Testable questions are ones that can be measured and should focus on what you will change.  In our first cake question, we would be changing whether or not people eat cake before a test.  If we are giving them all the same test and in the same conditions, you could compare how they do on the test with and without cake.  As you are creating your testable question, think about what you WILL CHANGE (cake) and what you are expecting to be different (test scores).  Cause and effect.  Check out this reference on testable questions for more details.

Outline Your Science Project – What Steps Should I Take?

Do Background Research / Create Hypothesis

Science experiments typically start with a question (example: Which cleaning solution eliminates more germs?).  The questions might come up because of a problem.  For example, maybe you’re an engineer and you are trying to design a new line of cars that can drive at least 50 mph faster.  Your problem is that the car isn’t fast enough.  After looking at what other people have tried to do to get the car to go faster, and thinking about what you can change, you try to find a solution or an answer.  When we talk about the scientific method, the proposed answer is referred to as the HYPOTHESIS.

• Science Buddies
• National Geographic

The information you gather to answer these research questions can be used in your report or in your board.  This will go in the BACKGROUND section.  For resources that you find useful, make sure you note the web address where you found it, and save in a Google Doc for later.

Additional Research Tips

For your own science fair project, there will likely be rules that will already be set by the judges/teachers/school.  Make sure you get familiar with the rules FOR YOUR FAIR and what needs to be completed to participate .  Typically, you will have to do some research into your project, you’ll complete experiments, analyze data, make conclusions and then present the work in a written report and on a poster board.  Make a checklist of all these “to do” items.  Key things to address:

• Question being answered – this is your testable question
• Hypothesis – what did you come up with and why
• Experimental design – how are you going to test your hypothesis
• Conclusions – why did you reach these and what are some alternative explanations
• What would you do next? Answering a testable question usually leads to asking more questions and judges will be interested in how you think about next steps.

Need more help?  Check out these additional resources on how to tackle a science fair project:

• Developing a Science Fair Project – Wiley
• Successful Science Fair Projects – Washington University
• Science Fair Planning Guide – Chattahoochee Elementary

Experiment – Time to Test That Hypothesis

Way to go!  You’ve found a problem and identified a testable question.  You’ve done background research and even created a hypothesis.  It’s time to put it all together now and start designing your experiment.  Two experiments we have outlined in detail – germiest spot in school and alka-seltzer rockets – help show how to set up experiments to test variable changes.

The folks at ThoughtCo have a great overview on the different types of variables – independent, dependent and controls.  You need to identify which ones are relevant to your own experiment and then test to see how changes in the independent variable impacts the dependent variable .  Sounds hard?  Nope.  Let’s look at an example.  Let’s say our hypothesis is that cold weather will let you flip a coin with more heads than tails.  The independent variable is the temperature.  The dependent variable is the number of heads or tails that show up.  Our experiment could involve flipping a coin fifty times in different temperatures (outside, in a sauna, in room temperature) and seeing how many heads/tails we get.

One other important point – write down all the steps you take and the materials you use!!  This will be in your final report and project board.  Example – for our coin flipping experiment, we will have a coin (or more than one), a thermometer to keep track of the temperature in our environment.  Take pictures of the flipping too!

Analyze Results – Make Conclusions

Analyzing means adding up our results and putting them into pretty pictures.  Use charts and graphs whenever you can.  In our last coin flipping example, you’d want to include bar charts of the number of heads and tails at different temperatures.  If you’re doing some other type of experiment, take pictures during the different steps to document everything.

This is the fun part….  Now we get to see if we answered our question!  Did the weather affect the coin flipping?  Did eating cake help us do better on our test??  So exciting!  Look through what the data tells you and try to answer your question.  Your hypothesis may / may not be correct.  It’s not important either way – the most important part is what you learned and the process.  Check out these references for more help:

• How to make a chart or graph in Google Sheets
• How to make a chart in Excel

Presentation Time – Set Up Your Board, Practice Your Talk

Personally, the presentation is my favorite part!  First, you get to show off all your hard work and look back at everything you did!  Additionally, science fair rules should outline the specific sections that need to be in the report, and in the poster board – so, be like Emmett from Lego Movie and read the instructions.  Here’s a loose overview of what you should include:

• Title – what is it called.
• Introduction / background – here’s why you’re doing it and helping the judges learn a bit about your project.
• Materials/Methods – what you used and the steps in your experiment. This is so someone else could repeat your experiment.
• Results – what was the outcome? How many heads/tails?  Include pictures and graphs.
• Conclusions – was your hypothesis correct? What else would you like to investigate now?  What went right and what went wrong?
• References – if you did research, where did you get your information from? What are your sources?

The written report will be very similar to the final presentation board.  The board that you’ll prepare is usually a three-panel board set up like the picture shown below.

To prepare for the presentation, you and your partner should be able to talk about the following:

• why you did the experiment
• the hypothesis that was tested
• the data results
• the conclusions.

It’s totally OK to not know an answer.  Just remember this is the fun part!

And that’s it!  YOU DID IT!! 

Science fair projects have been great opportunities for our kids to not only learn more about science, but to also be challenged and push themselves.  Independent projects like these are usually a great learning opportunity.  Has your child completed a science fair project that they are proud of?  Include a pic in the comments – we love to share science!!  Please also check out our STEMium Resources page for more science fair project tips and tricks .

STEMomma is a mother & former scientist/educator. She loves to find creative, fun ways to help engage kids in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math).  When she’s not busy in meetings or carpooling kids, she loves spending time with the family and dreaming up new experiments  or games they can try in the backyard.

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Parents' Guide to Science Fair Project Vocabulary

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Benefits of Science Fair Projects for Kids

Science fair project terms, choosing a science fair project idea, tips for working with your child.

How can you help your child with her science fair project when you don't understand the many terms used? Read on for some definitions to bring you up to speed, along with thoughts on how working with your child on a science fair project can improve your relationship.

Science fairs are a great way to teach kids to investigate our world. From breakthroughs in our understanding of the biology of cancer to disease outbreaks such as the Zika virus to fears about the Yellowstone supervolcano, these topics are in the news daily.​ Schools have changed remarkably in recent years, and most of these projects require parental input. At the same time, the world has changed, and kids are often learning terms unfamiliar to their parents.

It's not just learning science that's at stake here. Relationships between children and parents are changing. First, we heard about the quality of time versus the quantity, but now that quality time is often threatened by anything with a screen. Doing a science project with your child—with your phones turned off or in another room—is a great opportunity to re-establish or improve your connection.

Even the times when we converse with each other, the topics have changed. The latest media hype or Hollywood antics have replaced some of the more in-depth topics of discussion. With a science project , you may discuss problems that are more meaningful than the last media scare or celebrity slip-up.

For example, how do doctors figure out how a drug works to treat cancer? What happens when you are stung by a mosquito, and why do some people receive more bites than others? How do we know the world isn't flat? How should you behave around a person with autism, and what is life like for that person. What happens to children who are bullied ?

To be an active parent in helping with the project, you'll likely be reading scientific publications. There's no need to panic.

After your child poses a question for her science fair project, she will be asked to generate a hypothesis. If she is experimenting, you will need to identify the dependent and independent variables. If these terms are already leaving you confused, don't fret. Here's a list of the science project terms and definitions you need to know as a parent.

Abstract : A brief summary of your child’s science fair project. An abstract should explain the project concisely, using about 200-250 words.

Analysis : The explanation of the data your child has gathered. The analysis will describe the results of the experiment, what those results proved, whether or not the hypothesis was correct (and why), and what your child learned.

Application : The real-world implications of what an experiment discovered. In other words, how that information can be used to make changes to how something is done.

Conclusion : The answer to the initial question posed by your child’s science fair project. The conclusion sums everything up.

Control : The component or variable of the experiment in which nothing changes or is changed.

Data : Data is information, specifically, the information gathered before, during, and after an experiment that is used to reach a conclusion.

Dependent Variable : The dependent variable is the component or piece of the experiment that changes based on the independent variable.

Display Board : The free-standing cardboard, typically trifold, on which your child will display information about his science fair project. The display board is how the general public will learn about his experiment.

Graph : A chart that visually displays the data of the experiment. It can be a numbered grid or a spreadsheet.

Hypothesis : The “educated guess” as to what will happen during a science experiment when certain variables are introduced or changed. It is a prediction of the answer to the question posed by the science fair project.

Independent Variable : The piece or component of the experiment that is changed while everything else stays the same. The independent variable tests the “what if’s” of the project.

Log : A scientific log is a written account of what happened moment by moment (or day by day, depending on the project) throughout the project/experiment.

Procedure :   The step-by-step directions of how to experiment. The procedure should be clear enough that anyone who reads it can replicate the experiment.

Purpose (Problem) : The question the science project sets out to prove or test.

Science Project Proposal : A brief description of a proposed science fair project. The proposal should include the problem, the hypothesis, and the procedure. It sometimes will include an explanation of the independent and dependent variables and a material list as well.

Scientific Method : An organized manner of discovering something, the scientific method must be followed to make a project valid. The scientific method has six steps: Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experimentation, Analysis, and Conclusion.

If your child is still brainstorming an idea for their project, how can you help? You may best capture her interest if you look at topics that are being researched today. The field of immunotherapy, for example, can be fascinating as you look at how doctors are using our immune systems to fight cancer.

Or perhaps you can re-ask one of those challenging questions your child asked when younger. How far does space go? Looking at something such as this allows you to let your child know how special she is by recalling things she said long ago.

Another idea may be a question someone in your family has asked. Why do some people need allergy shots, and how do they work? What exactly is an allergy? Why do so many kids have peanut allergies these days, and should peanuts be banned from schools?

There are many ideas for science fair projects online. The key is to make the project something your child is interested in researching, rather than you.

If you think of the importance of communication with your child, you would think that parents would be required to take classes. For example, nurses are instructed on communication techniques because of the importance of patient-health professional interaction. Those in sales are taught a multitude of methods for understanding people.

And those in management? A glance online reveals seminars galore on how to communicate. Yet parents, as the primary influence in the life of a precious child, are taught little. Your science fair project, however, can give you a chance to practice!

You may want to begin by learning some of the mistakes parents make when talking to kids. Perhaps the most important mistake is to allow kids to finish what they are saying. Be comfortable with moments of silence. Let your child work through problems before giving her your answer.

Avoid focusing on the grade and instead focus on what your child can learn. Yet if your child is excited about going for an "A" go along with her goal. To be prepared ahead of time for frustrating moments, think about the traits and habits of good parents .

A Word From Verywell

We've shared the definitions of common science fair terms so you can help your child on her science fair project. The reason being is that working together on science fair projects is a great way for a parent and child to focus on a task as a team and practice communication skills.

If you view the project as an opportunity to improve communication with your child, you may feel a bit less frustrated when the project becomes—as many parents would agree—a much more significant undertaking than anticipated.

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What Does Results Mean In A Science Fair Project

How to Write Results for a Science Fair Project . Writing the results for a science fair project report can feel challenging, but the scientific method gives science students a format to follow. Excellent results sections include a summary of the experiment, address the hypothesis, analyze the experiment, and make suggestions for further study.

Analyze Your Procedure – Eureka! It is science fair time! Participating in a science fair is an exciting opportunity to flex your scientific muscles, but that’s not the only skill you will need. A good science fair project also requires writing a clear scientific report. Scientific Method The purpose of a science fair project report is to carefully describe your results and the scientific process you used so that other people can understand your project and maybe even reproduce it themselves. For this reason, scientists and science students use a common format for science reports that features the components of the scientific method. This includes selecting a topic or question you want to investigate, making a hypothesis or best guess at what will happen during the experiment, writing a list of materials and the steps you used during the experiment, describing the data you compiled and explaining your results. Of course, you will also want to use cardboard or poster board to create a display for your project. In most cases, vibrant colors, dramatic images and clear lettering will help your display stand out from the crowd.

Video advice: How to Do a Science Fair Project: Communicate Your Experiment and Results (Accessible Preview)

DCMP members can access the full video for free here: https://www.dcmp.org/media/10381 – To find out if you qualify, visit https://dcmp.org/signup

Video advice: How to Do a Science Fair Project: Examine Your Results (Accessible Preview)

DCMP members can access the full video for free here: https://www.dcmp.org/media/10380 – To find out if you qualify, visit https://dcmp.org/signup

6 Things the Science Fair Project Report Needs

Your science fair project may require a lab report or essay. This is a general outline showing how to prepare a report to document your research.

Neatness counts, spelling counts, grammar counts. Take time to result in the report look good. Focus on margins, avoid fonts which are hard to read or are extremely small or too big, use clean paper, making print the report cleanly on nearly as good a printer or copier as possible.

Writing a science fair project report may seem like a challenging task, but it is not as difficult as it first appears. This is a format that you may use to write a science project report. If your project included animals, humans, hazardous materials, or regulated substances, you can attach an appendix that describes any special activities your project required. Also, some reports may benefit from additional sections, such as abstracts and bibliographies. You may find it helpful to fill out the science fair lab report template to prepare your report.

Video advice: Teenagers Read Their 2022 Science Fair Projects Titles (NYSSEF)

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Can life at sea teach us to live in a more meaningful way?

by Mads Wang-Svendsen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Life on board a tall ship can be cramped, cold and demanding, but according to one researcher, it also sheds light on what gives life purpose and meaning.

"Eric" loves climbing the mast. In the summer of 2022, he was on his second voyage with the tall ship Christian Radich.

He would spend a whole month at sea and became famous among the 40 other young people on board for his climbing skills and nerves of steel.

If it were up to him, he would sail for months, says Eric. This is despite the hard work, night shifts, sea sickness, and almost no alone time. The time he has spent on board the tall ship has turned his life around.

"Before the first voyage, I was a real loner: I just sat in my room. I couldn't talk to other people, and I didn't even want to meet them. But after two weeks of sailing, I finally plucked up enough courage and started talking to people. It was as if something just fell into place," says Eric, with a snap of his fingers.

Therapy in the blue

"Eric" is not the young seaman's real name. He has been anonymized in connection with a research interview.

The aim is to investigate the effect of the program in which he has taken part, Windjammer, a project for children and young people who are at risk of exclusion from working life and education.

The idea of spending time at sea to grow as a person is by no means new. In the 1940s, the Outward Bound movement in the US began offering four weeks of sailing to young Americans as a way to build character. Many of the same principles have been continued in forest and mountain camps.

"It is from here that what we know today as outdoor therapy has its origins," says Gunvor Marie Dyrdal.

She is a psychologist and associate professor at the Department of Health Sciences at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Gjøvik. Together with her colleague Helga Synnevåg Løvoll, she has led the research collaboration with Windjammer.

The work is published in the journal Social Sciences .

Although a lot of research has already been done on outdoor therapy, Dyrdal believes that there are still important pieces of the puzzle missing in our understanding of the effects of these types of programs.

One thing is that little research has been conducted into outdoor therapy, specifically in the blue element, i.e., at sea. The role that meaningfulness plays is also poorly understood, she explains.

Adding meaning to life

"Meaningfulness or purpose is an important ingredient in the lives of all people, but it is especially important for young people. Adolescence is a vulnerable period for many people, characterized by difficult questions related to identity, values, education, and independence. A lot of research shows that having a sense of purpose and meaning is especially important during this period. It is, therefore, natural to believe that meaningfulness also plays a crucial role for young people at risk," says Dyrdal.

She feels it is important to make a distinction between the big, rather overwhelming questions about the meaning of life and the more tangible role meaningfulness plays in our lives.

The latter is the thing she is most interested in. She believes this perspective is less passive and encourages a sense of being more in control of your own life.

"When we regard meaning as something we create, rather than something abstract that is somewhere out there and needs to be discovered, we suddenly have a little more control over our lives. It also encourages an important curiosity about oneself: Who am I? What am I good at? What is important in my life? Many people have never had the opportunity to stop and ask these questions. Many just do what their parents do or what they think society expects them to do," says the psychologist.

Dyrdal's research suggests that the young people who get to go on a voyage with Christian Radich get the opportunity to think about such things.

In the same boat, for better or worse

The young people taking part in the Windjammer voyages are often recruited through the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) or the Follow-up Service. In addition, some of the young participants sign up themselves via the project's website.

When they are not out working on one of the two daily 4-hour shifts, they sleep, eat or stay in the confined living quarters under the main deck.

"Good collaboration is crucial not only for living on board a tall ship, but also for operating it," says Dyrdal.

Even something as basic as hoisting the sails requires many people to do the job.

"You have to pull together at the same time, and everyone who does the task knows that what they are doing at that moment is important for the whole crew, for the whole ship. As a result, the significance of your work tasks becomes very visible. It is the same thing regarding the expectations of those around you. Unlike in many other situations in life, there is nowhere to hide or escape to when you are at sea. You are simply in the same boat—for better or worse," says the researcher.

So, it probably wasn't that strange that the social aspect on board the ship emerged as one of the four most important interview topics and was absolutely crucial in terms of how much the participants got out of the voyage.

Accepting oneself, learning practical seamanship, and being open to what the experience had to offer were other important aspects.

Post-sailing depression

In addition to interviews, the researchers collected psychological and demographic data from the participants using digital surveys both before and after the voyage. By comparing these with the results of the national survey, the team found that the Windjammer participants had experienced life before the voyage as less meaningful than most young people.

What is perhaps more surprising is that after their four weeks at sea, the young participants' sense of meaningfulness and purpose was lower than it had been before the voyage.

Does this mean that the voyage only made things worse?

"The interviews suggest that the voyage had a positive effect on the participants' perception of themselves and their lives. Among other things, they talk about a sense of being more in control and having a clearer purpose in life," says the NTNU researcher.

However, she thinks that the fact that the follow-up data suggest lower perceived meaningfulness in life among participants after the voyage may be because they have now had a taste of a different kind of life.

"Many of the participants really feel the contrast when they return home. Maybe they have seen new possibilities and discovered new aspects of themselves during the voyage, and they might not have had the time or managed to implement the necessary changes in order to take advantage of these insights afterward," says Dyrdal. After all, change takes time.

The researchers are now going to test whether this hypothesis holds water.

"So far, we have only looked at the follow-up data from three months after the voyage. As we now begin to analyze the follow-up data for six and twelve months, we hope to gain an even better understanding of what causes this phenomenon," says Dyrdal.

The observed decline after returning home is called "PSD" or "post-sailing depression" by the sailing community and describes the emptiness that may arise when returning home after weeks at sea.

Follow-up is crucial

It is not only three-masted tall ships that find it difficult to implement major changes, of course.

"We all tell stories about ourselves. These stories help define our perceived scope of action. If I tell myself that I am a shy person who wouldn't dare to speak in front of a group of people, then I am probably not going to be able to do it," says Dyrdal.

The research now suggests that the circumstances on board Christian Radich can facilitate the rewriting of such stories. The psychologist says it could eventually lead to new opportunities.

"But it takes time. That is why it is so important what the young people return to after the voyage—that there is someone actually there to follow them up and help them build on what they learned about themselves during their voyage."

Provided by Norwegian University of Science and Technology

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