Overview
Steps in designing and implementing your Group Research Project
Assignment of a specific research problem.
Collect and read relevant articles or textbooks for background and context.
State a hypothesis (keep it simple).
Make predictions based on your hypothesis that you can test.
Design experiments that test the predictions; don't forget the control(s).
Prepare the experimental setup; request equipment as needed.
Make measurements or observations, and record the data as you make them.
Review and discuss the results in your group.
Repeat the experiments; modify your experimental design, if necessary.
Evaluate the hypothesis based on your experimental results.
Presentation of Group Research Projects
Discuss and decide how best to present your results to the class as a group power
point presentation.
Summarize the results in table(s); prepare graphs of the data if appropriate.
Prepare a brief handout (no longer than 1 page double-sided) for distribution to
the class.
The oral presentation : all members of a group receive the same grade which is based
on the following criteria:
1. quality of experimental design
2. care in execution of the experiments
3. clarity of the oral presentation
4. aptness of the handout
5. demonstration of competence in the question and answer session
The written paper: a single paper not to exceed 7 pages .... One paper from each
GROUP Include the following:
1. Title -- What is the subject of your research?
2. Introduction -- What is interesting about the topic you selected?
What was your group’s hypothesis?
3. Methods and Materials -- What was the design of your experiment; how was it set
up and how often did group members monitor its progress and record the results?
The goal of this section in a scientific paper is to make it possible for others to
repeat your experiment and thereby find out if the outcome is reproducible.
4. Results -- What were the results: tables of data and description; number and title
each table. NO value statements in this section....only data.
5. Discussion -- What did you show? Did you prove or disprove your
hypothesis.....explain fully whether your results support your hypothesis and to
what degree. Refer to your tables of results by number.
With the experience of a completed project, can you design a better experiment to
test your hypothesis?
Would you now modify your original hypothesis? If so, how would you test it?
Conclude by briefly restating the relationship of the results to hypothesis and
tell the importance of this research to the larger world.
6. References—4-6 references used in this project
Criteria for grading
Completing all parts of the assignment
Demonstrating scientific reasoning
Communicating ideas clearly
Using correct English grammar and spelling