Massanutten regional governor’s school 2009 – 2010 student research handbook table of Contents

Part I: Statement of Hypothesis
My faculty advisor approved hypothesis is: __________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I plan to prove this hypothesis by conducting the following means of research. I know that I am not limited only to sources stated in this contract. I also know that I have a responsibility to attempt to contact expert(s) in my field of study, not just the most convenient sources, and those attempts will be taken into account when my final project is graded. (Put an * next to primary sources.)

Part II: Deliverable
My deliverable will be: __________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I understand that if I create a deliverable other than the one stated in this contract I have violated the contact and it will be considered in my final grade.

Part III: Personal Assessment
I am contracting to receive an A on this research project and its deliverable. In order to receive an A, I ask that my faculty advisor assess me on the following:

1. 
   Research Time/Journal/Quality of Research (6 weeks grades)
   

50% of overall final grade

2. 
   Deliverable
   

50% of overall final grade

Note: The final grade for the research course will be calculated by averaging the six weeks grades and the final deliverable grade. In other words, your six weeks grade average and the deliverable grade will each count as 50% of the final grade. This final grade will not necessarily be equal to the average of the six weeks grades.

3. 
   Hours
   

I understand that I must complete 70 hours to earn half a research credit. I also understand that if I complete 140 hours I will earn a full research credit. I understand that if I fall short of hours that I may not earn the credit and it may affect my final grade. I will be careful to log all hours on my green research log and I will ask my faculty advisor to initial my log each week. I will also have outside research time pre-approved by my faculty advisor.

I understand this contract and completed the necessary sections. By signing this contract, I am taking responsibility for my own research project. I understand that the success of this project depends on my efforts and I must be the one to ask questions and make contact with my faculty advisor (and my off-site mentor) whenever necessary. It is not the responsibility of my faculty advisor (or my off-site mentor) to make my project a success or to keep track of my progress, but to provide guidance, advice, and assistance when I ask for it.
____________________________________________________________

Student Name (Please Print)

____________________________________________________________

Student Signature/Date

____________________________________________________________

Parent Signature/Date

____________________________________________________________

Faculty Advisor Signature/Date

____________________________________________________________

Director Signature/Date

____________________________________________________________

Division Representative Signature/Date

 The Scientific Method: A Model for Conducting Scientific Research

1. Defining the Question		5. Collecting Data
2. Locating Resources/Gathering Information		6. Organizing & Analyzing the Data
3. Forming a Hypothesis/Hypotheses		7. Interpreting Data & Drawing Conclusions
4. Planning Research Collection Methods		8. Communicating the Results

 

Defining the Question: This step involves narrowing possible topics and then choosing the question to be the focus of your research. Your question should be specific. You may need to gather more information before you decide on your final question. Ask yourself:

Specifically, what do I want to know? What is the purpose of asking this question? What will the answer tell me? Can this question be answered through research? (Can I describe how I might answer it?)

What do I expect to find once I've conducted my research?

Locating Resources/Gathering Information & Materials: This step helps you to become smarter about the topic you are researching and how you can research it. The more information you have, the better research question you can ask. To help you gather information, ask yourself:

What do I know about my topic? What additional information would help me? How can I use different sources of information (experts, books, articles, computer databases) to gather the information I need?

Where will I conduct this research? Where are the organisms or events I want to study?

What resources are available to me--time, equipment, people, money, facilities, etc.?

 Planning the Research/Developing Data Collection Methods: This step involves making a very specific plan about how you will conduct your research and collect your data. In the end, your procedure should be clear enough so that someone else could follow it exactly. To plan your research and develop your procedure, ask yourself:

How will I answer my research question/test my hypotheses? What data do I need to collect? How will I collect these data?

What equipment or supplies do I need?

Do I have a reference point (control) with which to compare my data?

To answer my question, do I need to manipulate variables?

How many (samples, sites, tests, etc.) do I need?

What record-keeping techniques (e.g. data sheet, journal) will I use? Are my data collection techniques organized and thorough?

Are there sequential steps to my research? If so, what are they? How will I plan my time?

Collecting Data: Be sure that you write down all of the information (data) that could affect the answer to your research question. When you collect the data, ask yourself:

Am I recording all relevant data?

Can I read and understand my notes?

Am I keeping track of what I did at each step?

Am I being objective in my data collection?

 Organizing & Analyzing the Data: This step gives you the chance to pull together the data you've collected and look at it more closely. Compare and contrast the information you've gathered to see the results of your research. Ask yourself:

How will I organize and summarize the data I've collected?

What does my data show? How should I present my data graphically so that others can see the results clearly? (e.g. bar graphs, tables, pie charts, line graphs, etc.)

Are the results significant? Are there tests I might use to tell me if the results are significant?

Interpreting the Data & Drawing Conclusions: In this step, stand back from your data and look at it more critically. Decide what conclusions you can draw. Ask yourself:

What alternative hypotheses might explain these results? Am I considering all relevant data, including extremes or "oddball data" in my analysis? How might my sampling or data collection methods have affected these results?

What answer do my results provide to my original question? How do my results compare to what I expected to happen (my hypothesis)?

What can I conclude from my results? How do my conclusions affect the community or "big picture" (implications)?

Communicating the Results: Now it's time to share your work. Ask yourself:

Who is my audience? What is the best way to communicate to my audience? (e.g. written report, oral or poster presentation, video, etc.) What visual aids will help my audience clearly understand this research?

Have I addressed all of the following components of my research in my communication?:

• 
  Introduction to question, purpose of this research and why it is interesting or matters
  
• 
  Description of methods used to collect data
  
• 
  Results
  
• 
  Conclusions
  
• 
  What questions are raised by my research? How do others respond to my work?
  

©Rural Girls in Science- Meeting the Challenge Through a Comprehensive Approach
funded by the National Science Foundation Project HRD-94500053
Dr. Angela B. Ginorio, Principal Investigator

Website: http://depts.washington.edu/rural/RURAL/design/scimethod.html

Checklist for Student Researchers (Form 1)

Adapted from International Rules for Precollege Science Research

www.societyforscience.org/isef/

REQUIRED for ALL research projects

1. 
   Student Researcher (s): ___________________________________________________________________
   

2. 
   Title of Project: ___________________________________________________________________
   

3. 
   Adult Off-Site Mentor(s): ___________________________________________________________________
   

Phone Number: ____________________________ E-mail ________________________________

4. 
   Laboratory experiment/data collection will begin:
   

Projected Start Date: ______________________Projected End Date: ________________________

Actual Start Date: ______________________Actual End Date: ________________________

5. 
   Where will you conduct your experimentation? (check all that apply)
   

 Research Institution  School  Field  Home

 Other: _____________________________

6. 
   List the name and address of all non-school work-site(s):
   

Name ___________________________________ Name ______________________________________

Address ___________________________________ Address ______________________________________

__________________________________________ ______________________________________________

Phone ____________________________________ Phone ______________________________________

E-mail __________________________________ E-mail ______________________________________

7. 
   Complete a Research Plan (Form 3) and attach to this form.
   

8. 
   Complete all other forms that relate to your project and attach to this form.
   

9. 
   If your project requires experimentation an abstract is required.
   

Checklist for Adult Off-Site Mentor (Form 2)

Adapted from International Rules for Precollege Science Research

www.societyforscience.org/isef/

REQUIRED of ALL projects that involve an Off-Site Mentor

Directions: This is to be completed by the Adult Off-site mentor in collaboration with the student researcher.
Student’s Name: ____________________________________________________________________________

Project Title: ____________________________________________________________________________

1. 
    I have reviewed the Governor’s School Research Handbook.
   

2. 
    I have reviewed the student researcher’s completed Student Checklist and Research Plan.
   

3. 
    I have worked with the student and we have discussed the possible risks involved in the project.
   

4. 
    The project involves one or more of the following and requires prior approval by the PRB:
   
   • 
     Humans
     
   • 
     Vertebrate Animals
     
   • 
     Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents
     
   • 
     Potentially Hazardous Chemicals/Activities/Devices
     

5. 
   Forms to be completed for all projects:
   
   • 
     Adult Off-Site Mentor Checklist
     
   • 
     Student Checklist
     
   • 
     Research Plan
     
   • 
     Approval Form
     
   • 
     Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form (when applicable)
     

6. 
   Additional forms required if the project includes the use of one or more of the following (check all that apply):
   
   • 
     Humans
     
     • 
       Human Subjects Form
       
     • 
       Qualified Scientist Form (if applicable)
       
   • 
     Vertebrate Animals
     
     • 
       Vertebrate Animal Form – for projects conducted at a non-regulated site
       
     • 
       Vertebrate Animal Form – for projects conducted at a Regulated Research Institution
       
     • 
       Qualified Scientist Form (if applicable)
       
   • 
     Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents
     
     • 
       Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment Form
       
     • 
       Human and Vertebrae Animal Tissue Form – to be completed when project involves the use of fresh or frozen tissue, primary cell cultures, blood, blood products, and body fluids
       
     • 
       Qualified Scientist Form (if applicable)
       
     • 
       Risk Assessment Form – required for projects involving protists, archae, similar microorganisms and for projects using manure for composting, fuel production, or other non-culturing experiments
       
   • 
     Potentially Hazardous Chemicals/Activities/Devices
     
     • 
       Risk Assessment Form
       
     • 
       Qualified Scientist Form (when applicable)
       

__________________________________ ______________________________ __________

Adult Off-Site Mentor’s Name Adult Off-Site Mentor’s Signature Date

__________________________________ ______________________________

Phone Number E-mail address

Research Plan (Form 3)

Adapted from International Rules for Precollege Science Research

www.societyforscience.org/isef/

REQUIRED for ALL Research Projects Before Experimentation Begins

Directions: Provide a typed research plan and attach to Student Researcher Checklist (Form 1).
The research plan is to include the following:

1. 
   Question being addressed
   
2. 
   Hypothesis/Problem/Engineering Goals
   
3. 
   Description in detail of method or procedures
   

• 
  Procedures: Detail all procedures and experimental design to be used for data collection
  

• 
  Data Analysis: Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data that answer question or hypothesis
  

4. 
   Bibliography
   

• 
  List at least five major references (e.g. science journal articles, books, Internet sites) from your preliminary research. If you plan to use vertebrate animals, one of these references must be an animal care reference.
  

Below are guidelines and should be followed when applicable.

1. 
   Human subjects research
   
   • 
     Detail all procedures, include what the participants are asked to do
     
   • 
     Describe Risk Assessment process and how risks will be minimized
     

 Include strategies used to protect privacy and confidentiality

• 
  Describe the Study Sample/Human Subjects
  

 Number of human subjects and estimated demographics (age, male/female, cultural breakdown, socio-economic status)

 Recruitment procedures (where and how subjects are recruited)

 Procedures for obtaining informed consent must include statement about informing potential human subjects about voluntary nature of participation and right to withdraw at any time

• 
  Include survey or questionnaires if used and critically evaluate the risk
  

 List and describe the measures (questionnaires, surveys) used and how you measure the variable of interest (behavioral observations, time, length)

 Consider emotional stress and potential consequences

• 
  Describe any physical activities or procedures, if used, and critically evaluate the risk
  

 Type, duration of exercise or physical activity

 Ingestion method, amount, intervals, etc.

2. 
   Vertebrate animal research
   
   • 
     Briefly discuss potential alternatives and present a detailed justification for use of vertebrate animals
     
   • 
     Explain potential impact or contribution this research may have
     
   • 
     Detail all procedures to be used
     

 Include methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain, and injury to the animals during the course of experimentation

 Detailed chemical concentrations and drug usage

• 
  Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, etc.
  

 Include justification of the numbers planned for the research

• 
  Describe housing and oversight of daily care
  
• 
  Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study
  
1. 
   Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents
   

• 
  Describe Bio-safety Level Assessment process and resultant BSL determination
  
• 
  Give source of agent, source of specific cell line, etc.
  
• 
  Detail safety precautions
  
• 
  Discuss methods of disposal
  

4. 
   Potentially Hazardous Chemicals, Activities, and Devices
   

• 
  Describe Risk Assessment process and results
  
• 
  Detail chemical concentrations and drug dosages
  
• 
  Describe safety precautions and procedures to minimize risk
  
• 
  Discuss methods of disposal
  

Approval Form (Form 4)

Adapted from International Rules for Precollege Science Research

www.societyforscience.org/isef/

REQUIRED for EACH student researcher

Part I: To be completed by the Student Researcher and Parent

1. 
   Student Acknowledgement:
   
   • 
     I understand the risks and possible dangers to me of the proposed research plan.
     
   • 
     I have read the Research Handbook and will adhere to all guidelines therein when conducting my research.
     
   • 
     I have read and will abide by the following Ethics Statement:
     

Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned in the research process. Unethical practices include: plagiarism, forgery, use or presentation of other researcher’s work as one’s own, and fabrication of data. The use of unethical practices within the research process if discovered will adversely affect a student’s grade.

_________________________ _____________________________ ____________

Student’s Printed Name Student’s Signature Date

2. 
   Parent/Guardian Approval: I have read and understand the risks and possible dangers involved in my child’s Research Plan. I consent to my child participating in this research project.
   

_________________________ _____________________________ ____________

Parent’s Printed Name Parent’s Signature Date

Part II: To be completed by the Regulated Research Institution, if applicable.

Required for projects conducted at a regulated research institution (not home or school).

This project was reviewed and approved by the proper institutional board before experimentation and complies with the institutional rules and guidelines for conducting research.

_____________________________ _____________________________ _________

Authorized Personnel Printed Name Authorized Personnel’s Signature Date

Part III: To be completed by the Project Review Board for the Governor’s School
Required for ALL projects

The Project Review Board has carefully studied this project’s Research Plan and all the required forms are included. My signature indicates approval of the Research Plan before the student begins experimentation.

_____________________________________ ____________

Faculty Advisor’s Signature Date

_____________________________________ ____________

Director’s Signature Date

_____________________________________ ____________

School Division Representative Signature Date

Qualified Off-Site Mentor Form (Form 5)

Adapted from International Rules for Precollege Science Research

www.societyforscience.org/isef/

REQUIRED for ALL research projects in which an off-site mentor will be supervising experimentation

Student Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

Title of Project: __________________________________________________________________________________

To be completed by the Off-Site Mentor
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________
Institution: __________________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________
Phone/E-mail: __________________________________________________________________________________
Position: __________________________________________________________________________________
Educational Background: __________________________________________________________________________
Experience/training that relates to the student’s area of research: ____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. 
   Have you reviewed the Governor’s School Research Handbook guidelines as relevant to this project?
   

 Yes  No

2. 
   Will any of the following be used/engaged in:
   

1. 
   Human subjects?  Yes  No
   

2. 
   Vertebrate animals?  Yes  No
   

3. 
   Potentially hazardous biological agents (microorganisms, rDNA and tissues, including blood or blood products)?  Yes  No
   

4. 
   Potentially Hazardous chemicals, activities, and devices?  Yes  No
   

3. 
   Will you directly supervise the student?  Yes  No
   

1. 
   If no, who will directly supervise and serve as the off-site mentor? ____________________________
   

2. 
   Experience/training of the off-site mentor: _______________________________________________
   

_________________________________________________________________________________________

4. 
   Describe the safety precautions and training necessary for this project: ________________________________
   

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I certify that I have reviewed and approved the Research Plan prior to the start of the experimentation. If the student is not trained in the necessary procedures, I will ensure his/her training. I will provide advice and supervision during the research. I have a working knowledge of the techniques to be used by the student researcher in the Research Plan. I understand that another Designated Supervisor is required when I am unable to supervise the student.
_____________________________ _____________________________ _________

Off-Site Mentor’s Printed Name Off-site Mentor’s Signature Date