| There are several different genres of research that | | | | survey research project students will need to |
| science students can conduct. The type of research | | | | construct a survey or questionnaire and they will |
| that a student is asked to do will depend a great deal | | | | need to interact with members in their test group. |
| on their age and on the purpose of the research. The | | | | Information that is collected is analyzed and trends in |
| most common forms of research conducted by | | | | the responses are identified and used to explain |
| students in elementary, middle and high school include | | | | phenomenon that is related to the issue being studies. |
| background information research, experimental | | | | This type of research is focused by a hypothesis |
| research and survey research. | | | | that is based on previous observations of the |
| Basic Research for Students | | | | situation or group. |
| The most common form of research that students | | | | Teaching students how to conduct this type of |
| will conduct is basic background research. This type | | | | research is slightly more difficult than teaching them |
| of research is going to uncover and summarize what | | | | how to conduct basic research. This is because a |
| is already known about the subject assigned to the | | | | survey research project builds upon a basic research |
| student. This type of research is assigned to | | | | project. In fact a basic research project forms the |
| students of all ages. It generally requires an | | | | foundation of the survey research. This research is |
| introduction, a literature review and a conclusion. | | | | what students use to create their hypothesis and to |
| Rarely do these research projects require student to | | | | form their survey questions. |
| analyze the information that they are collecting. | | | | To teach the surveying skills teachers will need to run |
| However, the information that is organized in this | | | | students through practice survey writing and |
| type of research is focused on a thesis statement. | | | | interviewing drills. They will then need to teach |
| Teaching students how to conduct this type of | | | | students how to utilize statistics to analyze the data |
| research is fairly straight forward. Teachers will want | | | | that they collect. |
| to start by introducing students to ways to find | | | | Experimental Research Projects |
| sources of information in the library and online. They | | | | An experimental research project starts with a basic |
| will also need to cover how to create a bibliography | | | | research project. The information gathered from this |
| and how to properly cite authors and sources in their | | | | initial research is used to generate a hypothesis that |
| research paper. Finally the teacher will need to go | | | | predicts a cause and effect relationship between two |
| over the formatting requirements for the report that | | | | variables. From here the student will need to design |
| is generated for this type of research. | | | | an experiment that tests the hypothesis. |
| Survey Research Protocols | | | | Teaching this type of research is usually done before |
| A survey research project collects new information | | | | a science fair. It will include the demonstration of how |
| from a specific group of people. Usually this group of | | | | to design, set-up and execute an original experiment. |
| people has something in common, such as a common | | | | It will also include learning activities that explore how |
| characteristic or a common experience. To conduct a | | | | to collect, organize and interpret data. |