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2012 Harris County Contest Rules 4-H Discover Scientific Method: Research Poster

Objectives: To increase awareness of science, engineering and technology among

4-H members and implement science, engineering, and technology in the forefront of 4-H project work through the use of 4-H S.E.T. abilities. Science-abilities encompass the entirety of the cause and effect on the world and

application of the scientific method Engineering-ability to use problem-solving and design process within science and technology Technology- ability for human innovation Logistics:

Location: Texas AgriLife Extension Office- 3033 Bear Creek Drive Date: March 10, 2012

Schedule: 9:30 AM Contestant Set Up/ Check In 10:00 AM Contestants and Judges Orientation 10:30 - 11:30 AM Judges Interviews/Tabulation 11:45 AM Awards

No Entry Fee for County contest. Enter the County Contest to prepare for District Contest- Big Time In D-9, Friday, May 4, 2012 at the Lone Star Conference Center in Conroe, TX. Entry fee for the District Contest is $15.00 per person. If you attend the District Contest, you may qualify to have entry fee reimbursed. Entry Due Date: County Entry deadline is February 29, 2012. Please turn in your entry with a brief abstract of your 4-H science project research. Bring your research poster with props for exhibit to the contest.

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Contest Categories: A participant or a team of two participants may enter contest in ONE of the seven

category as follows: (1) Biology, (2) Chemistry and Earth, (3) Computer Science and Math , (4) Consumer Product Testing, (5- Energy and Transportation, (6) Environmental Science, (7) Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy. Please refer to State Guidelines for description of categories. Note that topics and projects should be age appropriate. Age Divisions: Participant will enter based on age as or August 31, 2011 in one of the

following age divisions: Junior 8-10 years of age; Intermediate 11-13 years of age and Senior 14 – 18 years of age Teams or Individual: Research projects may be an individual effort, or be comprised

of a team of two 4-H members of the same age division. If a team, both 4-H members must keep separate lab notebooks, with individual notes and then combine the notes for the final project notebook. County Extension Agent Approval Forms: The County Extension Approval Forms MUST be on file with the Extension Agent prior to competition as well as the Human Vertebrate Endorsement and non- Human Vertebrate Endorsements if applicable. Declaration of Eligibility:

The Declaration of Eligibility Form is required and should be turned on the contest date at participant orientation. Participants who do not turn in a competed Declaration of Eligibility Form WILL NOT be eligible to participate in the Research Poster Contest. Safety Rules: All guidelines for safety as described in the DSM Guidelines MUST be followed or participant will risk disqualification. Note: No access to electrical outlets will be provided at district contest. Awards & Recognition: All participants will be recognized with a certificate for achievement and awarded a project quality ribbon. The top five place entries (1st through 5th) in each age division and contest category will be recognized.

Overview of Contest: Each contestant (s) will be provided a place to set up a research poster display prior to the judging of the event. Each display should include a lab notebook relating information about the work conducted on the research topic and suitable props if appropriate. Please note that each team member MUST have a lab notebook to show their individual research and contributions to the project. Each research poster must have an abstract and references listed on the background information. Please refer to contest guidelines for specific on the research post display and lab notebook. Each contestant (s) will give a short two- minute presentation to judges and respond to interview questions posed by judges on the research and the project notebook. The

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judges will convene to compare scores and select the top five entries in each category. Displays must fit the specified guidelines for size dimensions no larger than 36” high by 72” wide when unfolded. No electrical outlets will be provided. See guidelines for details. Additional Recourses: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml Judging Criteria for Junior and Intermediate Level:

Scientific Method:

1- Presented a question that could be answered through experimentation 2- Developed a hypothesis 3- Developed a fair test to validate the hypothesis, changing only one factor at a

time 4- Clear and thorough process for data observation and collection 5- Ran sufficient trails (at least 3) 6- Accurate experimental technique 7- Derived conclusions from appropriately organized data 8- Related conclusions back to the hypothesis

Scientific Knowledge:

9- Accessed a minimum of three, age-appropriate sources for background research 10- Clearly identified and explained key scientific concepts relating to the experiment 11- Used scientific principles and/or mathematical formulas correctly in the

experiment

Presentation:

12- Neat, well organized, and visually appealing 13- Included key components to provide a thorough picture of the project 14- Included a lab notebook

Creativity:

15- Investigated an original question or used an original approach or technique

Judging Scorecard (pdf) Science Fair Project Judging Scorecard-Basic*

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Judging Criteria for Seniors:

Scientific Method:

1- Presented a question that could be answered through experimentation 2- Developed a hypothesis identifying independent and dependent variables 3- Developed a good procedure for testing hypothesis including use of controls 4- Clear and thorough process for data observation and collection 5- Ran sufficient trails (at least 3) 6- Accurate experimental technique 7- Derived conclusions from appropriately organized data 8- Related conclusions back to the hypothesis

Scientific Knowledge:

9- Accessed a minimum of three, age-appropriate sources for background research 10- Clearly identified an explained key scientific concepts relating to the experiment 11- Used scientific principles and/or mathematical formulas correctly in the

experiment

Presentation:

12- Neat, well organized, and visually appealing 13- Included key components to provide a thorough picture of the project 14- Included a lab notebook

Creativity:

15- Investigated an original question or used an original approach or technique

Judging Scorecard (pdf) Science Fair Project Judging Scorecard

Guidelines for Resources Reference:

A reference citation (also known as author-date citation) is an accepted way to reference

information you copy. Citation referencing is easy. Simply put the author's last name, the year of

publication, and page number (if needed) in parentheses after the information you copy. Place

the reference citation at the end of the sentence but before the final period.

Make sure that the source for every citation item copied appears in your bibliography.

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Guidelines for Abstract:

An abstract is an abbreviated version of your science fair project final report. For most science

fairs it is limited to a maximum of 250 words (check the rules for your competition). The science

fair project abstract appears at the beginning of the report as well as on your display board.

Almost all scientists and engineers agree that an abstract should have the following five pieces:

Introduction. This is where you describe the purpose for doing your science fair project

or invention. Why should anyone care about the work you did? You have to tell them why. Did you explain something that should cause people to change the way they go about their daily business? If you made an invention or developed a new procedure how is it better, faster, or cheaper than what is already out there? Motivate the reader to

finish the abstract and read the entire paper or display board.

Problem Statement. Identify the problem you solved or the hypothesis you investigated.

Procedures. What was your approach for investigating the problem? Don't go into detail

about materials unless they were critical to your success. Do describe the most important variables if you have room.

Results. What answer did you obtain? Be specific and use numbers to describe your results. Do not use vague terms like "most" or "some."

Conclusions. State what your science fair project or invention contributes to the area

you worked in. Did you meet your objectives? For an engineering project state whether you met your design criteria.

Things to Avoid

Avoid jargon or any technical terms that most readers won't understand. Avoid abbreviations or acronyms that are not commonly understood unless you describe

what they mean. Abstracts do not have a bibliography or citations. Abstracts do not contain tables or graphs. For most science fairs, the abstract must focus on the previous 12 months' research (or

less), and give only minimal reference to any earlier work. If you are working with a scientist or mentor, your abstract should only include

procedures done by you, and you should not put acknowledgements to anyone in your

abstract.

Preparing for the Science Fair Judging-Practice Makes Perfect!

Write up a short "speech" (2- minutes) summarizing your science fair project. Do not

restate your abstract word by word. You will give this speech (from memory) when you

first meet the judges. Include in the speech:

o How you got the idea.

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o How you did the experiment (explain any relevant terms along the way).

o Your results and conclusions.

o Why your science fair project is important in today's society (how will it help

people today?). You don't have to cure cancer. Perhaps your work will help a

small group of people, but it's still important.

o Demonstrate that you understand the theory behind why your project turns out the

way it does.

o If you can't fit all of this into your presentation, be prepared to discuss each of the

above topics separately.

o Expect to be interrupted when you talk to the judges. You will rarely finish your

speech.

Organize a list of questions you think the judges will ask you and prepare/practice

answers for them. A few common questions are listed below.

o How much help did you receive from others?

o What does your data tell you?

o Why is this research important? (Who cares if a rocket flies well?)

o What do your graphs represent?

o What does your data tell you?

o What problems did you run into while doing your experiment and how did you fix

them?

o What are the three most interesting things you learned when doing this science

fair project?

o What further research do you plan on doing, or would do, to this science fair

project? (Your future study)

Study your background research as you would for a test. In some ways, presenting your

science fair project is like taking an exam. The better you know your background

research, the higher the chance you have of winning.

o This is the part I usually had trouble with: I would do the research and understand

everything, but then I needed to study it. I would eventually learn and remember

all the facts I should know, but I had to sit myself down and study. Force yourself

to pretend there is a test the next day on all of the information, and you will be

prepared.

Practice explaining your science fair project to others and pretend they are judges.

o Practice explaining all graphs, tables, your short speech, answers to possible

questions judges might ask, etc.

o Practice explaining the theory behind your science fair project. Theory includes

everything from your background research.

o Videotaping yourself during practice can also be very helpful. Although it can be

painful to watch the video, you will see the mistakes you made and be able to fix

them the next time you speak.

Practice explaining your science fair project in simple terms so anyone can understand it.

o Many students do not know how to explain their science fair project to the general

public. If you can explain your project in laymen's terms, you are one step ahead

of everyone else!

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Presenting Yourself— Be Professional!

Always dress up nicely for the science fair judging period-NO JEANS! Everyone will

take you more seriously if you look professional.

Make good use of your display board. Point to diagrams and graphs when you are

discussing them.

Always be positive and enthusiastic!

o Show the judges you are interested in your research and they will be more likely

to remember you.

o Do not be negative unless you are emphasizing a frustrating problem you ran into.

Be confident with your answers. Do not mumble and say "Ummmmm...I think maybe

this is happening?" Even if you answer a question incorrectly, at least they will not think

you are a wimp!

Emphasize how you were creative/unique/innovative with your science fair project.

o One of the major criteria on a judges' list is creativity and originality.

If you have no idea what the judge is asking, or do not know the answer to their question,

it is okay to say "I do not know."

o This is better than making something up that probably is not correct.

o It's better to get on to the next question for which you probably do know the

answer.

Treat each person who visits you like a judge, even nonscientists.

o They may be a valuable contact who could give you an internship later on.

Revised: 11/15/2011 / SN

Discover Scientific Method Research Poster Contest

Sample Judging Questions

Below are listed some sample questions that a judge might ask during an interview with astudent. (Please note that not all of these questions will be relevant to all projects.)

Framing the Question:What prompted you to choose this topic?What is the question that you wanted to answer?What type of research did you have to do before you began the experiment?Did you make any initial observations or do any other experiments before you began?How/Where did you research the scientific principals that your project is based on?Do you have a hypothesis?

Designing the Investigation:Please describe for me what you did for this project.What are your controls? What are your variables?What materials did you used? Did you have to purchase or make any of your equipment?Did you have to modify your procedure as you did the experiment?How did you deal with unusual situations while taking data?

Collecting and Presenting Data:How did you organize the information/data that you collected?Why did you choose this type of graph/chart to represent your data?How long did you spend gathering data?How many trials (tests of the same experiment) did you run?Was there any “weird” data that seemed out of ordinary? Did you choose to include it?

If so, how do you explain it? If not, why did you choose to not include it?How did you measure your data? What units of measurement did you use?

Analyzing and Interpreting Results:Did you make any calculations using your data?Could you see any patterns in your data?What did you learn as a result of this project?Does your data support your conclusion?What were your sources of data?What could you do to eliminate sources of error if you were to do this project again?Did you discover something that you would like to learn more about?Were there any results that surprised you?If you could continue this project, what would you do next?

2012 Harris County Discover Scientific Method: Research Poster Contest Entry Form

All projects must be approved by Sheryl Nolen, County Extension Agent. She can be reached at 281-855-5621 or email snolen@ag.tamu.edu Deadline is Feb. 29, 2012.

4-H Member(s) Name:

Project Title:

Category:

Age Division:

CEA Name:

County:

4-H Club Name:

Project Abstract: Write neatly below, or attach a typed copy with your name and problem on it.

Date Approved:

County Extension Agent Signature:

Parent/Guardian Signature: 4-H Member(s) Signature(s):