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Brian's Class Materials- Spring 2014 - SEYS 582

Assignment 3


Assignment 3 - Science Research Project

Due Date - 5/1/2014

Possible Points - 33

How to Submit -
  • Always make sure that your name, the date, the assignment number and course number are at the top of the page on your assignment.  
  • Copy and paste your paper on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard
  • Copy and paste the text of your assignment into a Google document and share it with qcscied@gmail.com
  • Upload your Word document or equivalent in the Assignments in BlackBoard.  Please do not submit pdf files.  
  • Keep electronic and paper copies for your records.

Instructions for Assignment 3

Science Research Project

Due Date - 5/2/2012

Possible Points - 18 points

The purpose of this assignment is for you to engage in genuine science inquiry. You will develop a research question and hypothesis, a research proposal, and carry out a research project. It is very important that you choose a project that is focused and doable within the available time and that uses equipment and materials that are easily available. Your research proposal must be approved by a science education adviser before you begin carrying out the project and gathering data. Use the following instructions and the scoring guidelines when you are developing your research project and when you are reporting your results. Successful completion of this research project and report will provide evidence that you are prepared to successfully conduct science inquiry research.

How to Submit - 

  • Always make sure that your name, the date, the assignment number and course number are at the top of the page on your assignment.  
  • Copy and paste your paper on the Discussion Board in BlackBoard
  • Copy and paste the text of your assignment into a Google document and share it with qcscied@gmail.com
  • Upload your Word document or equivalent in the Assignments in BlackBoard.  Please do not submit pdf files.  
  • Keep electronic and paper copies for your records.
Instructions for Assignment 3

Instructions for the Science Research Project:

Procedure:

  1. Brainstorm ideas for your research project. Decide on your research question.

  2. Develop a research hypothesis and a research proposal, and submit your proposal to a science education adviser. It is very important that you choose a project that can be completed in the time available and that requires materials and equipment that are easily available.

  3. After obtaining approval for your research proposal from your science education adviser, carry out your research project.

  4. As you complete the following, post them on the discussion board in BlackBoard:  proposed title, research proposal, rough drafts and final paper.  
  5. Use a science notebook to carefully record all procedures, data and observations. You should have both paper and digital versions of your science notebook.

  6. After you have carried out your project you will need to analyze your data and determine whether your hypotheses was supported or not. You should also look for any interesting patterns in your results. You will need to use statistics and mathematics to explore your data and to report your results. Your conclusions should be supported by your data.

How to Report Your Research Results:

You should report your results in a paper that is no more than 15 pages, double-spaced, and that utilizes a 12 point font. The title page, references (Literature Cited), and any graphs, tables, charts or images are not included in the fifteen page total.

Your science research report should contain the following:

  1. A title page that includes

    • A descriptive title for the science research project

    • Name of the researcher

    • Date the paper was completed

  2. An abstract that includes

    • A statement of the problem

    • A concise description of the research method

    • Important results

    • Conclusions and significance

  3. Research problem or question

  4. Research hypothesis

  5. Review of the literature (please use the correct style for your science discipline)

  6. Research design

  7. Data (including graphs, tables, charts, and figures)

  8. Data analysis and interpretation

  9. Conclusions

  10. Discussion

  11. References (Literature Cited) (Please use APA style  for your citations and references.  You may want to use technology tools to manage your references.  I highly recommend Mozilla Firefox with the Zotero plugin, but you can also use bibme.org or connotea.org if you wish. 

Scoring Guidelines 

Science Research Project

Assessment 3

Content Knowledge – Research and Investigation

This assessment provides evidence that NSTA Standards 1d, and 1e have been met.

Scoring Guidelines for the Science Research Project

Rating

Description

Unsatisfactory

The candidate exhibits little or no evidence of meeting the standard, or evidence that is below the minimum acceptable expectations of the program.

Satisfactory

The candidate exhibits minimum performance in relation to essential knowledge, skills, or dispositions required by the standard.  Provides basic  evidence of attainment that meets minimum program expectations. 

Competent

The candidate exhibits intermediate performance in relation to essential knowledge, skills, or dispositions required by the standard.  Provides convincing evidence of attainment that moderately exceeds minimum program expectations. 

Exemplary

The candidate exhibits advanced performance in relation to essential knowledge, skills, or dispositions required by the standard.  Provides convincing evidence of sound work, usually with multiple examples of achievement that substantially exceed minimum expectations and show excellence in performance. 


NSTA Standard

Science Research Project/Report Criteria

Unsatisfactory

Satisfactory

Competent

Exemplary

Points Earned

Points

 

0 points

1 point

2 points

3 points

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science (NSTA 1d)

Abstract

The abstract is missing.

The abstract contains only one to two sentences; AND

Presents an incomplete picture of the research project

The abstract is written as a one-page summary;

AND

Is written in the present tense.

The abstract is a one paragraph summary where the first one to three sentences briefly introduce the reader to the problem.  Then the approach, major results, and significance of the findings are presented.

AND

Is written in the present tense

AND

All abbreviations are written out and/or defined.

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science. (NSTA 1d)

Research problem or question

The research problem or question is missing, unclear, or too broad. 

The research problem or question is clearly stated.

AND

Is supported with a rationale that explains the importance of the research. 

The research problem or question is clearly stated.

AND

Is supported with a rationale that explains the importance of the research.

AND

States the goals of the research.

 

The research problem or question is clearly stated.

AND

Is supported with a rationale that explains the importance of the research.

AND

States the goals of the research.

AND

Incorporates relevant literature to help the reader understand the context of the research.

 

The Candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science. (NSTA 1d)

Research hypothesis

A  research hypothesis or hypotheses is missing or stated incorrectly

A research hypothesis or hypotheses is stated correctly

A research hypothesis or hypotheses is stated correctly

AND

The independent and dependent variables, and control are identified.

A research hypothesis or hypotheses is stated correctly

AND

The independent and dependent variables, and control are identified.

AND

The variables are correctly defined.

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science. (NSTA 1d)

Literature review

The literature review is missing.

The literature review is inadequate for the investigation.

The literature is adequate for the investigation and includes primarily on peer-reviewed articles

The literature review is thorough for the investigation, incorporating a variety of sources.

AND

Identifies the need for the research to be conducted.

AND

Identifies appropriate methodology by which the research should be conducted. 

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science. (NSTA 1d)

Research design

The research design is missing, incomplete or unclear.

The research design is generally clear and supports the research question. 

The research design is clear.

AND

All methods and procedures are appropriate for answering the research question. 

AND

Variables are controlled.

The research design is clear.

AND

All methods and procedures are appropriate for answering the research question.

AND

Includes a succinct summary of the research procedures with both controlled and extraneous variables. 

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science. (NSTA 1d)

Data collection and organization

Data are missing, incomplete, or unclear.

Data are poorly organized, and/or inappropriately displayed. 

Data are organized and appropriately displayed using graphs, charts, and/or tables. 

Data are organized in an easily readable format that allows for analysis and interpretation.

AND

Graphs, charts, and/or tables are appropriately utilized. 

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science. (NSTA 1d)

Data analysis and interpretation and mathematical components

The data analysis and interpretation is missing, incomplete, or unclear. 

AND/OR

No evidence of the use of appropriate mathematics. 

Inappropriate techniques, mathematical and otherwise, are used in the data analysis and interpretation. 

Appropriate techniques, mathematical and otherwise, ae used in the data analysis and interpretation. 

The analysis and interpretation of data, using appropriate mathematics for processing and interpreting data, is thorough. 

 

The candidate understands and can successfully use mathematics to process and report data, and solve problems in their field(s) of licensure (NSTA 1e)

 

 

 

 

AND

The interpretation of data is presented in relationship to findings from previous studies. 

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science. (NSTA 1d)

Conclusions(s)

Conclusions are absent

Conclusions are not clearly related to the research problem and/or not supported by the data. 

Conclusions are clearly related to the research problem and are supported by the data.

Conclusions are based on the analysis of data collected, and are clearly related to the research problem and previous studies. 

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science. (NSTA 1d)

Discussion

Discussion of the research project is missing, incomplete, or unclear.

Discussion of the research project is minimal and poorly thought out.

Discussion of the research project includes suggestions for improvements and/or refinements to the research design. 

Discussion of the research project includes suggestions for improvements, refinements, and/or new approaches to the research design. 

AND

Includes a discussion of future directions for research.

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science.  (NSTA 1d)

References/Literature cited

The references are missing.

The references contain insufficient references, or use an incorrect format for the field of study.

The references cite the work of other individuals properly;

AND

Is a compilation of most citations made within the report;

AND

Use the correct format for the field of study

The references cite the work of other individuals properly;

AND

Is a compilation of all citations made within the report;

AND

Use the correct format for the field of study;

 

The candidate understands research and can successfully design, conduct, report, and evaluate investigations in science.  (NSTA 1d)

Professional presentation

Appearance – Sloppy

AND

The research report is not double spaced or in an easy to read font;

Contains no page numbers;

Contains many grammatical errors;

Is written in the first person.

Not applicable.

Appearance –

Pleasing

AND

The research report:

Demonstrates consistent style;

Is double-spaced and uses a 12 point font, and is easy to read;

Pages are numbered;

There are very few grammar and spelling errors;

Is written in the third person.

Appearance – Exceptional

AND

The research report:

Demonstrates consistent style;

Is double-spaced and uses a 12 point font, and is easy to ready;

Pages are numbered;

There are no grammar or spelling errors;

Is written in the third person.