Parts of the Science Investigatory Project Report

Science Investigatory Project

Doing an investigatory project considers as a major achievement of any students in Science.  Through
scientific investigation, they learn how to apply the acquired knowledge,  scientific concepts, theories,
principles and laws of nature.  They can use their higher-order process or thinking skills in conducting
a research. Let us provide you a brief description of the parts of the Science Investigatory Project
Report below.

Title
The Title should be clear and precise.  It has an objective or purpose.  It should not be written too long
or too short.  By just reading the title, you can determine what the investigative study is all about.

Abstract
The Abstract should be one or two paragraphs only.  It includes your research problems, the method
or procedure that you used and the findings or conclusion of the study.

Chapter I
1. Introduction and Its Background
The Introduction is about one page only wherein it includes the background of the study and its
rationale.  It usually leads into the research problem.

2.  Statement of the Problem

The Statement of the Problem has two categories namely: the general problem and specific problems.
Usually, one general problem and three specific problems which derived from the general problem.
The research problems should be specific, reliable,valid, measurable, objectively stated.  It can be a
question form or in a declarative statement.

A declarative sentence (also know as a statement) makes a statement and ends with a period. It's
named appropriately because it declares or states something.

3. Formulation of the Hypothesis

The Formulation of the Hypothesis has two types namely: the null hypothesis and affirmative
hypothesis.  Hypotheses is a scientific guess which intends subject for thorough investigation.  It is
recommended to use null hypothesis in your research project. A hypothesis is a speculation or
theory, based on insufficient evidence, that lends itself to further testing and experimentation. With
further testing, a hypothesis can usually be proven to be true or false. 

Null hypothesis (in a statistical test) the hypothesis that there is no significant difference between
specified populations, any observed difference being due to sampling or experimental error.

 The Research hypothesis is an affirmative statement of an expected relationship between

variables

The null hypothesis states there is no relationship between the measured phenomenon (the

dependent variable) and the independent variable. You do not need to believe that the null
hypothesis is true to test it. 

"Hyperactivity is unrelated to eating sugar" is an example of a null hypothesis. If the hypothesis is

tested and found to be false, using statistics, then a connection between hyperactivity and sugar
ingestion may be indicated.
What Is a Hypothesis?
Arnold likes to conduct science experiments, and he enjoys hypothesizing, or speculating, what the
end result will be when he conducts an experiment. For his most recent experiment, he decides to
mix Mentos and Diet Coke. He thinks this combination will create an explosion. This is his hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a speculation or theory, based on insufficient evidence, that lends itself to further
testing and experimentation. With further testing, a hypothesis can usually be proven to be true or
false. Arnold formulated a formal hypothesis about his Mentos and Diet Coke experiment:
If I drop a half a pack of Mentos through a Geyser tube into a 2-liter of Diet Coke, then the Diet Coke
will explode.
Arnold decides to test his hypothesis. So he buys a pack of Mentos, a Geyser tube, and a 2-liter of
Diet Coke to experiment. He quickly drops half a pack of Mentos through a Geyser tube into the Diet
Coke and runs. The Diet Coke erupts to a height of about 25 feet! Arnold is thrilled because his
hypothesis proved to be correct.

Alternative Hypothesis
An alternative hypothesis states that there is statistical significance between two variables. In the
earlier example, the two variables are Mentos and Diet Coke. The alternative hypothesis is the
hypothesis that the researcher is trying to prove. In the Mentos and Diet Coke experiment, Arnold
was trying to prove that the Diet Coke would explode if he put Mentos in the bottle. Therefore, he
proved his alternative hypothesis was correct.
If we continue with example, the alternative hypothesis would be that there IS indeed a statistically
significant relationship between Mentos and Diet Coke. Arnold could write it as:
If I put half a pack of Mentos into a 2-Liter Diet Coke bottle, there will be a big reaction/explosion.

What Is a Null Hypothesis?

A null hypothesis, on the other hand, is a hypothesis that states that there is no statistical
significance between the two variables in the hypothesis. It is the hypothesis that the researcher is
trying to disprove.

4. Significance of the Study

The Significance of the Study indicates how important is your investigatory project for the people,
environment and community as a whole.  It is really relevant in the changing world or global impact
into the field of technology.

5.  Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The Scope and Delimitation of the Study covers the range of your research.  It includes the period of
research, the materials and equipment to be used, the subject of the study or the sample of the study,
the procedure and the statistical treatment to be used.

6. Definition of Terms
The Definition of Terms has two types: the Dictionary-derived definitions and the Operational
definitions which derived from how these terms were used in your research.

Chapter II
Review of Related Literature and Studies
Related Literature
The Related Literature are statements taken from science books, journals, magazines, newspapers
and any documents from authorized scientists, Science experts or well-known Science agencies. These
statements can support your study through their concepts, theories, principles and laws.  Footnoting
is important on this part.

Related Studies
The Related Studies are those researches which may be local and foreign studies who can attribute to
your research or can support your investigation scientifically.  Footnoting is also important on this
part.

Chapter III
Methodology has several parts namely: the subject of the study, the procedure and the statistical
treatment
1. The Subject of the Study
The Subject of the Study includes your population and the sample.  It applies the sampling techniques
to obtain a good sample of the study.  Your sample should be valid and reliable.

2. The Procedure
The Procedure is the step by step and systematic process of doing your research.  It includes the
materials with right amount of measurements, the appropriate equipment to be used in doing the
scientific investigation.  It consists of several trials with control variables, independent variables and
dependent variables.  Gathering of data is essential in any kind of research.  It is recommended to use
control and experimental set-ups to arrive at valid conclusion.

3. Research Design
The Research Design may be shown through Theoretical Framework or Conceptual Framework
wherein the researcher plans and designs his study with significant theories, concepts and
connections. It shows the input, intervention and output of the study.

4. The Statistical Treatment

The Statistical Treatment comes in various ways.  It can be mean, median, mode, percentage, Chi-
square, standard deviation, T-test, Pearson r, Spearman rank or Anova I or Anova II.  It is
recommended to use T-test in any experimental research.

Chapter IV
Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
1. Presentation of Data, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
The data gathered should be presented in order to be analyzed. It may be presented in two forms
namely: through table or graph.  You may use both of them if you want to clearly figure out your data.
A table has labels with quantity, description and units of measurement.  Graph has several types
namely the line graph, bar graph, pie graph and pictograph. Choose what type of graph that you prefer
to use.  Analyze the data that had been gathered, presented in table or graph scientifically.  You
interpret the data according to what had been quantified and measured.  The numerical data should
be interpreted clearly in simple and descriptive statements.

2. Results
Results show the findings or outcomes of your investigation.  The result must be based according to
the interpreted data.

Chapter V
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
1. Summary
The Summary briefly summarizes your research from Chapter I to Chapter IV which includes the
research problems, methodology and findings.  It consists of one or two paragraphs only.

2. Conclusion
The Conclusion is the direct statement based on findings or results. It should answer your hypothesis
and research problems.

3. Recommendation
The Recommendation is given based on your conclusion.  You may give few recommendations which
you think can help the fellow Science students, researchers, consumers or the entire community
where people live in.