The Nuts-n-Bolts

of Getting Started With

Classroom Research
Jennifer Miyashiro Renee Saucedo
Daniel Barbour

Rio Rancho HS & Inquiry Facilitators, Inc.

May 10th , 2005
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IntelIf,ISEF
inc.
 Why Do Research?
National Science Education Standards
(NSES)
“For students to develop the abilities that
characterize science as inquiry, they must
actively participate in scientific investigations.”
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
“Students in grades 9–12, for example, should
understand the various purposes of surveys,
observational studies, and experiments.”

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 Why Do Research?
Critical Thinking
“In the process of answering the questions, the
students should engage in discussions and
arguments that result in the revision of their
explanations.” (NSES)

Fundamental Process for Inquiry

“Investigations should derive from questions and
issues that have meaning for students.” (NSES)

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 Exploring What
Scientific Methodology
Can Answer

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 Choose One Topic And
Write It Down

• Ghosts • Love
• Astrology/Horoscopes • Plague
• Volcanoes • Crop Circles
• Flying Broomsticks • Mind Reading

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Write A Question For
Your Topic
That Scientific Methodology

Could Answer

And One That It

Could Not Answer.

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After Sharing Your Topic &
Questions With Others

List Common Criteria

That Make A Question

“Answerable” and “Unanswerable”

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Some Common Criteria In Our
List
“Answerable” “Unanswerable”
Testable NOT testable
Repeatable NOT observable
Disprovable (if untrue) NOT disprovable
Based on the
naturalistic world

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 Two Basic Approaches To
Answer Questions
Empirical – Personal observations

Literature – Others’ observations

BOTH strengthen CRITICAL THINKING !!

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 Idea or Question
(Ask)

Hypothesis
Refinement

Experiment
(Investigate)

Empirical Research
Literature Research
(Investigate)
Analyze
(Connections)

Conclude
(Reflect)

Communicate
(Discuss)

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Approaches To
Two Types of
Research

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 The Scenario

One of your students has brought you

the following SCI/TECH article.

Please take a minute

to read the next page
in your handout.
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Let’s Consider The
Empirical Research
Approach

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 From The Article Record
One Testable Question

This question could test

the validity of the article
or
simply be a launching point
for another line of inquiry.

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 Develop & Record
A Testable Hypothesis For
Your Stated Question

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Develop A Few Procedural Steps To Test
Your Hypothesis

Remember !

The FINAL PROCEDURE must pass the

SRC and IRB!

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 Identify
The Following Parts Of
Your Experiment
 Independent Variable
 Dependent Variable

 Control Group

 Experimental Group

 Constants
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Now, Let’s Consider The
Literature Research
Approach

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 Articles that Appear to be
Totally Fictitious

“Teens’ Stinky Feet Cause Brain Damage!”

The Mayo Clinic website did have an article

on hyperhydrosis.

NO mention of brain damage could be found.

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(c)2004 If, inc.
 Articles that Appear to be
Totally Fictitious

“Ape Gives Birth To Human Baby”

Again, we found nothing on this.

Oggi is an actual magazine

but back issues weren’t archived
or available on the Internet.

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 Totally Fictitious Article with
Scientific Jargon

“Trees That Give Meat Instead Of Fruit!”

Jargon Used: Gene-splicing, agricultural

bioengineering, trans-species genetic
engineering.

Article was cited in an alternative medicine

webpage that looked very legitimate.
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(c)2004 If, inc.
Totally Fictitious Article with
Scientific Jargon

“Hickeys Really Do Cause Cancer!”

Jargon Used: Benign, malignant,

carcinogen

Posted on the, seemingly legitimate,

Southeast Missourian webpage under
news and entertainment (March 2004).
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(c)2004 If, inc.
 Loosely based Science Articles
with Obvious Distortions

“New Scientific Study Shows…

Smoking Boosts Your Memory”
Both researchers have published on nicotine.
One found nicotine helps with age-associated
memory impairment.
Neither delivered the nicotine with cigarettes.
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(c)2004 If, inc.
Loosely based Science Articles
with Obvious Distortions

“Scientists Find
The Eject Button For Your Soul”

Dr. Olaf Blanke published in Nature.

He found brain stimulus caused an out of
body experience
He never implied that this had anything to
do with one’s soul.
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(c)2004 If, inc.
 Using The
“Nuts-n-Bolts” Booklet

Philosophy behind Inquiry

Introduction

Seeing the "BIG PICTURE” and where you are.

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 Using The
“Nuts-n-Bolts” Booklet

A Process: A.I.C.D.R

Discuss
Investigate
Ask
REFLECT
Connect

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 Using The
“Nuts-n-Bolts” Booklet
Strategies, Tools and Guidance

Overview
Thirds
Mechanics

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 Using The
“Nuts-n-Bolts” Booklet
Strategies, Tools and Guidance

Case Study
Jr. & Sr. Student Research EXPO
S.H.A.P.E.

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 In Summary

Empirical & Literature Research

Student Interests
A.I.C.D.R.
Management Tools
Go Public

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THANK YOU!
FOR MORE…

www.gotoif.org

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