Transcript Choosing a Research Topic Image from

Choosing a
Research Topic
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I. Overview of the Research Process
Definition of Research
• a scientific investigation to find
answers to a problem (Burns,
2000)
• the systematic and objective
analysis and recording of
controlled observations that may
lead to the development of
generalizations, principles and
theories, resulting in prediction
and possibly ultimate control of
events (Kumar , 1996)
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II. Research Examples
Examples of Research Projects from the
Intel Philippine Science Fair 2008
• Pharmaceutical compounds (antibacterial immunobooster)
from Barringtonia asiatica and Garcinia mangostana (Tan,
2008)
• Isolation and characterization of the most cytotoxic fraction
of selected Philippine poisonous crabs (Lugto, 2008)
• MORH: Jedoque process of increasing the compressive
strength and lessening the water absorbency of hollow
blocks (Oliva, 2008)
• Prediction of total soluble solids in ripe mangoes based on its
electrical resistance (Diamante 2008)
• A comparative study on mangrove species diversity at
different locations in Pangasihon forest (Borbon et al., 2008)
• Construction of a mechanical prototype of a microtremor
recorder based on electromagnetic induction (Ambrosio et
al., 2008)
Image from http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/intel-philsciencefair/images/ipsf2005/ipsf23.jpg
III. Considerations When Choosing a Topic
Choosing a Topic
• Topic
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–
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Importance
Novelty
Feasibility
Other practical considerations
• Researchers
– Interests
– Goals
– Adequate knowledge and skills
Image from http://www.kadmanweb.com/Images/crossroads.gif
Which tastes better:
Coke or Pepsi?
Which energy drink
provides the most
Do cherries
energy?have
antibacterial
Which herbalproperties?
medicines
Can
beuse
used
didgraphology
your mother
onto
detect
criminal
you when
you
were a kid?
Whattendencies?
is the effect of a
onbe
mice?
Canmutagen
marijuana
used to
cureisheadaches?
What
the effect of
different
colorsdioxide
of light on
Is Titanium
plants?
carcinogenic
to humans?
What is the effect of rock
music on plant growth?
What is the effect of
caffeine on heart rate?
What is the effect of a
wildfire on a grassland
ecosystem?
Questions to ask yourself
1.
2.
3.
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7.
8.
Is the topic original or does it present an
original variation to a commonly done project?
Are there at least 3 sources of printed material
that can be easily found on the topic?
Can you measure the changes in the variables?
Is it possible to control factors that might
influence the results?
Is the experiment safe to perform?
Are the required materials and equipment
easily accessible at a reasonable cost?
Do you have enough time to perform the
experiment?
Does the project meet all the rules and
requirements of the school/science fair?
IV. Possible Fields of Study
ISEF Categories
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Animal Sciences (AS)
Behavioral and Social Sciences (BE)
Biochemistry (BI)
Cellular and Molecular Biology (CB)
Chemistry (CH)
Computer Science (CS)
Earth and Planetary Science (EA)
Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical (EE)
Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering (EN)
Energy and Transportation (ET)
Environmental Management (EM)
Environmental Sciences (EV)
Mathematical Sciences (MA)
Medicine and Health Sciences (ME)
Microbiology (MI)
Physics and Astronomy (PH)
Plant Sciences (PS)
From http://www.societyforscience.org/ISEF/students/research_categories.asp
Images from http://www.le.ac.uk/bl/background2.jpg, http://news.bbc.co.uk/,
www.berea.edu,, www.ldsd.group.shef.ac.uk, www.engr.wisc.edu,
www.strategypage.com
Behavioral and
Animal Sciences Social Sciences
• Catch Me If You Can: A Robotic
Simulation of Predator-Prey CoEvolution
• The Effects of Serotonin on
Circadian Patterns and Behaviors
in Drosophila
• The Effect of Habitat Loss on
Survival Potential and Decreasing
Salinity on Tenacity of the Foot in
the Marine Snail, Nerita
atramentosa: Possible
Implications for Global Warming?
• The Effect of the Antibiotics in
Marine Sponges on NonPathogenic Bacteria
• The Ability to Learn:
Learning and
Communication between
Comet Goldfish
• The Automatic Speech
Translator for Disability
(Deaf and Blind)
Biochemistry
• Isolation of the Role of
Earthworms in the Chemical
Alteration Trajectory of Lignin
in Old and Young Forest
Systems
• Synthetic Analogs of IGF-1
Receptor Juxtamembrane
Domain: Potent Inhibitors of
Cancer Cell Growth
• Enzymatic Hydrogen
Production Using Pyrococcus
furiosus: A Viable Solution for
Renewable, Clean Energy,
Phase II
Cellular and
Molecular Biology
• The Novel Role of the GluClα Ion Channel and
Diazepam-binding Genes in
Alcohol Addiction
• Overexpression of
Aquaporin-1 in Non-Small
Cell Lung Cancer
• Mathematical Modeling of a
Eukaryotic Circadian Clock
Chemistry
Computer Science
• Efficient Hydrogen
Production Using Cu-Zn-Al
Catalysts Prepared by
Homogeneous Precipitation
Method
• New Routes to Nylon
Synthesis
• Fingerprinting with Genipin:
A Green Reagent for Protein
Detection in Solution and
on Surfaces
• Layered-Double Nickel
Hydroxides as a Future of
Alkaline Secondary Cells
• Real-Time Water Wave
Simulation with Surface
Advection
• MindMouse: A Mind Computer
Interface Without Pattern
Recognition Based on
Biofeedback Training
• Do You 'ear Wha' I 'ear?
Redigitizing Voice Signals into
Lower Frequencies to
Revolutionize Hearing Assistance
Technology
• Simulation of Traffic Problems
Earth and
Planetary Science
• Boxing Day Tsunami:
The Last of the
Knockouts? Testing the
Effects of Coastal
Configuration and
Seawall Designs on
Tsunami Strength
• Analyzing Arctic Solar
Flux and Ice Extent Loss
Projections
Electrical and Mechanical
Engineering
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Research on Autonomous Flight
Controller and Low-altitude Robotic
Aircraft
Optimizing Wind Power: Design of a
Hybrid Wind Turbine Using Active
Solidity
Control for Low Wind Speed Power
Capture
Intelligent Task Coordination with
Multiple Robots
Universal Screwdriver Head
Designing an Autonomous Tracking
System for Efficient Solar Energy
Collection
A Low Cost Water Based Evaporative
Cooling Device for Computers
Materials Science
and Bioengineering
Energy and
Transportation
• Development and
Optimization of a Polyvinyl
Alcohol Hydrogel for
Controlled Release of
Phosphate
• Developing a Novel pH Buffer
Methodology to Inhibit
Concrete Corrosion
• Repairing America's Aging
Concrete Highway Bridges
with Cement Bio-Composites
• The Kudzu Question: A
Useful, Renewable Resource?
• A Novel Process to
Highly Improve the
Bioethanol Production
• From Biomass to
Ethanol: Using
Transformed Yeast
Saccharomyces
cerevisiae for Cellulosic
Degradation and
Ethanol Fermentation
Environmental
Sciences
Environmental
Management
• Development of Biosensors
for Detecting Hazardous
Chemicals
• The Viability of Green
Cleaning: A Quantitative
Assessment of the
• Phytoremediation of Copper
Effluent Using Lemna minor
• Assessment of Land Uses
Effects on the Water Quality
of Rural Areas in Southeast
Brazil
• Use of Seashells to Detoxify
Lead-contaminated Effluent
and Groundwater
• Fusarium pallidoroseum, II:
Can It Control Water
Hyacinth?
• Modification of Sunflower
Stalk Extracts with Boric
Acid and Their Usage as
High Performance
Insulation Material
Mathematical
Sciences
Medicine and
Health Sciences
• Quantitative Evaluation of
Cancer Complexity: A Study
of Fractal Morphometry
• Computing Perfect Numbers:
The Search for Even and Odd
Perfect Numbers
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Genomic Strategy to Refine Prognosis
and Treatment of Early Stage Colon
Cancer
The Effect of Extracellular Signaling
Molecules on Oligodendrocyte
Differentiation, Morphology,
Proliferation, and Survival
Identification of the Molecular
Targets Affecting the Action of
Amphetamine in the Dopaminergic
Pathway
What Is that You're Putting in Your
Baby's Mouth? The Effects of
Bisphenol A from Polycarbonate
Plastics on Lumbriculus variegatus
Microbiology
Physics and Astronomy
• Isolating Honey Chemical
Constituents Responsible for
Anti-Microbial Properties
• Effects of Water Quality on
the Propagation and Growth
of Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis
• Low-Cost Total Internal
Reflection Fluorescence
Microscopy
• Correlation between
Thermal Behavior and
Molecular Network in
Rubber
• Construction of a
Mechanical Prototype of a
Microtremor Recorder
Based on Electromagnetic
Induction
Plant Sciences
• Towards Nitrogen-Fixing
Symbioses without Mutual
Consent: The Impact of
Carbon Limitation on
Endophytic Infection of
Maize
• Developing a System for the
Effective Biosynthesis of
Pharmaceuticals: A Novel,
Plant-Based Approach via
the Trichomes
• Molecular and Cellular
Responses under
Hypoxic Stress in Rice
Cultivars with Different
Flooding Tolerance
• Eco-Friendly Ink for
Color Pens
IV. Next Step
What’s the next step?
• Narrow down your field of
study to a specific question.
• Collect background
information on your
question: at least 3 printed
sources.
• Write a research brief on
the topic chosen.
References
• Burns, R. (2000). Introduction to research
methods. London. Sage Publications.
• Cruz, J. M. (1999). Scientific writing.
Philippine Science High School.
• Cruz, J. M. and A. Chupungco. (2001). Science
and technology research manual. Philippine
Science High School.
• Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable
Foundation. (2007). Teacher’s guide to
science projects.
<http://www.sciencebuddies.org/>
• UP NISMED and DOST-SEI. (2005). Course
notes in Training of trainors in science and
mathematics investigations. October 24 – 29,
2005, UP NISMED, Diliman, Quezon City.