In reference to a science project, research is the preliminary process of discovering information about ideas for a science project.
I am dividing preliminary science project research into two parts:
Fact Finding Research– What others have discovered.
Exploratory Research- What you discover.
Fact Finding Research
One way to research a topic is to collect facts from books, magazines, online, etc..
Another example of Fact Finding Research is to ask knowledgeable people, such as teachers, parents, or anyone with credible information about the topic.
Fact Finding Research is the backbone of science discovery. Scientists do not continue inventing the wheel. Instead, they find out what is already known about wheels (recorded facts) with the objective of improving the wheel design.
Fact finding research does not involve experimentation, but another type of preliminary research called Exploratory Research does.
Exploratory Research
Exploratory Research is what you discover from observing, investigating, and experimenting. Exploratory Research is any hands-on-science investigation in which you are making an observation of something, such as the taste buds on the surface of a tongue. It can also be a “How to” type of investigation, such as “How to Make an Electromagnet.”
Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects
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