Scientific Investigation

Preparing Your Entry

Scientific Investigation entails experiments with clear methods that compare a range of variables with controls, recorded observations/measurements, repeats, tabulated data and/or graphs, leading to interpretation of results, a conclusion, discussion and application.

Please label boards with student name, year level and school.

Entries are individual or a team of maximum 2 persons.

Scholarships

Scholarships may be awarded for projects within this category for year 11-13 students only.

Example

See the example of a winning 2021 scientific investigation entry – “Masks Unmasked” by William Hopkins (Year 9)

Enter | Tāuru

“Masks Unmasked”

/17

SCIENCE or TECHNOLOGY?

Find out if your project is a science or technology exhibit with the project identifier tool.

Has a theory been formulated to explain the observations?

Yes

Has an attempt been made to prove an hypothesis wrong?

Yes

Is the project a response to an hypothesis?

Yes

Rather than meeting a human need or opportunity, is the project mainly driven by curiosity about something?

Yes

Is the development of the identified product, process or environment the key element of the exhibit, including documentation with sufficient plans, models, etc., to verify the development process?

Yes

Was some of the research aimed at confirming the validity of the original need or opportunity, and/or finding out the precise nature of the problem to which they are developing a solution?

Yes

Is the project a response to an identified human need or opportunity for a product, process or environment?

Yes

Was much of the research aimed at guiding the development and/or improving the performance of the product, process or environment?

Yes

Is it concerned with something which could be mass-produced?

Yes

Was most of the research aimed at gathering new data in response to an observation and/or hypothesis?

Yes

Was most of the research aimed at gathering new data in response to an observation and/or hypothesis?

Yes

Did the gathering and processing of data ensure its validity and aim to determine its significance to causes of an effect?

Yes

Has an attempt been made to prove an hypothesis wrong?

Yes

Has a theory been formulated to explain the observations?

Yes

Is the scientific method the core process?

Yes

Does the project identify as important such attributes as: efficiency, optimisation, reliability, cost-effectiveness, appropriateness of materials, ergonomics, aesthetics, etc?

Yes

Does the project show that the satisfaction of the end-users of a product, process or environment was a key factor in guiding the development?

Yes