Steps in Making an Investigatory Project

1. Select a Topic.

The first step in making an investigatory project is selecting a topic to

research on. If you are making an investigatory project in Chemistry, you
may select the topic about a new substance in making soaps.

After selecting the topic, narrow down your research into something that
you are interested in. For example, you might be interested in using
different plants in making soaps. Papaya has been proven to make skin
look younger. Find something that interests you.

2. Make a Research Question and Title

Now that you have your topic, you should now create your Research
Question. Your research question is something that you want to test.
Something that intrigues you and you want to find out the correct answer.

A sample research question might be, “Can I make an antibacterial soap

using guava leaves?“.

If this is your question, then the title for your Investigatory Project is Using
Guava Leaves in Making an Antibacterial Soap.

Explore other questions that also interest you. Remember that you must
make a scientific inquiry. That means the question or topic can be answered
objectively and not through opinions only.

3. Design the Experiments and Procedures

Now that you want to find out if guava leaves can be made into an
antibacterial soap, you have to design experiments so that you can answer
your research question.

One experiment might be making soap and adding guava leaves extract to
it. You will then test the soap and a standard commercial soap if it can kill
bacteria found in a piece of cloth.
In designing the experiments, you have to make a list of the steps to be
carried out. You have to make the procedures by your self or with your
group mates.

4. Write the Abstract of the Project

An abstract is a short explanation of what your investigatory project is all

about. Here are some examples of abstracts from Filipino students:

This study primary focuses in proving Papaya extract as substitute for meat
tenderizer.
The researcher uses green papaya fruit (unripe) and meat. These primary
materials are readily available in the market.

Each meat is soaked for 10 minutes in water and papaya extract solution
with a concentration of 1:6, 1:1:2, 1:1:8, 1:2:4, and 1:3 respectively. The meat
boiled for another 10 minutes. The respondents rated the meat to their score
sheets (Hedonic Scale), they were satisfied of the right concentration of
papaya extracts and rated it as “super good”.

With the right and precise concentration of the papaya extract, the meat has
been tenderized. This proves the Papaya extract can be a substitute to meat
tenderizer.

Source: Gian Paul Giron

5. Conduct the Experiments

Using the procedures you have made in step 3, conduct your experiments
and record all data in your observation. Include also those things that
happened and you think are interesting.

6. Write a Research Paper

A research paper is the formal document of your investigatory project. It

will be used when you present your investigatory project to your teacher or
a set of panelist. You can even present it to an international group of
scientists.

The Research Paper may contain the following:

1. Title of the Project
2. Statement of the Problem
3. General and Specific Objectives
4. Procedures or Methodology
5. List of Materials and Equipment
6. Results of the Experiments in the form of graphs and tables
7. Analysis of the Data
8. Conclusion
9. Recommendations

A guide in making a research paper will be published in this website soon. I

will update this article as soon as it is published.

7. Create a Visual Aid

Make a collection of pictures of the experiment, charts and graphs relevant

to the Investigatory Project.

Those are the steps in making a scientific investigatory project.

Good luck and may you discover something new!

Investigatory Project Sample Format:

Abstract
After finishing the research and experimentation, you are required to write
a (maximum) 250-word, one-page abstract. An abstract includes the a)
purpose of the experiment, b) procedures used, c) data and d) conclusions.
It also includes any possible research applications. The abstract should
focus on work done since the last fair.

Research Paper
A research paper should be prepared and available along with a project
data book, and any necessary forms or relevant written materials. A
research paper helps organize data as well as thoughts. A good paper
includes the following sections:
Title page – title of the project must be brief, simple and catchy
Statement of problems/objectives – the nature & scope of the problem
should be presented with clarity. Two types of objectives may stated:
General Objective – this is related to the problem as given in the early
part of the section
Specific Objective – this states the purpose of each experiment conducted.
Methodology – provides enough details so that a competent worker can
repeat the experiments
Materials / Equipment – the exact technical specifications, quantities and
source of method of preparation for all materials used should be given.
Specifically, built equipment used in the study must be described and the
description accompanied by a picture
Treatment / General Procedure – the manner & sequence by which each
experiment or set of observations were done & how measurements were
obtained should be described in detail. Avoid using the “recipe style”
when stating the step-by-step procedure. Use the narrative form in the past
tense.
Results and Discussion – this may be divided into sub-sections describing
each set of experiment or observations.
Findings – the data maybe presented in full & discussed descriptively in
the test or these maybe summarized in tables, pictures & graphs. The
statistical test used to determine the possible significance of the finding
should be described. Tables, pictures & graphs should make the
presentation of the data more meaningful.
Analysis of Data – the interpretation of the findings are discussed & the
significant features shown in the tables, figures or graphs are pointed out.
Conclusions – the general truth implied or illustrated by the results should
be clearly stated. The evidence based on the results should be summarized
for each statement.
Recommendations – consists of suggestions on future actions such as a
new direction of research or further experiments to be performed, practices
that might be adapted or discard in order to attain certain goals or
objectives.
Bibliography – a list of the references used in guiding the research work
and writing and paper.

Visual Display
You want to attract and inform. Make it easy for interested spectators and
judges to assess your study and the results you have obtained. Make the
most of your space using clear and concise display.
Source: Department of Science and Technology

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