DOCUMENTATION OF CONTROLLED EXPERIMENTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NOTEBOOK (LOG OR JOURNAL)
THE NOTEBOOK:
PAGES ARE NOT TO BE REMOVED. Simply put a line through errors.
All pages are to be numbered before any data is entered.
All entries are to be dated.
Each new entry is to begin on a separate page.
Use more than one notebook if necessary.
Do not put rough drafts of the research paper in the notebook.
CONTENTS OF THE NOTEBOOK:
List of potential science fair projects.
Project title.
Experimental Design. Identification of Variables, etc.
DATA TABLES (RAW AND SUMMARY DATA)
Daily observations (similar to a diary)
Calculations.
Graphs
Reading notes from literature pertaining to the project.
DOCUMENTATION: The proof that the experiment was completed.
DATE ALL ENTRIES IN THE NOTEBOOK
Photograph when ever possible. Photograph the progress in various stages of completion when possible.
If scientific equipment is used (Spectrophotometer, HPLC, IR, NMR,) you must save all print outs from the machine.
If the project is a continuation from past years, you must have all old notebooks and required certification forms.
The burden of poof that the project was completed is the student. To avoid any questions as to the validity of your experiment you should document everything.