Where do I begin? Adapted from: Harold P. Mediodia

1. Where do I begin?
Getting started

2. 1st … your interest
• From what you have experienced.

3. 1st … your interest
• From what you have read.

4. 1st … your interest
….From what you enjoyed
doing.

5. What Science
topics are related
to my interest?

6. List of Science Categories

7. List of Science Categories
• Information Technology
• Microelectronics
• Materials Development
• Environmental Technology
• Solid Waste Management
• Nutrition and Food products
• Non-conventional Energy Sources
• Microbiology
• Biological Pest Control
• Pollution Control
• Process Technology
• Aquaculture
• Physiology
• Medicine
• Appropriate Technology

8. What
Then?
Identify
a Topic

9. 2nd … identify the topic
read
ask
observe

10. 2nd … identify the topic
•Current events or emergent ideas.
•Problems that require solutions
•Products that may be tested
•Reports about what scientists are working on
•Problems encountered when using new technology
•Specific needs of a certain community

11. I already have a topic.
What’s next?
Narrow down
your topic

12. Broad
Topic
Specific Topic

13. 3rd … narrow down your topic
Take Note:
• What’s current
• Recommendations
• What has been studied
• New ways of gathering
data
Read Further

14. 3rd … narrow down your topic
Scan reference list
and correspond
?

15. I am interested
with forests.
Specifically with
forest animals.

16. So am I
done?
Identify a
research problem

17. 4th … identify a problem
•Identify a question to be
answered
•Outline the specific steps
to be taken
•Ascertain the feasibility

18. forest
animals
Fruit
eating
bat
birds

19. Respond to the following
questions:
1.What general topic interests
you?
2.What general action of the
topic interests you?
brainstorming

20. Topic Action
Concept Map

21. roots
Plants
(topic)
stems
Reproduc-
tion
spores
growth
(topic)
water
Concept Map

22. Conceptualizing a possible research
problem …
Experimental
research

23. Four question strategy
1. What materials are readily available for
conducting experiments on ( )?
2. How do ( )?
3. How can I change the set of ( )
materials to affect the Action?
4. How can I measure or describe the
response of ( ) to change?

24. Four question strategy
•1. What materials are readily available for
conducting experiments on ( plants ) ?
•Soils, plant fertilizers,
water, light/heat,
containers

25. Four question strategy
•2. How do ( plants ) act?
•Plants grow

26. Four question strategy
•3. How can I change the set of ( plant )
materials to Affect the action?
•Water-amount, scheduling, method
•Plants – kind, spacing, age, size
•containers – location of holes, shape,
size, colour, materials, number of holes

27. Four question strategy
•3. How can I measure or describe the
response of ( plants ) to change.
• * count the number of leaves
• * measure the length of longest stem
• * count the number of flowers
• * determine the rate of growth

28. Conceptualizing a possible research
problem…
Descriptive
Research

29. Guide Questions
• 1. What are the characters of ( ) ?
• 2. What factors can be related to the existence,
presence, development or distribution of ( ) ?
• 3. What are the uses of ( ) ?
• 4. What is in ( ) that makes it suitable or a
potential to be used as ______?

30. Conceptualizing a possible research
problem…
Technology or
developmental
research

31. Guide questions
1. How do ( ) work?
2. What makes ( ) work?
3. What are the commercially available
models/ designs of ( )?
4. What part(s) of ( ) that can be
modified?

32. Guide questions
5. What are available designs, systems or
parts that can replace the existing
model of ( )?
6. What are the available materials for the
construction or development of ( )?
7. How can ( ) be modified or
designed to suit the intended use?

33. I think I’m
ready now…
ARE YOU?