There are three main categories of non-experimental projects: descriptive or correlational, surveys, and demonstrations. In a non-experimental project, students examine a particular question and collect observations but do not experimentally manipulate (or purposely change) the independent variable. Like all scientific studies, a non-experiment should still involve particular question(s) to be evaluated, identification of relevant variables, background research, systematic methods to conduct the project, careful and detailed observations/notes, and valid conclusions.

Descriptive or Correlational Projects

• Focus is on the relationship between two or more variables
• Cannot manipulate or change the independent variable
• Study the relationship between variables as they naturally occur

Example:

Topic: Effect of second hand smoke in the home and childhood asthma

It is unethical to assign children to be exposed to second hand smoke. Therefore you
look at the results (the frequency of asthma) after children have already been exposed to second hand smoke in their natural environments (the homes in which they live).

Descriptive and Correlational Project Ideas

Possible questions that could be investigated in descriptive or correlational project include examining the relationship among such variables as:

• Vision problems and other factors (e.g., eye color, age, gender)
• Height, weight, and strength
• Height, gender, or minutes played, and some or all of the following: rebounds, assists, points scored, fouls, free throw success, etc.
• Gender and choice of language or other classes
• Ingredient content vs. price of different products

Surveys

Surveys will end up being descriptive and/or correlational when the results are presented. In any case, the survey itself should be well designed and controlled for important factors, such as method of administration, item response choices, etc. In addition, the student should try and collect additional information on those surveyed (for example, age, gender, etc.) to look to any differences based on these factors. If conducting a survey, students should consider the following:

• May survey other students, teachers, parents, or another group on a particular area of interest
• Must be well designed so that the student can make sense of the responses
• Must survey a large enough individuals in order for the results to be valid
• Many resources are available to guide students in developing and interpreting surveys
• Results are generally reported using description and/or correlation
  

Survey Project Ideas

• Bike helmet use
• TV watching and preferences
• Teacher background and classes taught
• Parents’ home periodical subscriptions and education level
• CD listening times, preferences and other factors

Demonstrations

This category may include the demonstration of:

• A particular science apparatus or scientific principle
• How something works
• How something is created naturally or in the lab
• How something occurs in our environment.
  

Demonstration project ideas

How a bicycle works
The steam engine
Weather forecasting
Levers
Pulleys
How binoculars work
How a microscope works
Evaporation
What is ground water?
How seed travel
How a canal lock works
Hydroponics
Why things float
Effects of air pressure
What causes light to bend?

Please note: The project’s level of complexity should fit with the student’s age and grade level. (Simple demonstrations would not be appropriate for upper elementary school and middle school students.)

How to Do a Non-Experimental Project!

1.  Select a topic and a question

§ Start by listing topics you are interested in (baking, music, school, sports, art, health, etc.)

§ From that list, create questions that you think would be interesting

o How important is sugar as a ingredient in cookies?

o How does a bicycle work?

o Is it necessary to see food in order to taste it?

§ Choose a question that you think you can answer.  Be sure to consider the following:

o Will it be interesting?

o How will I gather my results or observations?

o Can I get the necessary supplies to do the project?

o Will I have enough time to complete it?

o Is it safe?

o What variables are important and will influence my investigation?

o Which things should I consider, and control if possible, to improve my project?

2.  Plan how, when, and where you will do your project

Keep in mind:

o What you want to have happen

o What equipment/materials you will need

o How you will perform the project (put in place any controls and identify variables for descriptive/correlational and survey projects only)

o What you will be observing, measuring, or collecting during the project

3.  Develop or collect necessary materials

4.  Execute the project and observe/measure the results

  Prepare data sheets for recording notes, observations, or measurements

  Keep track of all results in a log.  Include notes and drawings as appropriate

  Repeat is possible to verify your results

For demonstration:  Record and observe how something works and why

5.  Organize your results (observations or measurements)

  Include charts, graphs, tables, pictures, drawing and/or diagrams as appropriate

  When possible, use numbers to show your results

  Identify and label any pictures, drawings, diagrams, etc.

  Identify and label all relevant variables (descriptive/correlational and survey projects only)

  Identify any controls and put in place (descriptive/correlational and survey projects only)

6.  Explain your observations and results

  Why do you think you got the results you did?

  How do your results/observations compare with what you read about or predicted?

  For demonstration:  Be ready to explain how and why something works

7.  Draw conclusions

  What can you say about your project in general?

  How do your results or observations relate to your life or our environment?

  Is there anything you could have done to improve your project?

  What new questions did your project raise?

  What should be looked at next time a similar project is performed?

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