Lesson 1: Revisiting the Research Proposal

Have you ever had an idea in your mind or something that you would like to do--
perhaps a Do-It-Yourself activity or a cooking experiment? What was the first step that
you took to make that happen? Planning. Laying out your plan is essential in carrying
out an endeavour. Just like in regular activities, having a well-thought plan with profound
relevance is very important in conducting a research.
The Intel-International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is an annual
pre-college science competition. It is considered as the largest science fair in the world
where top students are chosen out of millions to demonstrate their science and
engineering innovations. These inventions are sought to improve the quality of life and
work of the society. Philippines is one of the many countries that participate in this
event.
As specified in Intel-International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) rules,
project proposal, research paper and other preliminaries are required. They are bases
for judging. Therefore, winning projects have winning manuscripts.
A project proposal is a brief, detailing of the rationale, research questions,
methodology and risk assessment of a project completed before experimentation.
Project Title
Preliminaries
Student/s’ Name
Adult Sponsors
ISEF Prescribed Forms
Project Proposal Proper
Rationale
Research Questions and Hypothesis (Experimental Studies) or Engineering Goals
and Expected Outcomes (Engineering Projects)
Materials
Procedure
Data Analysis and List
Risk Assessment
Bibliography
 ❖ Parts of a Research Proposal: ISEF Prescribed Format
Title
It lets the reader know what the project is but brief enough to be understood. It
should grab the reader’s attention and convince readers to read more. The area or
group the researcher is going to tackle should be included.
Preliminaries
● Student/s’ Name/s
It shows the name/s of the proponent/s and the school affiliated in the project.
● Adult Sponsor
The name/s of the adult sponsor (teacher, professor, instructor, doctor)
supervising the project is/are listed here.
● ISEF Prescribed Forms
These are forms related to the type and condition of the study that should be
completed before and after the experiment.

❖ Research Proposal Proper

I. Rationale
This part identifies the topic and project idea. It explains the importance and
validity of the study based on background research done. It shows a brief critical
analysis and it connects to what the researcher proposes to do. The rationale starts with
a general description of the topic and ends with a specific statement about what the
proponent wants to investigate. According to the rules stated in the Intel ISEF rule book,
it contains three main components which are as follows:
1. A short synopsis of the background that supports the research problem with in-
line citations following a prescribed format.
2. A justification of why the research study is scientifically relevant.
3. An explanation of the impact of the study on the world or society.
Example:
(1) Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a
world pandemic in March 2020, the virus continues to spread in different parts of
the world as governments continue to put in places measures to contain the
pandemic. The virus has created a vicious circle impacting all spheres of life –
security, political, economic, social or technological
 (2) The impact of COVID on HIC reflected by the high numbers of
infections and deaths demonstrates the fact that despite the perceived resilience
of the health systems in these regions, they are still vulnerable to the spread and
impact of COVID-19. As for the COMESA region with relatively weak health
systems characterised by inadequate health personnel, inadequate equipment,
inadequate budgets and a high burden of infectious diseases (such as Ebola, TB,
HIV, Malaria), it was expected that the continued spread of the virus would
overburden the health systems in the region.
(3) This brief seeks to analyse the possible impact of COVID-19 on the
health sector in the COMESA region (Etyang, 2020).
(FOR EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS)
II. Research Question
It is a broad question that shows what the researcher wants to discover. The
question must be scientific and testable. The question is phrased in such a way
that an experiment would provide an answer. It also has at least two variables—
an independent and a dependent variable.
Example of Testable Questions:
1. Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of a car going down the
ramp? (Does this need experiment to be proven? Yes!)
2. How does changing the shape of a rocket’s fins affect its flight? (Does this
need experiment to be proven? Yes!)
3. Does temperature influence a magnet’s strength? (Does this need experiment
to be proven? Yes!)

III. Hypothesis
It is a specific prediction—an educated guess, about the outcome of the
experiment anchored on the background research and the variables to be
observed. The statement usually shows either a positive or negative relationship
between the independent and dependent variables.
 Example: (1) The addition of organic matter will significantly increase the growth
of beans.
(2) The addition of organic matter will significantly decrease the growth of beans.
(FOR ENGINEERING PROJECTS)
II. Engineering Goal
It outlines what the study will be designing and will serve as a guide
toward a successful engineering plan.
Example: The goal of this project is to ultimately produce and manufacture a
multi-layered multi-dye dye sensitized solar cell produced with multiple plant-
based organic dyes that is functional and yield solar energy conversion
efficiencies of up to 1.0% (Tan and Gao, 2012)
III. Expected Outcomes
These statements are explanations of how the study will address the
needs shown in the Statement of the Problem and the “WHO” and “HOW” of the
benefits that will be realized if the proposal is accepted.
Example: (1) The study will produce a more efficient power source that uses
environmentally available and friendly materials.
(2) The study will create a cost-efficient solar cell that can be used widely by the
community as an alternative source of energy.
IV. Materials
This part lists down all the supplies and equipment needed to successfully
complete the experiment in the study. It describes all the specifications of the
materials so that other researchers who would like to use the study as reference
can follow the same experiment.
Remember the following points:
1. The materials should be presented in an orderly and organized manner.
2. The materials should be written in sub-sections which are according to the
function served in the experiment.
3. The materials should be encoded in a list or bullet-type format.
Example:
Materials
Rubiceae leaves (20 grams)
Fabaceae leaves (20 grams)
 Methanol (200 mL)
Whatman No. 1 filter paper
Distilled Water (10 mL)
Folin-Ciocalteu Agent (0.5 mL)
5% Sodium Carbonate (5 mL)
V. Procedures
In this section, list the steps needed to carry out the experiment. It is important to
consider the amount of time, data and ways the controlled experiment can be
maintained.
Remember the following points:
1. Begin writing the Methods while doing the experiment.
2. Describe the steps in detail so that the experiment can be reproduced.
3. Ensure that the appropriate controls are mentioned.
4. Cite the resources of the procedures the experiment adapted.
Example:
Methods
Disc diffusion assay
Antimicrobial tests were carried out by the disc diffusion method using 100 μL of
bacteria suspension (containing 2.0 × 108 CFU/mL of bacteria) dispersed on
Mueller-Hinton agar in sterilized Petri dishes (60 mm in diameter). To the discs (6
mm in diameter, HI Media Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India) placed on the
inoculated agar 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 300 mg/L of each leaf plants extracts
were added. The inoculated plates were maintained at 4 °C for 2 h and later
incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Antimicrobial activity was determined by measuring
the zone of inhibition (mm) against the test bacterial (MRSA isolates and MRSA
ATCC14458). Distilled water and vancomycin (30 μg) were used as negative
control and positive control, respectively (Sharifi-Rad et al, 2016).
VI. Data Analysis and List
In this section, the variables which will be measured in the study should be listed
down. The researcher should explain how the variables will be compared to draw
an idea how the data should be analyzed in the best way.
VII. Risk Assessment
For each ISEF Project, Risk Assessment is a very important part of a Research
Proposal. It contains possible hazards associated with the project and how these
hazards will be prevented from harming the proponents, others, and the environment.
Examples of Risks:
1. Location hazards and risks are associated with where the research is carried
out. For example: fire; visiting or working in participant’s homes; working in
remote locations and in high crime areas; overseas travel; hot, cold or extreme
weather conditions; working on or by water. Also, hazardous work locations, such
as construction sites, confined spaces, roofs or laboratories.
2. Activity hazards and risks associated with the tasks carried out. For example:
potentially mentally harmful activities; distressing and stressful work and content;
driving; tripping or slipping; falling from height; physically demanding work; lifting,
carrying, pushing and pulling loads; night time and weekend working.
3. Machinery and equipment. For example: ergonomic hazards, including
computer workstations and equipment; contact with electricity; contact with
moving, rotating, ejecting or cutting parts in machinery and instruments;
accidental release of energy from machines and instruments.
4. Chemicals and other hazardous substances. The use, production, storage,
waste, transportation and accidental release of chemicals and hazardous
substances; flammable, dangerous and explosive substances; asphyxiating
gases; allergens; biological agents, blood and blood products.
5. Physical agents. For example: excessive noise exposure, hand-arm vibration
and whole-body vibration; ionizing radiation; lasers; artificial optical radiation and
electromagnetic fields. The proponents need to gather information about the
amount, frequency and duration of exposure.
VIII. Bibliography
The resources from the background research and information used in the
proposal will be included in this section. The resources should be at least 5,
alphabetically arranged, and in APA Format. Proponents should acknowledge from
whom and where they resourced the data included in the study.
Example:
Untangle the Riddle!
Using the riddle and letter clue in each item, identify the word and write your answers in
a separate sheet of paper.

1. I will tell you “why.”

Importance is high.
I will tell you “description.”
These will lead you to my work’s information.
_______L_

2. You can measure.

Record and ensure.
The data are organized.
The numbers can be analyzed.
__T_____

3. I am what you wonder.

I am what you would like to discover.
Find out what I may be.
So I can help you with what I could be.
_____R____E_____

4. Need is what we are.

Use is our second nature.
Let us meet in the experiment.
So we can find what is meant.
_____I___

5. Read me and find out how.

Step by step, shall we do it now?
Instruction is what you can see.
After, outcome is what I can be.
______U__