Science Fair Results

What should your RESULTS section contain?

Table 1. Effect of Stress on the Mean Height of Bean Plants

Descriptive Information Stressed Group Nonstressed Group

Mean 60.0 56.0

Variance 49.1 54.9

Standard deviation 7.0 7.4

     1 SD (68% Band) 53.0 - 67.0 48.6 - 63.4

     2 SD (95% Band) 46.0 - 74.0 41.2 - 70.8

     3 SD (99% Band) 39.0 - 81.0 33.8 - 78.2

Number 10 10

     Results of t test t = 1.3 df = 18 level of significance = .05

t of 1.3 < 2.101 p > 0.10

Steps Example

1. Write a topic sentence stating the independent and dependent variables, and a reference to tables or graphs. Effects of stress on the height of bean plants are summarized in Table 1.

2. Write sentences comparing the measures of central tendency (means) and variation (standard deviation) of the groups. Stressed plants exhibited a greater mean height (60 cm) than nonstressed plants (56.0 cm). Variations within the groups were similar, with stressed plants having a standard deviation of 7.0 and nonstressed plants a standard deviation of 7.4. Ninety-five percent of the stressed plants fell within the range of 46.0 to 74.0 cm, as opposed to nonstressed plants, which ranged from 41.2 to 70.8 cm.

3. Write sentences describing the statistical test, level of significance, and null hypothesis. The uncorrelated t-test was used to test teh following null hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance: The mean height of stressed plants is not significantly different from the mean height of nonstressed plants.

4. Write sentences comparing p-value with 0.05 level of significance. If your p value is less than or equal to 0.05, you reject the null hypothesis (accept the experimental hypothesis). If your p value is greater than 0.05, you accept the null hypothesis (reject the experimental hypothesis). The null hypothesis was not rejected (p=.25 > 0.05).

5. Write sentences stating support of the research hypothesis by the data. The data did not support the research hypothesis that stressed plants would have a different mean height after planting than nonstressed plants.

from: Cothron, Giese & Rezba. Students and research.

Descriptive Information	Stressed Group	Nonstressed Group
Mean	60.0	56.0
Variance	49.1	54.9
Standard deviation	7.0	7.4
1 SD (68% Band)	53.0 - 67.0	48.6 - 63.4
2 SD (95% Band)	46.0 - 74.0	41.2 - 70.8
3 SD (99% Band)	39.0 - 81.0	33.8 - 78.2
Number	10	10
Results of t test	t = 1.3 df = 18	level of significance = .05
	t of 1.3 < 2.101	p > 0.10

Steps	Example
1. Write a topic sentence stating the independent and dependent variables, and a reference to tables or graphs.	Effects of stress on the height of bean plants are summarized in Table 1.
2. Write sentences comparing the measures of central tendency (means) and variation (standard deviation) of the groups.	Stressed plants exhibited a greater mean height (60 cm) than nonstressed plants (56.0 cm). Variations within the groups were similar, with stressed plants having a standard deviation of 7.0 and nonstressed plants a standard deviation of 7.4. Ninety-five percent of the stressed plants fell within the range of 46.0 to 74.0 cm, as opposed to nonstressed plants, which ranged from 41.2 to 70.8 cm.
3. Write sentences describing the statistical test, level of significance, and null hypothesis.	The uncorrelated t-test was used to test teh following null hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance: The mean height of stressed plants is not significantly different from the mean height of nonstressed plants.
4. Write sentences comparing p-value with 0.05 level of significance. If your p value is less than or equal to 0.05, you reject the null hypothesis (accept the experimental hypothesis). If your p value is greater than 0.05, you accept the null hypothesis (reject the experimental hypothesis).	The null hypothesis was not rejected (p=.25 > 0.05).
5. Write sentences stating support of the research hypothesis by the data.	The data did not support the research hypothesis that stressed plants would have a different mean height after planting than nonstressed plants.