Experimental Design B/C

User avatar
eyeball138
Exalted Member
Exalted Member
Posts: 402
Joined: November 13th, 2006, 1:01 pm
Division: Grad
State: PA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by eyeball138 »

Writers of this event must give a topic/question to competitors that says what the experiment should be trying to discover, but not necessarily how that experiment should be performed. If the experiment performed by a team is really, completely off the given topic, there could be grounds for a so-called "second tiering." Basically, I'm a little confused. If that team's experiment was actually completely off topic, then they should most likely have been placed below all teams who did follow the topic.

Also, just to note, Amerikestrel is definitely right, there is no "correct" experiment to do at any given competition.

I disagree that the specific experiment has nothing to do with an overall team's placement. As you get into C division, outside knowledge in physics or chemistry is occasionally necessary, and without it, a team's placement will certainly drop. Also, there is such a thing as a more difficult experiment to perform. At nationals last year, my teammates and I had a little bit of a struggle trying to find a way to simply get the trials completed! It's not strictly about the write-up, there are experiments that can certainly play to specific team's strengths.
My SHMS Team Results:
2007
Regionals- 3rd
States- 5th

2008
Regionals- 3rd
States- 5th

2009
Regionals- 2nd
States- 4th

2010
Regionals- 1st
States- 2nd
Nationals- 19th

C Division...
User avatar
zyzzyva980
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 1539
Joined: November 18th, 2009, 12:59 pm
Division: Grad
State: IA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by zyzzyva980 »

Outside knowledge is absolutely necessary, especially in the hypothesis. Your hypothesis should have background information in it as an explanation. Case in point: This year at a competition, somehow we heard a day or so before that pendulums were used a lot at said tournament in the past. We called one of participants' siblings, who had competed in ExpDesign in the past at nats, to ask her about it, and we came out with the equation for a pendulum's period. Next day, we get in there, boom, pendulums. We're able to include the equation in our hypothesis as well as other parts of our write up and we medaled.

With the right knowledge, ALL experiments can play to your strengths.
Olathe North HS, 2011-2013 | National Runner-Up, Sounds of Music (2012)
Never lose the joy of competing in the pursuit of winning

Resources
Site Help: FAQ & IRC
Event Help: [wiki][/wiki] & Image Gallery
Social Networks: scioly.org on Facebook & Twitter
User avatar
butter side up
Member
Member
Posts: 136
Joined: January 6th, 2011, 9:52 am
Division: Grad
State: PA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by butter side up »

zyzzyva98 wrote:Outside knowledge is absolutely necessary, especially in the hypothesis. Your hypothesis should have background information in it as an explanation. Case in point: This year at a competition, somehow we heard a day or so before that pendulums were used a lot at said tournament in the past. We called one of participants' siblings, who had competed in ExpDesign in the past at nats, to ask her about it, and we came out with the equation for a pendulum's period. Next day, we get in there, boom, pendulums. We're able to include the equation in our hypothesis as well as other parts of our write up and we medaled.

With the right knowledge, ALL experiments can play to your strengths.
Z is right. In almost all the sections, but especially in the rationale for the hypothesis and the conclusions, demonstrating outside knowledge that led you to your decisions in regards to the experiment are vital. Also, along with outside knowledge comes important formulas and math to include in your stats and other math sections. These can really count for several points, especially if the judge is familiar with the topic of the event.
I am the one called "TARDIS Hat Girl," and am known as such by all.
2013: Anatomy, Experimental Design, Genetics, Forestry, Disease Detectives
QuantumLeaper
Member
Member
Posts: 32
Joined: April 4th, 2011, 2:12 pm
Division: C
State: RI
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by QuantumLeaper »

I'm thinking about doing this event in the future, but probably not next year. This event is usually set aside for older members on my team since they've taken more math and science classes that will help them in this (I agree, outside knowledge is a huge part in this event). Still, I want to prepare in advance. What would you guys say is the most important part of the writeup that goes along with the experiment? Where is it easiest to get points off? Thanks.
"I know that the molecules in my body are traceable to phenomena in the cosmos. That makes me want to grab people on the street and say: ‘Have you HEARD THIS?"

-Neil deGrasse Tyson
User avatar
butter side up
Member
Member
Posts: 136
Joined: January 6th, 2011, 9:52 am
Division: Grad
State: PA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by butter side up »

QuantumLeaper wrote:... What would you guys say is the most important part of the writeup that goes along with the experiment? Where is it easiest to get points off? Thanks.
I find it is easiest for us to lose points for writing in the qualitative observations, just because they are judged differently by different people. The very last part about changes you would make can be easy to get knocked points, too.
Other than that, the main thing is to make all your graphs and math organized and LABELED. The judges need to be able to see everything that is there, and if they don't have a strong math background, they might not be able to tell if you have all the required formulas. And watch the significant figures.
It is all important, but make sure you leave time for the evaluation steps (11-14 on the rubric http://soinc.org/sites/default/files/EXDRubric2011.pdf), because they are a significant portion of your points and can be a little tricky. Communication is also important- make sure that if you are measuring bounce height, everybody refers to it as bounce height, not rebound or bounce distance. You will feel like you are repeating yourself- remember, this is a good thing. Your write up is not expected to win a Pulitzer Prize.
It all depends on the people you have working with you and how you practice. I would suggest running practices like competition. Pretend you are at a competition, then at the end of 45 or 50 minutes review your write-up with the rubric, as if you were an objective judge. We divide our team's skills into writer, math person, and grapher. the people who do graphs and math usually run the experiment and record data, and the writer goes straight to work with the write-up.
I am the one called "TARDIS Hat Girl," and am known as such by all.
2013: Anatomy, Experimental Design, Genetics, Forestry, Disease Detectives
QuantumLeaper
Member
Member
Posts: 32
Joined: April 4th, 2011, 2:12 pm
Division: C
State: RI
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by QuantumLeaper »

Thank you, that helps a lot. :D I like the sound of this event because I (for some reason) love doing experiments and write-ups. Anyway, I'm trying to think of strategies regarding what to do when time is running out. If time is limited, what portion would be the most valuable thing (point-wise) to write down? I'll check the rules again, but it would be cool to get some opinions on this.

By the way, dividing the work load is a really good idea. I'll definitely mention it to other people who are interested in this event and see if we can work something out.
"I know that the molecules in my body are traceable to phenomena in the cosmos. That makes me want to grab people on the street and say: ‘Have you HEARD THIS?"

-Neil deGrasse Tyson
User avatar
zyzzyva980
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 1539
Joined: November 18th, 2009, 12:59 pm
Division: Grad
State: IA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0
Contact:

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by zyzzyva980 »

I think there's a rubric on the rules sheet that explains how many points each section is worth.
Olathe North HS, 2011-2013 | National Runner-Up, Sounds of Music (2012)
Never lose the joy of competing in the pursuit of winning

Resources
Site Help: FAQ & IRC
Event Help: [wiki][/wiki] & Image Gallery
Social Networks: scioly.org on Facebook & Twitter
User avatar
quizbowl
Member
Member
Posts: 1044
Joined: April 10th, 2010, 3:48 pm
Division: Grad
State: NY
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by quizbowl »

How are ties broken in this event?
2010: 5th in NYS
2011: 4th in NYS
2012: 3rd in NYS
<quizbowl> ey kid ya want some shortbread
<EASTstroudsburg13> I don't know why, but I just can't bring myself to delete this post.
User avatar
Phenylethylamine
Exalted Member
Exalted Member
Posts: 1075
Joined: January 8th, 2009, 4:47 pm
Division: Grad
State: MA
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by Phenylethylamine »

quizbowl wrote:How are ties broken in this event?
I think it's at the discretion of the supervisor to choose something as the tiebreaker. I don't think the rules specify anything.
Protein Modeling Event Supervisor 2015
MA State Science Olympiad Tournament
MIT Invitational Tournament
--
Ward Melville High School Science Olympiad 2010-2012
Paul J Gelinas JHS Science Olympiad 2007-2009
User avatar
JustDroobles
Member
Member
Posts: 164
Joined: February 9th, 2009, 3:28 pm
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Experimental Design B/C

Post by JustDroobles »

The rules do specify a tiebreaker.

Ties will be broken by comparing the point totals in the scoring areas in the following order: Total points for 1 - Variables, 2 - Procedure, 3 - Analysis of Results, 4 - Graph, 5 - Data Table.
Locked

Return to “2011 Lab Events”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests