Science Olympiad Experiment Design and Reporting Guidelines

What is the main objective of the competition described in the notes?

To design, conduct, and report findings of an experiment on-site that addresses an assigned question or topic area.

How many team members are required for the experiment?

A team of 3.

What is the time limit for conducting the experiment?

50 minutes.

What type of eye protection is required?

Goggles (Eye protection C).

What materials must teams bring to the event?

Goggles and writing utensils.

What is the role of the supervisor during the event?

The supervisor provides the team with materials and a 2-part reporting packet.

What happens if a team fails to use at least 2 of the provided materials?

Their final score will be multiplied by 0.95.

What is the format requirement for the reporting packet?

The packet must be single-sided to separate for team members.

What are the consequences of not following proper safety procedures?

The team will be asked to leave the room and be disqualified.

What factors are considered in scoring the experiment?

Completeness of response, analysis of claim/evidence/reasoning, procedures and setup diagrams, variables, data table, and graph.

How are ties broken in the scoring process?

By comparing point totals in specific scoring areas in a defined order.

What is the penalty for not addressing the assigned question or topic area?

The final score will be multiplied by 0.75 based on the extent of deviation.

What must teams do with materials after finishing the experiment?

Return all materials to the supervisors, including both parts of the report packet.

What is the consequence of not following clean-up procedures?

The final score will be multiplied by 0.95.

What is the significance of the materials being unknown until the start of the event?

It adds an element of surprise and requires teams to adapt their experiments on-site.

What is the first task teams complete in the first 20 minutes?

Receive part 2 of the report packet to focus on analyzing the experiment and reporting findings.

What type of data collection is required for the experiment?

Data must be collected by conducting the experiment on-site.

What happens if a team submits no response or an illegible response?

They will receive zero points.

What is the importance of using a linear measuring device during the experiment?

It is one of the required materials for conducting the experiment.

What is the purpose of the experimental design checklist?

To assess the completeness and quality of the experiment and report.

What is the maximum penalty for falsifying or making up data?

The final score will be multiplied by 0.25.