A practical guide

to extended
science projects
 Have you ever wanted to take an idea a
little bit further, or research a topic a
bit more deeply? An independent research
project could be just the thing for you.
What is an “At university, the lecturers are not there to
hold your hand, so it really is important to
know how to organise yourself and your time.”

extended project? Charlotte

FIND OUT WHAT’S INVOLVED WHY DO A STEM Many extended projects result in THE UNIVERSITY VIEW
EXTENDED PROJECT? a dissertation. But they are also a DON’T JUST TAKE OUR
An Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is awarded to Doing an EPQ involves planning, research and using RESEARCHING A TOPIC IN WORD FOR IT
fantastic chance for you to carry
students who do independent research on a topic they independent study skills. At the end of an EPQ you SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, out a scientific investigation or An extended project is good preparation
find interesting. EPQs are available in England, Wales would produce one of: ENGINEERING OR MATHS to design and build something. for studying at university. Many
and Northern Ireland and are similar to the Scottish
• a report based on a practical investigation that you
CAN HELP YOU DEVELOP
Advanced Higher Investigation and the International NEW SKILLS It should take around 120 hours to universities value the qualification
carry out (primary research) because it develops independent study
Baccalaureate Extended Essay qualification. complete an EPQ, similar to half an
You can do an extended research skills that can help you in your degree.
• a report (also known as a dissertation) based on A level. This significant commitment
There are also other ways to do an extended research project in any subject you like. But Some universities offer reduced
research using books, articles and the internet gives you enough time to produce
project: schemes like the Nuffield Foundation’s Research if your A levels (or equivalent) are in A level grades to students who
(secondary research, also known as library research) something really meaningful. Like
Placements and the British Science Association’s CREST STEM subjects (science, technology, complete an EPQ.
an A level, an EPQ can be awarded
Awards give students the opportunity to do practical • an artefact, which is something engineering and maths) there are
any grade up to A*. “Each university values EPQs in
scientific research, often working in universities. Parts you’ve created or performed yourself. benefits in focusing on those for your
of this guide are specifically about EPQs, but most of project. Leading your own investigation a different way, so make sure you
You would also give a presentation on your work check what part the EPQ plays
the ideas and advice could apply to other similar types is a great way to get a taste of scientific
to your classmates. Until 2017, you can receive up to for the university you apply for.”
of independent research projects. research and to develop practical
70 UCAS points for doing an EPQ
EPQs are marked on your ability to plan, manage, problem-solving skills. Head of Admissions, University of York
(for an A*) – compared with a maximum
carry out and review your project.
Designing your own experiment, of 60 points for an AS level at grade “In highly selective areas, preference
using new equipment, collecting and A. From 2017, when the points system may be given to students with
analysing your own data, and testing changes, you can receive up to 28 points A levels who also offer the Extended
your own hypothesis are rewarding and for an EPQ (compared with 20 for an
WHY DO AN EXTENDED PROJECT? Project for entry.”
motivating, as well as being fun! This AS level or 56 for an A level).
HERE ARE FIVE GOOD REASONS
will challenge you too – you will often University of Glasgow
need to seek guidance from experts,
“We recognise the value, effort
which can help you improve your
and enthusiasm applicants make
communication and team-working skills. PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES in the Extended Project. We
It’s a great chance to discover more “Doing this project made me feel more encourage you to provide
than you’ve learned in class. In fact, determined to pursue a science-based further information on
doing original research means you degree. I loved doing laboratory your project in your
might be the first person to answer practicals for my project and I love personal statement.”
your research question – some lab practicals now at university.” University of Leeds
students have even had work
I t gives you freedom I t can help you I t’s a good example I f you are thinking I t helps you develop published in scientific publications. Charlotte
to do a piece of decide whether you of independent of going to university, the independent “Doing a practical EPQ has helped
The range of topics that fall under
research on a subject want to continue working, which you an EPQ gives you research and critical with essay writing at uni. And I
the category of STEM is vast. If you’ve
– or a combination to work or study can mention in UCAS points and thinking skills that you was asked about my project at two
ever wondered whether ducks prefer
of subjects – you are in your project area. interviews – for jobs, helps you to stand will need at university. interviews – which allowed me to
rain or shine, why not research ideal
really interested in. apprenticeships out from the crowd in demonstrate my passion for biology.”
weather for ducks? Or, if you’re
or university. university applications.
interested in weather patterns, you Anita
could analyse Met Office data. Are
you particularly good with computers?
You could write a program to model
the weather.

2 | WHAT IS AN EXTENDED PROJECT? WHAT IS AN EXTENDED PROJECT? | 3

Personal Choosing
perspectives your topic
MEET PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE AN EPQ You’re thinking about an extended project? First you’ll need to
THROUGHOUT THIS MAGAZINE, THESE
SIX STUDENTS SHARE INSIGHTS THEY pick a topic for your project, and we have some pointers to help
LEARNED FROM DOING THEIR PROJECTS. you choose a strong one.

IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT IDEA There’s a lot out there to explore – but Or, if you’re not sure where to start,
START WITH AN OPEN MIND – don’t be daunted. If you already have a it could help to decide early what sort
AND THEN NARROW THE FOCUS topic in mind, you can think about the of project you want to do – library-based
best sort of project for exploring it. The research, a scientific investigation or
flow chart below might help you choose. creating an artefact. Next, you’ll need
to pick a subject area.

Come up with a testable hypothesis

What interests you? or design brief; you may need help
from a subject specialist
ALICE ANITA CHARLOTTE TAL CAMERON
• Post-16 subjects • Post-16 subjects • Post-16 subjects • Post-16 subjects • Project: Is global
studied: Biology, studied: Biology, studied: Biology, studied: Physics, warming dictated Find out more about this topic Identify what equipment
Maths, Chemistry, Maths, German, Chemistry, Maths, Design, by the sun? you’ll need to use
AS Spanish General Studies, Psychology, General AS Business Studies • Now studying:
• Project: Do direct-to- AS Chemistry Studies, AS English • Project: Bridging the Imperial College What questions does your
Literature reading make you ask? Speak to a science teacher
consumer genetics • Project: Investigating digital divide through London
(maybe your project supervisor)
tests endanger a suitable source of • Project: Caffeine the use of airborne and find out about access to
or empower the DNA from a chicken; – friend or foe: wi-fi and mobile data equipment you can use in school
consumer and is their can DNA barcoding what are the main platforms Do you think your questions could
net effect beneficial be used to determine physiological effects make a good project?
• Now studying:
or detrimental? breed? of caffeine on the Aerospace
• Now studying: • Now studying: human body and Engineering with
can C. elegans be Can you access everything you
Biological Sciences Biology and German Pilot Studies at need in school?
at University College at the University of used as a model the University of Could you answer your
for these effects? questions by doing an experiment
London Birmingham Hertfordshire or building an artefact?
• Now studying:
Pharmacy at the
University of Cardiff
Do you want to do an experiment Can you access equipment
or build an artefact? elsewhere; like a university lab?

IT LOOKS LIKE A IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE ALL SET TO

DISSERTATION COULD BE A DO A PRACTICAL INVESTIGATION
GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU! OR BUILD AN ARTEFACT!

4 | PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES CHOOSING YOUR TOPIC | 5

 “I have a deep interest in astronomy [and] would like to IN NEED OF INSPIRATION?
THERE ARE MANY ORGANISATIONS OUT THERE
one day have a career related to it. This project [was] THAT CAN HELP. HERE ARE JUST A FEW
an excellent opportunity to continue studying astronomy The National STEM Centre’s support group has
and use my interest in mathematics to collect data and information about research libraries and collections,
inspiration for project ideas, research skills and how to
Links to all of these sources and more can be found
at bigpictureeducation.com/extended-projects.
analyse it to find patterns.” contact subject specialists.

Cameron
The project will be challenging, so choose BIOLOGY PHYSICS CHEMISTRY MATHS
a topic that interests you; it will help keep
• Our own Big Picture • The Institute of Physics • Salters Chemistry • Maths in Education and
you motivated. Ideas for topics can come
magazine presents has a dedicated section makes suggestions Industry has resources
from hobbies, TV programmes, current
cutting-edge biological for EPQs, including for chemistry and contacts to support
events, work experience, your studies, your
research and could case studies. investigations. maths EPQs.
leisure reading, or issues affecting you,
help to inspire all • The National Schools
your friends or your family. For example,
sorts of ideas! Observatory has
if you play tennis you might be interested
to explore the technology that goes into • Nowgen offers datasets and resources
making tennis rackets. support for EPQ for students interested
students who want in astronomy.
Once you have an idea or a broad research to explore applications
area, try doing some preliminary research • Salters Horners
and implications Advanced Physics
using books, the internet, scientific reports of genomics.
or popular science magazines. You could makes suggestions for
also look at what other students have • Science and Plants Further Investigations
done for their extended projects – yours
These notes will come in handy PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE for Schools has a that could be developed
when you’re writing up your work guide to planning an into an EPQ.
could build on or follow up on previous “My project developed from an initial
(see ‘Writing up’ and ‘Bibliography investigation and topics
work. This reading will help you to get a inkling that genome sequencing
basics’ on pages 14–16). to help stimulate project
feel for what is relevant (or even point to a was an interesting area, to basing my
different topic to explore). Talk to others When you’re ready, try to pose a specific project around the more specific topic of ideas in the area of
about your idea, too; their input can help question to be answered. This could be direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. botany and ecology.
you focus your ideas. a hypothesis you want to test using an Firstly, I did a lot of research into current
experiment or a design brief for making genomics research and thought that either
Make sure you make lots of notes at this
something for a particular purpose. the Human Genome Project or genome-
stage! This should include making notes of
Sticking with tennis, your hypothesis wide association studies and their ethics
what you read, such as particular websites
might be ‘stiffer materials transmit more would be interesting topics. My course
or books.
vibrations to the handle of a tennis organiser connected me with Dr Hickman,
racket when a ball is struck’. who worked at Nowgen in Manchester; WHO’S WHO?
he helped me to narrow my title to DTC
PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR EPQ
genetic testing and then supported Your EPQ supervisor The EPQ coordinator
me through the essay-writing process, This is your personal point of contact at your school, This person is responsible for the overall running
reviewing my drafts. This was incredibly there to support you throughout your project. You of EPQs in your school or college. They make sure
helpful and really shaped my project.” will agree your project title together, and they will you have the resources and skills training. They aren’t
assess your project. This person could have expertise there for hands-on support.
Alice
in your topic area, but if they don’t, you can find it
from a subject specialist.
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Subject specialists
“I knew I wanted to test a substance used in everyday
These are people who have expertise in the subject
life. The obvious choice was caffeine. I developed
you want to explore. This could be another teacher
my project with my supervisor Dr Julian Foster and
at your school or college, someone at a university,
scientists at Southampton University, and my parents
or a local employer in the relevant area. You’ll often
helped me too.”
need to seek these people out on your own initiative.
Charlotte

6 | CHOOSING YOUR TOPIC CHOOSING YOUR TOPIC | 7

Planning a practical project
Extended projects provide an exciting
opportunity to do extended and
original experimental or design “An important aspect of my experiment was
work. This section will help you plan. ensuring that results were not biased by my previous
knowledge of the effects of caffeine. I designed
blind worm races, where I did not know which agar
plate had which concentration of caffeine on it, so
I couldn’t exert ‘experimenter bias’.”
Charlotte

STEP-BY-STEP PLANNING AN INVESTIGATION

BREAKING DOWN THE WORK WILL INCORPORATE THESE STEPS INTO
MAKE YOUR PROJECT MANAGEABLE YOUR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Hands-on projects need careful planning. You might • What question are you trying to answer? As you
be keen to jump right in, but slow down and take a develop your idea, you will need to come up with
little time to plan. It will pay off. a statement that you can test – your hypothesis.
First, identify the steps of your project. There are • Next, you’ll need to identify what data you need
common steps in all projects: background research, to test the hypothesis. Then, work out what
developing your idea, considering ethical and safety experiment you can do to generate the data. Make
issues, agreeing your title, doing the work, writing up, sure you will actually be able to do it! (See ‘Handling
evaluating your project, and presenting your work. data’, pages 11–13.)

Within each step, break your work down into smaller • Review your approach. Is it ethical?
tasks and identify people and resources you’ll need. (See the ‘The importance of ethics’, page 10.)
For example, will you need to consult a subject • Do a trial run or a preliminary experiment.
specialist? Will you need lab space or equipment? Do you need to adapt your hypothesis? Or the
experimental design?
Agree some dates to hand in parts of your work to
your supervisor for discussion. Their feedback will • Once you’re ready, run the full experiment and
help you refine your project as you proceed. collect your data. (See ‘Handling data’, pages 11–13.)
• Analyse and interpret the data you have collected,
drawing conclusions. Do you accept or reject
your hypothesis? Or do you need to refine your
hypothesis further?
• Write up a report about your investigation, sharing
your results. (See ‘Writing up’, pages 14–16.)

8 | PLANNING A PRACTICAL PROJECT PLANNING A PRACTICAL PROJECT | 9

 “I used eggs and feathers in my project. In
order to collect DNA without harm or stress,
I gathered feathers that had been moulted
Handling data
naturally. Plucking feathers pulls the shaft Creating, saving and analysing data is
of the feather out as well, which contains a central part of being a scientist – and
most of the DNA, but in my opinion this of your research project.
would have been unethical.” Whether you’re doing an experiment
Anita or creating an artefact, it is likely that
you will need to collect data. An
experiment will generate data, while
PLANNING AN ARTEFACT THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS creating an artefact might require you
INCORPORATE THESE STEPS CONSIDER ETHICS EARLY AND to measure how well it achieves its
INTO YOUR DESIGN PROCESS OFTEN IN YOUR PROJECT
objectives – again, by collecting data.
• Your artefact will need to have a specific purpose. Ethics is an essential part of research practice. As a
Before you start creating it, write down what you’re researcher, you have responsibility to the participants in
trying to achieve. This is your ‘design brief’. your research, your colleagues, wider society, and
• Work out the most feasible design. Do some the environment. Of course you also need to ensure
background research and some modelling. that it would be legal to conduct your project.

• Think about the ethics of your project. Time spent early on, thinking about ethical
implications of your research, will pay off. Are you
• Decide what materials you will need, and where
collecting data from people – especially information
you will source them from.
that could identify individuals? Will you need
• Create it, revising your design if necessary. consent? Answers to questionnaires or recordings of
• Keep a log book throughout, documenting your conversations could be particularly sensitive. Imagine
process. asking other students what they like and dislike about
school – they might reveal personal details about
• Will you capture data from your artefact?
themselves or other people. Alternatively, will your
• Think about how you will test your artefact investigation have harmful effects on the environment?
to ensure it meets your original aims.
“Practical EPQs can pose some real-life ethical
problems,” says Dr Julian Foster, an EPQ supervisor
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE and teacher at Peter Symonds College in Winchester.
“My planning was very fluid. I set major deadlines “Students need to discuss the issue of using animals in
and milestones but the timeline for how those experiments and the precautions needed to safeguard
were to be achieved was constantly shifting as human subjects. I’ve occasionally been shocked by
new challenges arose. projects in which human participants have been used
with no evidence of any informed consent or attempt
“The basic design for my artefact was a tethered to provide anonymity.”
balloon capable of carrying a Wi-Fi or mobile data
transmitter at a certain altitude. I spent a lot of time
planning it on paper before thinking about materials. See wellcome.ac.uk/EPQethics to download a
I sketched schematics of potential designs and used copy of ‘Ensuring your research is ethical:
computer simulations to test them before settling A guide for Extended Project Qualification students’.
on one I liked. Issues I had not foreseen when building
the balloon meant re-designing certain aspects.”
Tal

10 | PLANNING A PRACTICAL PROJECT HANDLING DATA | 11

QUALITATIVE VS QUANTITATIVE
LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
“After each experiment, I recorded my data from
TWO MAIN TYPES OF DATA my lab book into an Excel spreadsheet. I was
Data can be broadly categorised as quantitative Think about the following pieces of data and accumulating a lot of data and it was vital to
(numbers) and qualitative (descriptions). Quantitative whether they are qualitative or quantitative: ensure that no data was lost or misinterpreted. I
data measures things, while qualitative data describes
things. For example, you could categorise rocks at
• height also analysed my data after each experiment, trying
the bottom of a cliff as small, medium or large – this • favourite colour to ensure that I did not ignore any important results.”
would be qualitative – but measuring the size of the • what happened during your trip to school
rocks or counting the number in each category would
• what time you got up this morning
Charlotte
be quantitative.
• how many siblings you have
Quantitative data lends itself to statistical analysis,
whereas qualitative data is harder to analyse in this way. • concentration of fluoride ions in tap water.
Quantitative data can be used to make generalisations Note that you can create quantitative data from
such as ‘prolonged exposure to sunlight increases the qualitative data: for example, by collecting descriptions KEEPING YOUR DATA SAFE
likelihood of skin cancer,’ while qualitative data can from different people about how they get to school ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP
illustrate particular examples of something, but can and counting the number of times that they mention
You’ve carried out your experiment and carefully When looking at quantitative data, scientists typically
be harder to generalise. using the bus.
written down your observations. But then you lose try to compare two datasets: a control set (data
your notebook. Disaster! Here are some ways to collected under ‘normal’ conditions) and a test set
take care of your data. (data collected where one or more independent
variables have been deliberately changed).
• If you’re writing down observations, make a backup
RECORDING YOUR DATA by taking a photo of your notes using your phone. An important question is whether the two sets of
TAKE A METHODICAL APPROACH • If your data has been collected electronically, write data are significantly different. To answer this, you’ll
down a copy (if that’s feasible) or save it on a USB key need to use a statistical test. You should decide what
You’ve identified what data you need. You’ve planned Remember: you cannot collect more data once the
and transfer it to another computer. test you will use at the start of your planning as it may
an experiment to collect it. But how will you record the experiment is done (you would have to repeat the
affect what data you need to collect. It is not always
data that you generate? experiment), but you can always discard data you • Make sure that electronic data will be readable by possible to compare data in a meaningful way (for
decide is not needed. As a minimum, every experiment other software and isn’t saved in a format that only the
• Write things down in a notebook. If you’re out ‘in the example, because too little is collected), so plan ahead.
should include: data logger can read. Saving data as ‘comma separated
field’ this may be the easiest way, but you could use a
values’ (CSV) files is a safe way of moving data around. Once you establish whether or not there is a
tablet or take photos. • the date and time of the experiment
significant difference, you can interpret what
• If you’re not collecting sensitive information
• Use a data logger, or some other device that creates • where the experiment took place that difference (or lack of difference) means. Can
(remember your ethics), consider ‘cloud storage’ as
digital data. You will need to think about how you will • the title of the experiment or the type of procedure you accept your hypothesis (or, more accurately,
a backup. Services like Dropbox, Google Drive and
save or transfer it elsewhere so that you can use it (see you’re doing reject your null hypothesis)?
Apple’s iCloud will keep copies of your files online so
‘Keeping your data safe’, page 13).
• the variables you’re controlling (control variables) and that if your computer breaks, you still have a backup. With qualitative data, you may need to look for patterns
• Enter your data directly onto a computer. Set up a their values, including units: for example, ‘temperature But don’t rely on these exclusively! in people’s answers to questions. Consider ‘coding’
spreadsheet (for example, using Microsoft Excel) that 20°C, humidity 80%’ – using categories to classify particular elements of
• If your data has been created electronically, don’t
has the right columns for your data. a response. For example, if you ask people what they
• the variables you’re adjusting (independent variables) work on the original file. Make a copy and use that
You might need to use a combination of methods. For and their values, including units instead. That way, if you accidentally change any find least enjoyable about school, they might mention
example, imagine an experiment that measures how of the original values, you can go back to the original school meals or the range of subjects on offer. Even
temperature varies in different locations during a solar • the variables you’re measuring (dependent variables) though different people will not use exactly the same
and double-check.
eclipse. You might set up an experiment to run over and their values, including units. wording, the sentiment may be similar.
a period of time with data being collected on a data Taking time to ensure that you collect all the data you
In this example, you would create a code for
logger. You would need to record in a notebook the need and record it in the most appropriate way will ANALYSING DATA AND
‘dissatisfaction with school lunches’ and another
location of your data loggers, as well as other relevant make your next steps much easier! DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
LOOKING FOR SIGNIFICANCE one for ‘frustration at limited number of subjects
information. At the end, you would need to combine
available’ and count how many responses there
the data collected from the data loggers with the Once you’ve collected your data and recorded are that fit each code.
information you wrote down in your notebook. it safely, you can start to make sense of it. At this
point, data can start to become information. Need more help with data?
Big Picture: Number Crunching can help:
bigpictureeducation.com/number-crunching

12 | HANDLING DATA HANDLING DATA | 13

Writing up “My biggest challenge was
learning how to use the
Harvard referencing system.”
Your extended project is about more than Anita
practical work – the writing-up stages are
just as important.

REPORTING YOUR INVESTIGATION

EXPLAIN THE WORK YOU’VE DONE
TO OTHERS
Many students fall into the trap of thinking that Conclusion
writing up is the final step of your project. Quite A clear concise statement of what you have
the opposite: writing as you go along will help, actually found out.
even if it’s just to make notes to refer back to or
Evaluation
to keep track of your sources.
A chance to wrap up and evaluate your work.
A typical 5,000-word report might include: What might you do differently next time?
How might someone take this further?
Abstract
A single paragraph or summary of your Bibliography
entire project. A list of all of your references
(see ‘Bibliography basics’ on page 16).
Introduction
A short explanation of your investigation, which Tailor the sections of your report to suit
includes your hypothesis. your specific project.
Literature review
An analysis of existing research relevant to your
topic. Often this explains or justifies how your PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
investigation will help to address an unanswered “I wrote my project in this order – literature review,
question in the field. Sometimes the literature discussion, conclusion, introduction, and abstract –
review is part of the introduction. because this order made the most sense to me. It is
Method important to do the bibliography from start to finish
A step-by-step explanation of your experiments, to ensure everything is referenced accurately.”
including the equipment you used. Charlotte
Results “I separated the different sections – such as methods,
Set out the data that you collected in the most background information, etc. – and then tidied up the
appropriate way – often this will be tables or graphs. formatting before submission. This helped me to keep
Discussion the report structured. I left the introduction until last,
Analysis of your data, including an assessment of as then I knew exactly what was in my report. I felt
whether you can accept or reject your null hypothesis. then I could introduce the topic properly.”
Sometimes the results and conclusion can be part Anita
of the discussion.


14 | WRITING UP WRITING UP | 15
“As a design student, I found it easiest to create a
portfolio that meant I could put text and images
side by side. I found it easier to work on paper, then
scan it in and annotate it digitally. Some people may
like this method, though others might want to have
data and images separate. Write in a way that’s most
comfortable to you and allows you to fully express
what your idea is about.”
Tal

KEEP A RECORD will want to see that you have read and BIBLIOGRAPHY BASICS Education editor: Mat Hickman
DESCRIBE THE DESIGN PROCESS understood the work published already KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SOURCES
Editor: Jennifer Trent Staves
on your topic.
If you’re producing an artefact, you At the end of every published piece of
should keep a notebook – sometimes academic research is a bibliography, or Assistant editor: Tom Freeman
When writing your review, one approach
called a log book, diary or journal – to take is the ‘inverted triangle’ approach. list of any books or other resources that Writers: Kiron Jones, Mat Hickman, Jennifer Trent Staves
which will act as evidence of what Start with a wide perspective, touching the author has referred to or used during
you’ve done. It often includes several on the general issues related to your the course of the research. Graphic designer: Lindsay Pentelow
visual elements, such as sketches or project. Next, narrow down by looking Illustrator: Lyndon Hayes
Referencing other papers is an important
technical drawings, and could also at studies that have something in
way of communicating research Project manager: Amy Cox
include interactive elements such as film. common with your research. Finally
and supporting a strong scientific
Depending on what you create, it may – and in the most depth – discuss Publisher: Mark Henderson
community. Not only does it show
also include a computer database. research directly related to your
your own research to be transparent Head of Education and Learning: Hilary Leevers
specific research question.
The written elements usually include: and thorough, it also allows others to
When you’re reading, don’t forget to follow up on a piece of research that Special thanks to Julian Foster, Elizabeth Swinbank,
• Original design brief: what is the Becky Parker and the Big Picture teachers’ advisory
take note of your references – and they find most interesting – perhaps
problem your artefact will solve? board for reviewing this guide.
ensure you understand what type of for their own research.
• Conclusion: an evaluation of your source you are citing.
final product and your learning. Recording all of this information is
A primary source is an original piece of daunting, and it’s easy to make small
work, such as a scientific article (called a errors. Consider using free bibliography
KNOW YOUR LITERATURE paper) published in a specialist magazine software to help you; some students
WHAT RESEARCH HAS BEEN (a journal), written by the person or use Mendeley or Zotero. Whichever
DONE BEFORE? people who did the research. Other approach you use, the most important
examples include dissertations, PhD point is to be consistent.
You might find that you write much of
theses, conference papers, interviews,
your literature review at the beginning
log books or lab notebooks. Generally,
of your project, especially given that
these are the strongest sources to cite. Once you’ve written your report or created
you will have done lots of research in
choosing your topic. Ideally, the work your artefact, presenting it comes next.
A secondary source is a work that
you do on this section towards the For advice on this next step, see:
discusses primary sources, such as a
end of your project will be more about newspaper article about a paper published bigpictureeducation.com/
bringing together and tidying up the in a journal. Other examples include a extended-projects
research you did at the beginning so that book that contains commentary about
it’s suitable for your final report. other resources, or even your own
literature review. If you cite a secondary
It may seem counterintuitive to spend
source, ensure you note the author, title,
part of your report talking about other
publisher and date of when you accessed
people’s research, but if you don’t explain
the information in addition to the primary
it, others may not understand why your
source information.
investigation is important. Your supervisor

16 | WRITING UP
Teachers! While this Big Picture supplement
is designed to help students through
the process of an extended project, we
know that teachers need support too.
We’ve put together some online advice on:
• the overall process
• supervision
• where to provide guidance
• in-school resourcing
• getting external help and expertise.
bigpictureeducation.com/extended-projects

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The Wellcome Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales, no. 210183.
Its sole trustee is The Wellcome Trust Limited, a company registered in
England and Wales, no. 2711000 (whose registered office is at 215 Euston Road,
London NW1 2BE, UK). PE-6145/15k/05-2015/LP