RESEARCH / CAPSTONE PROJECT

WHAT IS CAPSTONE?
 “COPING STONE”
 HIGH POINT
 CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT
 PINNACLE
When we say PINNACLE, its means the highest point of development or achievement
 CAPSTONE IS NOT LIMITED
 CAPSTONE IS SELF-INTEREST
EDUCATIONAL GOALS OF CAPSTONE
 Increase Academic Rigor of Senior Year
 Increase Student Motivation and Engagement
 Increase Educational and Career Aspirations
 Improves Student Confidence and Self-Perception
 Demonstrate Learning and Proficiency

LESSON 1 : EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE

Why do we need to conduct experiments and research projects?
SCIENCE is a body of knowledge of systematized information derived from observation and
experimentations
WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH?
 Scientific Research is an objective, logical, and repeatable attempt to understand the
principles and forces operating the natural universe.
 Research conducted for the purpose of contributing towards science by the systematic
collection, interpretation and evaluation of data and that, too, in a planned manner is
called scientific research:
 A researcher is the one who conducts this research.
Who is a Researcher?
R-esearch-oriented
E-ffecient
S-cientific
E-ffective
A-ctive
R-esourceful
C-reative
H-onest
E-conomical
R-eligious
What is a capstone research project?
How does it differ from a thesis?
CAPSTONE RESEARCH PROJECT (CRP)
 Conduct experiments that will draw students’ experiences together to answer a research
question or experiment.
 Focus on narrow and specific topics
THESIS
 More detailed research endeavor aimed to contribute new knowledge to existing scientific
literature.
  Addresses generalized and broader knowledge
Research projects may involve
 Conducting experiments in a laboratory
 Carefully observing the environment

LESSON 2 DISCOVERY-BASED INVESTIGATION

Science Inquiry, a search for information and explanation, often focusing on specific questions.
Two main approaches in scientific investigations
 Discovery-based investigation (non-inquiry-based)
o DEMONSTRATION
o COLLECTION
 Hypothesis-based investigation (inquiry-based)
DISCOVERY-BASED INVESTIGATION
 relies mainly on verifiable observations and measurements.
 involves methods to observe a structure or a phenomenon; to record, analyze, and
interpret the data obtained; and to generate detailed descriptions.
 Discovery science, also called descriptive science, is mostly about describing nature.
 Describes natural structures and processes as accurately as possible through careful
observation and analysis of data.  Discovery science for example has built our
understanding of cell structure and classification of the diverse species on earth.
 Recording observations in the form of qualitative and quantitative data is the foundation of
this kind of experimenting. Jane Goodall, for example, spent decades recording her
observations of chimpanzee behavior. 
 Discovery science can lead to important conclusions based on a type of logic called
induction, where we derive generalizations from a large number of specific observations.
EXAMPLE : House dust mite under the microscope
Students who embark on a non-inquiry investigation usually have science projects that fall into
either demonstration or collection.
DEMONSTRATION
 It explains a scientific principle of why or how something works through models,
illustrations, or even visual animations. This type of investigation does not require
hypothesis testing.
 However, you must carry out testing or trials to demonstrate that a given scientific principle
actually works. A model is any small object usually built to scale down the size or the exact
nature of a real object or phenomenon.
A demonstration type of science project usually follows these steps:
1. Project: What scientific question or principle are you trying to demonstrate or model?
This should be explained by writing a general statement of how the scientific principle
works.
2. Research: Learn more about the question or principle by knowing what has been done in
the past. State how your investigation will be different tor better audience engagement.
3. Materials: What materials will you need to demonstrate the principle?
4. Procedure: Write a step-by-step procedure of what you plan to do and the rationale of
why the steps in the procedure are important.
5. Conclusion: What do you hope to teach others with your demonstration or model?
The following are some examples of demonstration:
 1. Solar energy as an alternative energy source can be demonstrated by devising a new low-
cost model of a solar cooker.
2. Moringa seeds (malunggay seeds) as a natural coagulant in household-water treatment
can be demonstrated as an alternative method of domestic water purification in developing
countries, where people are used to drinking contaminated turbid water
COLLECTION
 It is a group of various naturally occurring specimens or samples, like plants, animals,
rocks, precious metals, or microorganisms, gathered to show their specific hierarchy or
relationship.
 A collection must demonstrate the newly discovered information that would contribute to an
existing scientific knowledge.
 All items should be categorized using the current taxonomic system of classification and
correctly labeled using scientific names when available.
 The place and date of collection and the name of the collector must be specified. A
description using observable data measurements can be enhanced using photos or
illustrations.
A collection type of science project usually follows these steps:
1. Project: What will you collect? What scientific question will your collection illustrate?
2. Research: Learn about an existing collection done in the past or in another similar area that
may relate to your collection.
3. Materials: What materials or equipment do you need to obtain the specimens?
4. Procedure: How will you collect, organize and label your specimens? How will your display
illustrate your research and collection?
5. Conclusion: What do you hope to learn and teach others with your collection?
The following are some examples of collection:
1. Species richness and diversity of Anurans (frog species) in Angat Watershed, Bulacan.
2. Collection and identification of fish larvae in Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo, Laguna.
3. Population and biodiversity of lichens in Maragondon, Cavite.
4. Lesson 3

HYPOTHESIS-BASED INVESTIGATION
 Involves the use of scientific method anchored on a well-defined procedure designed to
answer a researchable question.
 You predict the outcome based on the underlying theories or principles and on past
observations then test your predictions.
 Hypothesis-based science is mostly about explaining nature.
 Often stimulated by discovery science this type is more based on the why? and what
caused it? type of questions.
 Involves making predictions that can be tested by making additional observation or
performing experiments
 Hypothesis that is a tentative answer to a well formed question, an explanation on trial.
 A type of logic called deduction is built into hypothesis based science. In deductive
reasoning, the logic flows in the opposite direction as inductive from general to specific,
 A controlled experiment is often then created to test this hypothesis, where experimental
groups are compared with a control group ideally with only one differing factor to be tested.
 Hypothesis based science can lead to theories.
A hypothesis type of science project follows the steps of the scientific method:
 1. Problem: Ask a question or state a purpose.
2. Hypothesis: What do you think will happen when you perform your experiment?
3. Procedure: Plan the methods to test the hypothesis. Consider the variables to be
included and the number of times the tests needs to be repeated (replicates) (triplicates)
4. Results: Make observations and collect data. Analyze the results of your experiment.
Express using graphs, charts, or tables.
5. Conclusion: Draw your conclusion based on the results. Make a statement considering
the experiment. Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not? Did anything unexpected
happen? Remember that an experiment is not a failure even if the hypothesis is rejected.
The following are some examples of research projects that used Hypothesis-Based Investigation:
1. Acaricidal Activity of Essential Oils from Cananga odorata, Citrus aurantium, and Pinus
insularis.
2. Asymptomatic Immunoglobulin Epsilon Sensitizations to Tropical Grass Pollen-Derived
Carbohydrates.
In an inquiry-based investigation, students conduct science investigatory projects.
Science Investigatory Projects
 Aims to establish specific detailed information or characteristics about a given group.
 To do this, certain characteristics need to be determined, defined, and compared to another
population by making exact observations and measurements on variables.
What is a variable?
 It is a test subject’s characteristic that can change (is allowed to change). Usually, you do
not engage into any deliberate attempt to change the controlled treatment or the
experimental condition and test its effect on the variable but rather gather uniform data on
the target group.
Common problem associated:
 How to maintain that the data collected comes from a homogenous (similar) representation
of the target population.
 Another issue is the quantity of data to be collected to know how much sample is large
enough to obtain a representative quantity.
SIP’s examples
POPULATION OR
TITLE OBJECTIVE VARIABLE REMARKS
GROUP
A comparative assessment of
To compare the
the degrees of pollution in
degrees of pollution in Laguna de Bay, Pasig Use of bacterial
Laguna de Bay, Pasig River, Degrees of
Laguna de Bay, Pasig River, Manila Bay, and bioluminescence
Manila Bay, and Marikina River pollution
River, Manila Bay, and Marikina River. assay
using bacterial bioluminescence
Marikina River.
assay
Antibodies
Development of an To develop an
produced from
immunoassay for the immunoassay for the
various rabbits; Blo t 5 allergen in the
environmental detection and environmental Immunoassay
different dust house dust mite Blomia
monitoring of Blo t 5 allergen in detection and development
samples collected tropicalis
the house dust mite Blomia monitoring of Blo t 5
from various
tropicalis allergen
sources
 SIP’s may also aim to apply a treatment on a test subject in a controlled way and to collect
data in response to the experimental conditions.
 It seeks to determine whether the applied treatment has an effect on the variable being
studied and to establish the extent of its effect on the target population.
EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL POPULATION/
TITLE OBJECTIVE
TREATMENT VARIABLE GROUP
The Effect of Extended To determine the effect Tomato seedlings Tomato Tomato
sunlight exposure on of extended sunlight exposed to various seedlings not seedlings
the growth patterns of exposure on the growth periods of sunlight exposed to
 patterns of tomato
tomato seedlings exposure sunlight
seedlings
To determine the Sudasia pontifica
Acaricidal activities of
Acaricidal activities of (house dust mite)
essential oils form
essential oils form Citrus exposed to essential
Citrus aurantium Sudasia
aurantium (dalandan), oils from Citrus
(dalandan), Canaga pontifica (house Sudasia
Canaga odorata (ylang- aurantium
odorata (ylang-ylang), dust mite) pontifica (house
ylang), and Pinus (dalandan), Canaga
and Pinus insularis exposed to dust mite)
insularis (Philippine Pine odorata (ylang-
(Philippine Pine tree) on water alcohol
tree) on Sudasia ylang), and Pinus
Sudasia pontifica
pontifica (house dust insularis (Philippine
(house dust mite)
mite) Pine tree)

LESSON 4: BASIC RESEARCH VS. APPLIED RESEARCH

Essential questions
 Is the research conducted to contribute to the body of knowledge?
 Is it in response to a societal problem?
Basic research and applied research follow similar steps in scientific inquiry.
BASIC RESEARCH
 Designed to produce results that expand knowledge about a particular phenomenon.
 Answers questions like WHAT, WHY, and HOW
 Results and conclusions are used to further our understanding of scientific principles and
processes.
BASIC RESEARCH
 Results and conclusions may even be used to rectify understanding about certain phenomena.
 However, they may not have immediate commercial applications or may not necessarily solve a
practical problem.
Examples of Basic Research
Science
 The discovery of the components of the human DNA
 A research to determine the chemical composition of organic molecules
Psychology
 An investigation looking at whether stress levels influence how often students engage in
academic cheating
 A study looking at how caffeine consumption impacts the brain
 A study assessing whether men or women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression
Health
 An investigation into the symptoms of Coronavirus.
 An investigation into the causative factors of malaria
 An investigation into the secondary symptoms of high blood pressure. 
Education
 How does the Language Acquisition Device work  on children?
 How does the human retentive memory work?
 How do teaching methods affect student's concentration in class? 
APPLIED RESEARCH
 Aims to solve a specific societal or environmental problem.
 Main goal is to discover a solution to a practical problem.
 Knowledge generated has a specific commercial value, which may be used to develop a product,
procedure, or service.
Examples of Applied Research
 Improve agricultural crop production;
 Treat or cure a specific disease;
 Improve the energy efficiency of homes, offices, or modes of transportation;
  Suggest innovative and modified methods of measurement in any specific investigation.

DIFFERENCES OF BASIC RESEARCH AND APPLIED RESEARCH

BASIC RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH
Basic research is a type of Applied research is a type of
research that is concerned with research that is concerned with
DEFINITION the expansion of knowledge solving practical problems using
scientific methods.

Basic research generates new On the other hand, applied

theories or improves on existing research creates practical
NATURE theories hence, it is theoretical in solutions to specific problems
nature. hence, it is practical in nature. 
Basic research is knowledge- While applied research is
FOCUS specific solution-specific. 
The purpose of basic research is While the purpose of applied
RESEARCH FOCUS to improve on existing knowledge research is to solve specific
or to discover new knowledge problems. 
▪ The scope of basic research is ▪ Applied research is limited
universal; basic research in nature; addresses a
explores multiple dimensions specific problem and is
of various fields.  limited to the problem
▪ Basic research is primarily which it addresses
explanatory ▪ while applied research
SCOPE ▪ Basic research adopts an is descriptive in nature. 
indirect approach to problem- ▪ Applied research adopts a
solving direct approach to problem
▪ In basic research, solving. 
generalizations are common ▪ Specific problems are
investigated without the
aim of generalizations. 
• Theoretical ▪ Practical
• for the expansion of ▪ for the betterment of the
knowledge quality of life
Examples: ▪ Examples:
• Genetic diversity ▪ Vaccine development
• ecological patterns ▪ alternative energy
• biodiversity studies sources
• host – parasite ▪ biomaterials
interactions characterization
• chemical – structure ▪ identification of
EXAMPLES elucidation
antibacterial
• phylogenetic study of
▪ development of diagnostic
organisms
• determination of kits
ecological factors ▪ low – cost instrumentation
development
▪ production of genetically
modified organisms

LESSON 5: QUALITIES OF AN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH PROJECT

One of the goals of conducting research is to contribute to the existing body of knowledge. Thus it is
important for researchers to exert effort, diligence, and hard work when conducting research projects.
The qualities of an empirical research project are as follows:
 1. The research project should be novel. It should, at the very least, contribute to the existing
knowledge in science.
2. It has to exhibit originality as well as critical and independent thinking
3. It should provide a background of the study, identify a research problem and the specific research
questions, explain the significance of the study, synthesize and identify gaps in the related literature,
provide replicable and appropriate methodologies, interpret and analyze data accurately, and offer
sound conclusions and recommendations.
4. An empirical research must be started by looking into available scientific sources of
information that will help the researcher understand a topic or problem.
5. An empirical research must have a research design that is logical and rational based on existing
scientific principles and theories.
6. One of the hallmarks of scientific investigations is that experimental results and conclusions must
be verifiable and repeated by others. The research report must therefore contain methods that
are clearly and succinctly written such that other researchers can repeat the procedures.
Procedures
must be carefully written for those who wish to replicate the study
7. A research project should address a real-world problem or issue. The significance of a research
project must be clearly stated based on an identified gap (or problem) in the existing body of
knowledge. The research findings must be generalizable and applicable to the society as a whole.
Take note!
An empirical Research Project follows the scientific method.