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ERIC Number: EJ1458095
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2731-5525
The Advisability of Science Fair Project Topic Origins: A Case Study of Learners from Disadvantaged Backgrounds
Angela Elisabeth Stott
Discover Education, v4 Article 17 2025
For learners from disadvantaged backgrounds with limited science fair-related skills, knowledge, and community support, investigating the advisability of various ways of arriving at a science fair project topic is needed. This mixed-methods case study with an ex post facto criterion-group design uses questionnaire data and science fair awards regarding the engagement of 23 grade 9-10 learners in a year-long university-led intervention. Data analysis was conducted for four post-hoc determined topic-origin groups of these learners' projects: internet, self, adult, and adult after the learner had displayed competence. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to determine whether each topic-origin group met the advisability criteria regarding learners' perceptions of value and facilitators' perceptions of feasibility. Each learner who was provided with a topic by an adult without first having displayed competence through designing a project of their choosing required unfeasibly high levels of facilitator input to remain in the programme. Generally, the greatest success was observed for the learners to whom an adult gave a topic after displaying competence. These findings and how the intervention was conducted are explained in terms of the four paradigms of learning and instructional design. A framework (Instruct-Expose-Explore-Formalise) for deriving science fair topics is suggested to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of similar interventions.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 9; High Schools; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Grade 10; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A