Introduction

As Turkish Nobel Community, in this article we will explain to high school students what scientific research is, why it is valuable, and how they can get started. Along with this, we will mention several research programs that have proven their popularity worldwide.

What Do We Mean by Scientific Research?

When many people are asked about the word “research,” the image that comes to mind is people wearing white lab coats, dripping colorful liquids into small test tubes. Although this movie-like image is a bit exaggerated, research is indeed very formal endeavors. They are conducted under rigorous and special conditions.

Some people also believe that research is just reading and summarizing information on the internet or in books.

In fact, the reality is not exactly like that. We can say that most of the research conducted by high school and undergraduate students is the middle ground between these two extremes. In fact, research is about: proposing hypotheses, analyzing previous academic work on the subject, collecting data through surveys, questions, experiments, or using existing data, analyzing this data, and reaching a conclusion.

Are High School Students the Right Group to Conduct Research?

Young individuals gaining insight into these topics at an early age will directly affect the successful and qualified work they will do in the future. Therefore, we can say that high school students are the right group to conduct scientific research.

For example, India’s first Nobel Prize-winning scientist, Sir C.V. Raman, was only 16 years old when he began his experimental research on sound and light. Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan was 17 years old when he independently developed and researched Bernoulli numbers and the Euler-Mascheroni constant. Ada Lovelace, often called the world’s first programmer, was only 17 years old when she began working with Charles Babbage, the father of the modern computer.

We would like to report that the number of high school students and even middle and elementary school students conducting high-level research is increasing day by day. In 2010, a research paper on bee vision by a group of children aged 8-10 in southwest England was published. There are many successful examples like this both in our country and around the world.

The Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework [TYYC], within the scope of 8th Level (Doctoral Education) Qualifications, stipulates that a doctoral graduate in educational sciences and teacher training should have “acquired high-level skills in using research methods in studies related to the field.”

In our country, students who can conduct qualitative/quantitative research for the first time at the doctoral level are seen (Ersoy, 2015). “One of the main problems of universities in Turkey is not the insufficiency of the research and development budget, but the lack of ‘research culture’ to use this budget” (Öztemel, 2013). It is stated that research culture can be developed from pre-school to higher education level (Ersoy, 2015). We believe that students’ participation in such programs and receiving their education at an early age will accelerate the science movement in our country and seriously contribute to the research culture.

Why Should High School Students Conduct Research?

Skill Development

Conducting research will provide students with skills in various areas. By conducting research, students can develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. They will learn how to formulate research questions, how to collect and analyze data, and how to draw conclusions.

Discovery of Interests

It enables high school students to explore their interests and passions in depth. It offers them the opportunity to thoroughly examine a specific area or topic that captures their curiosity. By conducting research, students can gain a deeper understanding of a particular topic, uncover new ideas, and develop a sense of expertise in their chosen area of interest.

Various Advantages

It can significantly benefit students when applying to universities or internships. Research experience demonstrates a student’s intellectual curiosity, dedication, and ability to work independently. It can set them apart from other candidates and increase their chances of being accepted into competitive universities and programs.

Mentorship and Networking

Conducting research often requires collaboration with advisors, professors, or professionals in the field. Working closely with experienced researchers provides students with mentorship and guidance, helping them develop their research skills and navigate the scientific process. At the same time, students will form a network of high-level people.

Personal Development and Confidence

Research challenges students intellectually and pushes them outside their comfort zones. It supports personal development by encouraging perseverance, flexibility, and adaptability. Throughout the research process, students learn to view failure as an opportunity for learning and growth. Successfully completing research projects builds confidence and instills a sense of achievement.

Contribution to Society

Their work can lead to new discoveries, innovative solutions to social problems, or advances in scientific knowledge. In this way, by conducting research, students can analyze problems around them and develop projects to improve the world.

Do You Need to Be Academically Successful to Conduct Research in High School?

No, but there are some qualities desired to conduct successful research. There must be a deep interest in the topic to be researched. In addition, one must think critically, and show patience and perseverance.

How to Start Conducting Research?

Finding an Advisor

To conduct good scientific research, you need to have a professor, doctoral student, or teacher who can effectively guide your work. Having a good advisor will make it easier for you to find a good topic, access specific data, find test subjects, and think about ethical issues, among other steps.

Research Programs

Programs such as Turkish Nobel Community, Lumiere, or MIT’s Research Science Institute provide resources, including a mentor, for high school students to conduct research for an extended period such as 6-12 weeks or 6 months. Some of these programs are paid and some are free. If you have a good background and a strong academic career, you can apply to any of these programs or the research programs listed below.

Research Competitions

Competitions such as Regeneron ISEF, Teknofest, or Tübitak provide students with a framework and structure in which they can conduct research.

Independent Research

This is the most difficult option. It is the most suitable option for students who are willing and motivated to work independently. Students who choose this option may need the guidance of a parent or teacher to avoid getting stuck or lost in the research process.

Certain Curricula

Topics in certain curricula such as AP (Capstone Project), Cambridge (Global Perspectives & Research), and IB (Extended Essay) allow students to conduct a year-long independent research project for academic credit. This is one of the most comfortable ways to conduct research.

Some Online Research Programs

  • Turkish Nobel Community Research Program
  • Lumiere Research Program
  • Pioneer Academics
  • Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
  • Horizon
  • Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
  • Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
  • Summer Science Program
  • Simons Summer Research Program
  • Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP)
  • Boston University’s Research in Science and Engineering Internship (RISE)
  • Rockefeller Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
  • National Institute of Health High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
  • Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
  • The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Summer Student Program
  • Research in Materials Science Program (RIMS)
  • The Summer Science Program (SSP)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Jump Start Program
  • California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
  • Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
  • Polygence
  • Perimeter Institute International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
  • University of Illinois High School STEM Research Program
  • UC San Diego Academic Connections Research Scholars
  • Corporate Gurukul
  • Coriell Institute For Medical Research Summer Experience
  • Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
  • International Socio Economic Labs
  • MIT Research Science Institute
  • City Of Hope Cancer Center Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
  • BioResearch Academy
  • Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program
  • CrowdMath - MIT/Art of Problem Solving
  • Research Discovery
  • Veritas AI

Resources

Resources You Can Use at the Beginning Stage:

Resources to Enable Design-Oriented Thinking During Research:

Some Journals for Publishing:

For More Information

If you want to start your own research journey by receiving 1-on-1 mentorship from an advanced undergraduate or graduate student (Oxford, Boğaziçi, Hacettepe, METU, Bilkent, etc.) and taking courses from successful professors who have proven themselves in the literature (Johns Hopkins, MIT, Stanford, Sabancı, Medipol, Bilkent, etc.), you can check out the Turkish Nobel Community Research Program, a selective online and face-to-face high school research program for high school students.

🔗 Website: turkishnobelcommunity.com

References

  • Al, Umut. “Türkiye’nin göreli atıf etkisi üzerine bilimetrik bir çalışma.” Bilgi Dünyası 10.2 (2009): 231-244.
  • BOZKURT, Nidan OYMAN. “Bilimsel Yayınların Niteliği ve Nitelik Sorunlarına İlişkin Akademisyen Görüşleri.” Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi 11.1: 128-137.
  • Ersoy, A. (2015). Doktora öğrencilerinin ilk nitel araştırma deneyimlerinin günlükler aracılığıyla incelenmesi. Pegem Eğitim ve Öğretim Dergisi, 5(5), 549-568.
  • Öztemel, E. (2013). Yükseköğretim kurumlarında araştırma ve inovasyon kültürünün oluşturulması. Yükseköğretim Dergisi, 3(1), 22-29.
  • The Council of Higher Education. (2010). National qualifications framework for higher education in Turkey. Retrieved from www.tyyc.yok.gov.tr/?pid=35

This blog post was originally published in Turkish by Turkish Nobel Community on June 9, 2023, and has been translated and adapted for this website.