A student survey can look simple: write questions, send a link and count responses. In a science fair, research involving people may require review and approval before anyone is recruited or answers a question. Starting first and asking later can put participants at risk and make the project ineligible.
Pause before collecting anything
Show the research idea to the teacher, adult sponsor or fair review contact. Ask which current rules apply to the specific fair and location. Under ISEF rules, surveys and questionnaires can count as human-participant research and generally require institutional review before interaction begins. Local requirements may differ, so use the organiser’s written decision.
Define the minimum question
Ask whether a survey is necessary. Could the student use anonymous public data, test only their own prototype where rules allow, or answer a narrower question without collecting personal information? Fewer participants and fewer questions do not automatically remove review requirements, but minimising data reduces risk.
Plan consent and assent
Consent belongs to an adult participant; assent is the young participant’s affirmative agreement. Research with minors may also require written parent or guardian permission. Information should explain the purpose, procedures, time, foreseeable risks, voluntary nature, privacy and whom to contact. A child should be able to stop without penalty.
Remove unnecessary identifiers
Do not collect names, email addresses, account logins, precise locations, school IDs or IP-linked data unless approved and essential. Avoid sensitive questions about health, abuse, illegal behaviour or identity without qualified guidance and appropriate safeguards. “Anonymous” should mean the research team cannot reasonably link answers back to a person.
Test the questions respectfully
- Use neutral wording and one idea per question.
- Offer “prefer not to answer” where appropriate.
- Do not pressure classmates, friends or younger children.
- Make language and access appropriate for participants.
- Attach the final survey to the approval materials when required.
Protect the data
Decide who can access responses, where they are stored and when they will be deleted. Use a school-approved platform if required. Export only the fields needed for analysis. Do not publish small-group details that could identify someone indirectly.
Report honestly
State how people were recruited, how many participated, what was missing and why results may not represent everyone. Do not turn opinions from a convenience sample into universal facts. Keep approval and consent records separate from the analysis where the rules require it.
The guide to reading self-reported surveys explains recall, wording and nonresponse. The sample-size guide helps students discuss uncertainty without overstating results.
Sources and further reading
- Society for Science: Human Participants
- Society for Science: Roles and Responsibilities of Students and Adults
Avoid recruiting through power
A student should not make classmates feel that participation affects friendship, grades, team membership or access to an activity. Recruitment language should be neutral and approved. Teachers and coaches may have authority that makes refusal difficult, so the review process should consider who invites participants and where responses are collected.
Plan for difficult disclosures
Even an ordinary survey can prompt a participant to reveal harm or distress. Before collection, ask the responsible adult what the student should do and whom they should contact. Do not promise confidentiality that cannot be kept when safety is at risk. Avoid collecting sensitive material without qualified oversight.
Close the project properly
At the end, delete contact lists, unused exports and identifiers according to the approved plan. Share only grouped results that protect participants. Thank people without revealing who took part. A strong fair project demonstrates respect for the people behind the data as clearly as it demonstrates analysis.
Keep the approved protocol beside the survey tool so changes are noticed. If the student wants to add a question, recruit a new group or change storage, ask whether fresh review is needed before proceeding.
