Research Paper?

book_worm · 10-21-2009, 09:43 PM

I went to SSP (SSP - Summer Science Program) over the summer, and am considering submitting my asteroid orbit determination report as a research paper.

But it has incorrect results, as everyone had an error in their program that was not discovered until we all went home. Most people have been able to fix that error and get proper results, but my computer program seems to be faulty in some way, as I cannot get correct results even with the correction. My computer program worked fine at SSP - I actually got some of the less-wrong results.

So my question is, should I submit my report even though I haven't been able to correct the mysterious error in my code? I'd be submitting my original results - which aren't terrible - but if my paper is compared with those of other students from the program, I'm scared that I'll look lazy for not "fixing" my results.

lizzardfire · 10-21-2009, 10:22 PM

Just make a note of the error and it will be fine.

unitofobscurity · 10-22-2009, 09:32 PM

On that note, how original is the research supposed to be?

Snyder005 · 10-22-2009, 09:48 PM

Would an IB Diploma Extended Essay on Mathematics be considered a research paper capable of being submitted?

lizzardfire · 10-22-2009, 10:42 PM

You can submit whatever you want, but you should ask yourself if you think it makes your application stronger. If your research really showcases skills that aren't already well-supported in your application or displays a level of skill not common in other Caltech applicants, great. If it's just more of the same or not up to par with your best work, don't submit it. It's obviously more impressive if you wrote a research paper on your own or for self-driven independent research than for a program that forces its students to write "research papers". If your extended essay is really good, then submit it--but I know for most of my friends in IB programs it was just a requirement and not something they really put their hearts into.