A project data book is used to track a scientific project from conception through completion. The book provides proof that certain activities occurred and when they occurred. Educators use the book to evaluate a project, and the researcher uses it to write a research paper. In more formal scientific studies, project data books are subject to the scrutiny of the scientific community. Project data books demonstrate that a particular scientist conceptualized and tested an idea.
Project data books contain detailed daily logs of the activities involved in a science project. Entries include notes about performing background research, speaking to an adviser and changing a variable in the experiment. Every activity in the science project is logged, no matter how insignificant.
Project data books are usually handwritten in a hard-bound notebook. All entries are dated and are usually recorded in short form, rather than full sentences. The daily log should reference the section in the book where the product of the noted activity is to be found. For example, if the log entry says "Interview with adviser," a further notation should indicate "Interview notes are recorded in background info section of this log book."
A project data book is typically organized into sections including the daily activity log, background information, experimental setup, raw data, results and reflections. The reflections section is where the results of the project are interpreted. The sections are divided using professional looking, color-coded tabs.