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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Student Preferences: Video Games or Books
2. Students Favorite Types of Books
3. Reading Habits of Boys and Girls
TITLE: Student Preferences: Video Games or Books
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Jacob Shaffer
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to find out if the students of Mandeville Middle
School would rather read or play video games. My hypothesis
states that 75% of the students would rather play video games than
read.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I stated my purpose, reviewed the literature, and developed
my hypothesis. Then I wrote a methodology and developed my
questionnaires. Next, I drew a random sample population and
administered my questionnaires. Then I scored the questionnaires
and wrote an analysis of data. Then I summarized the data and
accepted/rejected my hypothesis. Finally, I formed a conclusion
and wrote my application.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
Of the eighteen questionnaires I distributed to the sixth-graders,
I got fifteen back. A majority of 73% of the students surveyed
said that they like to read. A majority of 73% of the students
preferred to read novels over magazines, comic books, and short
stories. A majority of 60% of the students said they like to play
video games. Forty percent of the students preferred sports video
games over puzzle, action, adventure, and role-playing games.
There was a variety of favorite books and video games. Forty
percent of the students read for 0-1 hours a week. A majority of
60% of the students play video games for 0-1 hours a week.
Overall, 40% of the students preferred to play video games and 53%
preferred to read.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
I discovered that a majority of 53% of the students preferred to
read rather than play video games. I rejected my hypothesis which
stated that the students would rather play video games.
V. APPLICATION:
I can apply my data to the real world by telling parents to
encourage their kids to read more, but let them play video games
occasionally.
Title: Students Favorite Types of Books
Student Researcher: Nick Decker
School: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
Grade: 6
Teacher: Mrs. Marino, M.Ed.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I wanted to find out what types of books the 6th grade students at
Mandeville Middle School prefer . My hypothesis states that 75%
of the students at Mandeville Middle School will prefer science
fiction more than any other type of book.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote a statement of purpose and reviewed the literature.
Next, I developed my hypothesis and a questionnaire. Then I
administered my questionnaires to a random sample of sixth grade
students. Next, I scored them. Then I analyzed my data, made a
simple graph, and wrote my summary and conclusion. Finally, I
applied my data to the world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
Of the 18 questionnaires I passed out, I received 17 back.
Thirty-two percent of the students like horror stories. Fifty-
three percent of the students like science fiction. Ninety-three
percent of the students said that books help you learn something.
Thirty-three percent of the students picked R. L. Stine as their
favorite author. Seventy-three percent of the students agree that
books prove a point. Sixty-three percent of the students agree
that books help you learn about the world. Seventy-one percent of
the students enjoy reading books. Thirty percent of the students
read books daily. Sixty-seven percent of the students recommend
books to their friends.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
Since only 53% of the students like science fiction, I rejected my
hypothesis which stated that 75% of the students will prefer
science fiction more than any other type of books.
V. APPLICATION
Since a majority of students (53%) prefer science fiction, I could
tell librarians to order more science fiction stories.
TITLE: Reading Habits of Boys and Girls
STUDENT RESEARCHERS: Matthew Kuzio and Jordan Price
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ellen Marino, M.Ed.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
We wanted to find out if boys and girls have different reading
habits and like different types of books. Our hypothesis stated
that 6th grade boys and girls at Mandeville Middle School will
have different reading habits and like different types of books.
II. METHODOLOGY
First, we wrote our statement of purpose, reviewed the literature,
and developed a hypothesis. Then we made a questionnaire and
wrote our methodology. We drew a random sample and distributed
the questionnaires to nine girls and nine boys. Then we scored
them. Next, we wrote our analysis of data. We then accepted or
rejected our hypothesis and wrote our summary and conclusions.
Finally, we applied our findings to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA
All 18 questionnaires were returned. There were nine from girls
and nine from boys. More girls than boys like to read. Three
girls liked fiction, three liked nonfiction, three liked
mysteries, and one liked other. Five boys liked fiction, three
liked mysteries, and two liked other. More girls than boys read
everyday. Most girls read longer than boys. More girls than boys
said it matters where they read. Seven out of nine girls said
that reading was important to them, but only four out of nine boys
said reading was important Ten out of eighteen students read the
back of the book to see if they might like it. Eight out of nine
girls thought that reading should be important to kids, but only
five out of nine boys thought this.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
We found out that girls and boys did like different books and had
different reading habits. Therefore, we accepted our hypothesis
which stated that 6th grade girls and boys will like different
types of books and have different reading habits.
V. APPLICATION
This information could help a librarian know what books to order.
Teachers should also work harder to interest boys in reading.
© 1993 John I. Swang, Ph.D.