The National Student Research Center
E-Journal of Student Research: Social Studies
Volume 7, Number 1, September, 1999
The National Student Research Center
is dedicated to promoting student research and the use of the
scientific method in all subject areas across the curriculum,
especially science and math.
For more information contact:
- John I. Swang, Ph.D.
- Founder/Director
- National Student Research Center
- 2024 Livingston Street
- Mandeville, Louisiana 70448
- U.S.A.
- E-Mail: nsrcmms@communique.net
- http://youth.net/nsrc/nsrc.html
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Year Round School - Yes or No
- School Playground Project
- Animals in Medical Research
- To Eat Or Not To Eat, That Is The
Question
- Pet Survey
- Reading Habits
- Everything You Want To Know About
Presidents
- What 4th and 5th Graders Know About
Professional Athletes
Title: Year Round School - Yes or No
Student Researcher: Alyson Boyd
School: Robert Lucas Elementary School
Iowa City, IA
Grade: 6th
Teacher: Chris Rohret
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to know how 5th and 6th graders at Robert Lucas
Elementary School feel about year round school. My hypothesis
was that the majority of 5th and 6th graders would not want year
round school.
II. Methodology:
I reviewed information abut year round school. Then I wrote my
statement of purpose and hypothesis. I developed my survey and
drew a random sample of twenty-one, 5th and 6th graders. I also
analyzed my data and wrote my summary and conclusion. I made
circle graphs to show the results of my research.
III. Analysis of Data:
More than half of the students who completed my survey did not
want year round school. Also, most of the students think
fitting in summer activities is the biggest disadvantage. Fifth
and sixth graders think the biggest advantage would be higher
test scores because the students would be in school throughout
the entire year.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
Most of the 5th and 6th graders at Robert Lucas do not want year
round school. Therefore, I accept my hypothesis.
V. Application:
The 5th and 6th graders at Lucas, overall, do not want year
round school. I will send my data to Barbara Grohe, the
Superintendent of Iowa City Schools so she knows how students
feel about year round school.
Title: School Playground Project
Student Researcher: Bruce Campbell
School: Robert Lucas Elementary
Iowa City, Iowa
Grade: 6
Teacher: Chris Rohret
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to know what students' attitudes were about our
school's playground. My hypothesis was that most 4th through
6th graders would like some changes made to our playground, and
that they would really enjoy a football field.
II. Methodology:
I read information on playgrounds. Then I wrote my statement of
purpose and myhypothesis. I designed a questionnaire, and drew
a stratified random sample of boys and girls in 4th through 6th
grade. After the students completed the questionnaire I tallied
the data and the information.
III. Analysis of Data:
More than half of the boys said that they would want a new
football field and football was their favorite recess activity.
The majority of girls would want a baseball diamond. A football
field was a close second. Most of the girls chose talking with
friends as their favorite recess activity.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
The majority of boys and some girls at Lucas would like a
football field. Therefore I accept my hypothesis.
V. Application:
Students at Robert Lucas would like a football field. I will
send this survey to the P.T.A. (Parent Teacher Association)
because they would want to know what students want on their
playground.
Title: Animals in Medical Research
Student Researcher: Bryan Boal
School: Robert Lucas Elementary
Iowa City, Iowa
Grade: 6
Teacher: Chris Rohret
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to know the opinions of 5th and 6th graders on animals
being used for medical research at Lucas Elementary. My
hypothesis stated that people won't mind as long as the use of
animals in medical research is humane.
II. Methodology:
I read the literature on this topic. Then I made my hypothesis,
typed my survey, drew 40 names of 5th and 6th graders randomly,
and passed out the surveys. I scored the surveys, made some
graphs, and wrote my abstract.
III. Analysis of Data:
A little more than 1/2 of the students thought that animals
shouldn't be used in medical research; a little more than 1/4
said they should; less than 1/4 of the responses were comprised
of ''Others'' and ''I don't knows''.
Top reason for not using animals was, ''Animals are hurt and
killed." Top reason for using animals was, ''Animals have been
used for artificial joints and to find cancer treatments, make
insulin, make vaccines and antibiotics, and develop procedures
for cataract surgery".
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
Most of the students in the 5th and 6th grades at Lucas didn't
think that animals should be used in medical research.
Therefore, I rejected my hypothesis.
V. Application:
I will send my research to the researchers and professors at the
University of Iowa and Oakdale Campus and encourage them to find
something other than animals to experiment on.
Title: To Eat Or Not To Eat, That Is The Question
Student Researcher: Collin Malaney
School: Robert Lucas Elementary
Iowa City, Iowa
Grade: 6
Teacher: Chris Rohret
I. Statement of Purpose and Hypothesis:
I wanted to find out what the favorite and least favorite main
courses were for school lunch. My hypothesis was that the kids
that I surveyed would choose French toast sticks for their
favorite lunch and the least favorite lunch would be macaroni
and cheese.
II. Methodology:
First, I reviewed the literature on school lunches. The next
thing I did was develop a statement of purpose and hypothesis.
Afterwards, I wrote my survey. Then I drew the names of ten
kids from each class in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade at Lucas.
I tallied the data and then accepted or rejected my hypothesis.
III. Analysis of Data:
I found that 19 of the kids chose pizza for their favorite
lunch, very few chose chicken patty, a little over a third chose
French toast sticks, and 25 chose "Other." I also found that
most of the kids chose macaroni for their least favorite lunch,
a few chose the deli meat sandwich, 15 chose chef salad, and a
fourth chose "Other." Interestingly, most kids don't like the
schools lunch yet eat it every day. A majority of students
shared ideas about how to improve the schools lunch.
IV. Summary and Conclusion:
The majority of the students that I surveyed chose French toast
sticks as their favorite meal at school and chose macaroni for
their least favorite. Therefore, I accept my hypothesis.
V. Application:
I believe that the lunch program should accept the
recommendations by the students and improve/change the lunch. I
will send the recommendations to our Food Service Director in
hopes that she will use them to improve the school's lunch.
TITLE: Pet Survey
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Rachel Pachman
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, LA 70448
GRADE: 5
TEACHER: Ellen Marino, M.Ed.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
I would like to do a survey scientific research project on pets
and the kind people own and how they take care of them. I want
to see how many and what kinds of pets people have or want. My
hypothesis stated that the majority of fourth and fifth graders
at Mandeville Middle School have a pet, do not spend their own
money on the pet, and are responsible for caring for the pet.
II. METHODOLOGY
First, I thought of a topic. Secondly, I wrote my statement of
purpose. Then I gathered information about my topic and wrote
my review of the literature. After that, I developed my
hypothesis. Next, I wrote my materials and methodology. After
that, I developed my questionnaires. I then drew a random
sample population and administered my questionnaires. Next, I
wrote my analysis of data and wrote my summary and conclusion.
Finally, I applied my findings to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA
I handed out 27 surveys. 26 were returned. About 81 percent of
the questioned people feel that pets are the best things to
have. Only 27 percent of the people questioned agreed with the
statement that "Cats make the best pets." About 73 percent of
the people feel that cats are not the best pets to have. All but
one person has a pet. 23 people have a dog, 12 have "Others,"
eight have a cat, and seven have fish. All of the people
questioned have responsibilities for their pet. 24 people feed
their pet, nine people give their pet water, and seven people
clean their pet. And 6 people walk their pet. 46 percent of
people responding let their pet go indoors and outdoors. Less
than half of the people questioned spend their own money on
their pet. 54 percent spend it on toys, six people buy treats,
and one person bought a collar. All except three people agreed
that a veterinarian should examine a pet before you take it
home. The majority of people stated that their pet was
important to them because they loved them. Others stated that
their pet was fun to play with, a good friend, and company.
Almost everyone has had a pet in the past. The top five pets
were dogs, cats, hamsters, bunnies, and fish.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Of the information I got from the 26 surveys returned, all but
one person have a pet, most do not spend their own money on
their pet, and all are responsible for caring for their pet.
Therefore, I partially accept my hypothesis which stated that
the majority of fourth and fifth graders at Mandeville Middle
school have a pet, do not spend their own money on their pet,
and are responsible for caring for their pet.
V. APPLICATION
I can apply my findings to the world outside my classroom by
sharing this information with pet store workers, veterinarians,
and friends.
TITLE: Reading Habits
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Quentin Manuel
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, LA 70448
GRADE: 5th
TEACHER: Ellen Marino, M.Ed
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I want to do a survey research project to find out about the
reading habits of students because I like to read a lot. I
would like to know how much students read, what books they like
to read, and a lot more information. My hypothesis states that
the majority of the 4th and 5th graders at MMS would like
adventure books than any other type of book and spend at least
30 minutes a week reading for pleasure.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I chose a topic, then I wrote my statement of purpose.
Then I had to review the literature. After that, I developed my
hypothesis. I made my questionnaire and administered them to a
randomly drawn population. Once I got them back, I scored them,
then analyzed the data. I wrote a summary and conclusion and
applied my findings. Finally, I turned in my completed report.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
Out of 27 questionnaires administered, 26 were returned. 10 of
the people I surveyed said that they read only 15-30 minutes a
week for pleasure, but 23% of the people said the read 30
minutes or longer weekly. The majority of the sample said they
sometimes read on the bus. 65% of the people said they read
more at school than at home. 3 people were neutral when asked
if they thought that the Redwall series by Brian Jacques was the
best book series. Most of the people surveyed said they had
read the Boxcar Children, and eight others said they had read
the Nancy Drew mysteries. 41% of the students chose adventure
as their favorite type of book and 38% chose mystery. Seven
students said they check out books at the library every month.
58% said they check out a book at least every two month. 35% of
the people surveyed said libraries fine for late books was
because other people need or want to use that book. Other
reasons are: it's late, they think you might keep it, they have
to have their books back, or to teach you responsibility. 73%
knew that the Library of Congress was the biggest library in the
world. Only half the students knew that Harvard College Library
is the largest college library in the world.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
I found that only 23%of the surveyed people said they read for
30 minutes or longer weekly and that 41% of the students chose
adventure as their favorite type of book. Therefore I reject my
hypothesis which stated that the majority of the 4th and 5th
grade at MMS would like adventure books better than any other
type of book, and spend at least 30 minutes a week reading for
pleasure.
V. APPLICATION
I can apply this information to the real world by sharing this
information with my librarian so she would know what books
students like. I could also share this with my teachers,
family, and friends.
TITLE: Everything You Want To Know About Presidents
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Michael Kelly
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, LA 70448
GRADE: 5
TEACHER: Ellen Marino, M.Ed.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to do a survey research project on presidents. I
want to find out how much information students at M.M.S. know
about present and past presidents. My hypothesis states that
the fourth and fifth graders at Mandeville Middle School who are
surveyed will correctly answer a majority of the questions on
present presidents, but incorrectly answer the questions on past
presidents.
II. METHODOLOGY:
My materials were a data collection form, a pen or pencil, and a
questionnaire. The first thing I did was I developed my
statement of purpose. Second, I made my review of literature
and bibliography. Then, I stated my hypothesis. Next, I
gathered my materials. Then I developed my questionnaire.
After that, I drew names of who was going to answer my
questions. I administered the questionnaires. Then, I scored
them. Next, I analyzed my data. And I wrote my summary and
conclusion. Last, I applied my data to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
I handed out 27 questionnaires and 26 of them were returned.
Only five people knew that John Adams was the first President to
live in the White House. 73% of the people knew that Abraham
Lincoln was the 16th President of the U.S. Only one person knew
that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first President to appear
on television. 12 of the 26 people knew that four Presidents
have been assassinated.
46% of the people knew that Richard Nixon was the only President
to resign from office. 50% correctly answered that of the
Presidents: George Bush, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, and Abraham
Lincoln, that Gerald Ford was the only President not to be
elected. 69% of the people knew that George Bush was President
before Bill Clinton.
Less than half of the people knew that Bill Clinton's home state
is Arkansas. Of the people surveyed, 86% said that Bill Clinton
is their least favorite President. 21 of the 26 people agreed
with the statement that Bill Clinton should be thrown out of
office.
The top two favorite Presidents of the people surveyed were
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. 8 of the 26 people
surveyed knew that it's false that a candidate has to be at
least 30 years old to run for President. Less than 50% of the
people surveyed agreed that the President of the U.S. is the
most powerful person in the world. 23 people knew that a
President can be elected two times.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
Of the questions on past Presidents, a majority of students
incorrectly answered them. Of the questions on present
Presidents, a majority correctly answered them. Therefore, I
accept my hypothesis which stated that the fourth and fifth
graders at Mandeville Middle School surveyed will correctly
answer a majority of the questions on present Presidents, but
incorrectly answer the questions on past Presidents.
V. APPLICATION:
I can apply my data to the real world by sharing my information
with my family and friends. Also, I can share it with the
Social Studies teachers at my school.
TITLE: What 4th and 5th Graders Know About Professional
Athletes
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Matthew Meyer
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, LA 70448
GRADE: 4th
TEACHER: Ellen Marino, M.Ed.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to do a survey research project on what fourth and
fifth graders know about professional sports because I like
sports. I want to know if they know a lot of information about
pro sports and players.
My hypothesis states that the fourth and fifth graders surveyed
at Mandeville Middle School will correctly answer the majority
of the questions about professional sports and boys will answer
more correctly than girls will.
II. METHODOLOGY:
The materials I need are a pen, questionnaires, and a data
collection form.
First, I picked a topic and stated my purpose. Then I did a
review of the literature. After that I developed my hypothesis.
Next, I developed a questionnaire and drew a random sample
population. After that I administered the questionnaires and
scored them. Next I analyzed the data. After that I wrote my
summary and conclusion. Then I applied my findings to the real
world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
I handed out 27 surveys and 24 were returned. Everybody, but 1
person knew that Roger Maris was not the homerun champion in
baseball. 16 different athletes were chosen as a favorite pro
sports player. Michael Jordan and Brett Favre were chosen the
most. 50% of the people knew that Turner Field was located in
Atlanta. The majority of people agreed that John Stockton is
one of the best pro basketball players now. 15 of the 24 people
agreed that pro athletes deserve the money they make. Seven
people knew that Jerome Bettis' nickname was the Bus.
Everybody, but one person knew that Atlanta and Denver played in
the Super Bowl this year. About 70% of the people knew France
won the World Cup in 1998. The majority of people knew the
Montreal Expos played in Major League baseball. Less than half
of the people knew that Scottie Pippen has played for 3 teams.
Only 46% of the people knew that in hockey the championship is
called the Stanley Cup. A majority of those surveyed knew what
NFL, NHL, and MLB stood for but only 45% knew what NBA and MLS
means.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
The students surveyed correctly answered a majority of the
questions. 67% of the boys correctly answered the questions
about professional sports and only 61% of the girls correctly
answered the questions about professional sports. Therefore I
accept my hypothesis which stated that the fourth and fifth
graders surveyed at Mandeville Middle School will correctly
answer the majority of the questions about professional sports
and boys will answer more correctly than girls will.
V. APPLICATION:
I can apply my findings to the real world by sharing this
information with my friends and family. Also I can share my
information with the P.E. teachers at my school.