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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Student Knowledge of the Religious Wars in Northern Ireland
2. Student Knowledge of the Ku Klux Klan
3. Student Knowledge of the AIDS Epidemic
4. Student Knowledge About The Amazon Rain Forest
TITLE: Student Knowledge of the Religious Wars in Northern
Ireland
STUDENT RESEARCHER: April Needham
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to do a research project on how much students know
about the religious wars in Northern Ireland. My hypothesis
states that a majority of the 18 students I survey will think that
it is dumb to fight over one's religion.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose. Then I conducted my
review of literature and wrote a hypothesis. To test my
hypothesis, I developed my questionnaire. I took a random sample
of 18 sixth-grade students. Then I sent out my questionnaire to
them, collected them, scored them, and graphed the results. Next,
I analyzed the data and then accepted or rejected my hypothesis.
Then I wrote my summary and conclusions and applied my findings to
the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
I sent out 18 questionnaires and 17 were returned to me. Half of
the students I surveyed knew that Ireland is an island. A
majority of 10 students did not know that Ireland is composed of 6
counties. A majority of 10 students agreed that the war in
Northern Ireland is worth fighting. Although, a majority of 12
students agreed that it is dumb to fight over one's religion. A
majority of 14 students knew that Belfast is the capital of
Northern Ireland. A majority of 7 students knew that the two
religions at war are Catholics and Protestants. A majority of 13
students did not know that 70% of Northern Ireland's population is
Protestant. A majority of 12 students agreed that it was
appropriate for Britain to send troops to Northern Ireland when
the violence increased. A majority of 11 students didn't know
that it is hard for Catholics to find a job because they make up
such a minority. Most students knew that the war is about
religious discrimination and differences.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
Answers on the questionnaire indicated that they did not know a
lot about Northern Ireland's religious war. They also thought it
was dumb to fight over one's religion. Therefore, I accept my
hypothesis which stated that a majority of the students I survey
will think it is dumb to fight over ones religion.
VII. APPLICATION:
After my study, I found that the students didn't know a great deal
about Northern Ireland's war. I think that teachers should talk
about this during their social studies class time so these
problems will not occur in the U.S.
TITLE: Student Knowledge of the Ku Klux Klan
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Angela Geraci
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to do a research project on how much students know
about the Ku Klux Klan. My hypothesis states that less than 50%
of the student responses to my questionnaire on the Ku Klux Klan
will be correct.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I came up with my research idea and wrote my review of
literature. Secondly, I developed my hypothesis and my
questionnaire. I randomly selected eighteen students and gave
them each a copy of my questionnaire. When they finished them I
scored the questionnaires and analyzed the data. Then I rejected
or accepted my hypothesis. Then I wrote my summary and conclusion
and my application. I then published my abstract.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
I sent out eighteen questionnaires and I received fourteen back.
A majority of eleven students knew the KKK was made of two groups
of white racists. A majority of twelve students knew that David
Duke was a leader of the KKK A majority of thirteen students knew
that the KKK stands for Ku Klux Klan. A majority of eleven
students knew that discrimination meant a difference in treatment
to a person. A majority of ten students knew that prejudice was
an unfair opinion about others. A majority of nine students knew
there are over two million members of the KKK Ten students agreed
that the KKK should be outlawed in the U.S.A., while three
disagreed. Thirteen students agreed that KKK members are
dangerous people. Eleven students disagreed that the KKK had good
reason for their racist beliefs.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
Seventy-nine percent of the student's responses to my
questionnaire were correct, therefore I rejected my hypothesis
which stated that the students would correctly answer less than
50% of the questions on my questionnaire. Students know more
about the KKK than I thought.
V. APPLICATION:
>From the findings of my research, I can ask teachers to teach more
about the evils of the KKK and its violent, racist beliefs.
TITLE: Student Knowledge of the AIDS Epidemic
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Brian J. South
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: John I. Swang, Ph.D.
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I would like to do my research project on how much the 6th grade
MMS students know about the AIDS Epidemic. My hypothesis states
that only 25% of the students will correctly answer all of the
questions on my AIDS questionnaire.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I wrote my statement of purpose, reviewed my literature,
and developed a hypothesis. Next, I developed a questionnaire and
drew a random sample of 18 sixth grade students at MMS. Then I
sent out my questionnaire to the randomly selected students. Then
I scored the questionnaires and analyzed the data. Then I
accepted or rejected my hypothesis. Finally, I wrote my summary
and applied my findings to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
Of 18 questionnaires sent out, 16 were returned. A majority of 10
students knew that AIDS is a disease. A majority of 7 students
knew that AIDS is caused by a virus. A majority of 10 students
agree that AIDS is the worst thing to happen to humankind. A
majority of 6 students knew that AIDS was first discovered in the
late 1970's. A majority of 10 knew that experts think that, by
the year 2000, 40 million people will have the HIV virus. A
majority of 10 students knew that HIV is a virus. A majority of 9
students knew that 218,000 cases of AIDS had been reported in the
USA as of March, 1992. Only 3 students knew that AIDS was first
identified in 1981. A majority of 10 students believe that they
will never get AIDS. None of the students knew that AIDS stands
for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
>From the experimental data, I found that none of the students
answered all of the questions on my questionnaire correctly.
Therefore, I reject my hypothesis which stated that only 25% of
the students will correctly answer all of the questions on my
questionnaire about AIDS.
V. APPLICATION:
I could apply this to the real world by trying to get schools to
teach students more about AIDS. It could save their lives
TITLE: Student Knowledge About The Amazon Rain Forest
STUDENT RESEARCHER: Kristin Schlect
SCHOOL: Mandeville Middle School
Mandeville, Louisiana
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Carolla
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS:
I want to find out what students know about the rain forest. My
hypothesis stated that the majority of the sixth grade students
would know about the Amazon Rain Forest.
II. METHODOLOGY:
First, I reviewed the literature on the Amazon Rain Forest. Next,
I developed my statement of purpose and my hypothesis. After that
I developed my questionnaire. Then I randomly drew ten students
from the sixth grade. After I administered the surveys to them
and received them back, I analyzed my data. Then I wrote my
summary and conclusion and applied my findings to the real world.
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
Out of the ten surveys I distributed, I received nine back. One-
hundred percent of the students knew how the destruction of the
rain forest would affect wildlife. Eighty-eight percent of the
students thought the rain forest would vanish if the destruction
continues. Eighty-eight percent of the students thought we should
save the animals of the rain forest. One-hundred percent of the
students thought they could save the destruction of the rain
forest. Seventy-seven percent of students knew that the rain
forest is being cut down for farming and lumber. Seventy-five
percent of the students thought the animals are being affected by
the loss of the rain forest. Seventy-seven percent of the
students knew that every year two percent of the rain forest is
being cut down. Sixty-six percent of the students thought the
rain forest is a big part of our environment. Eighty-eight
percent of the students thought the rain forests are part of our
history. Fifty percent of the students could explained the
importance of the Amazon Rain Forest.
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
I found that the majority of the students answered more than one
half of my questions correctly. Therefore, I accept my hypothesis
which stated that the majority of the sixth grade students would
know about the Amazon Rain Forest.
V. APPLICATION:
I will not buy any products that are made of materials from the
rain forest.
© 1993 John I. Swang, Ph.D.