Course Description

Science Research Program – Grades 9, 10, 11, 12


Full Year – Level H: Incoming freshman and sophomore students must apply for admission to this program in January of the prior academic year. Acceptance into the program will be based on a science teacher recommendation, a written essay, and excellent academic grades.


This is an ongoing program that is taken in conjunction with the student’s regular science course. There are several tiers to the program. During Year 1 students learn the components of scientific research including the scientific method and apply these concepts in various settings including designing and conducting an authentic science research project and communicating results by participation in at least one local science fair. Students also explore various applications of science topics through field trips, guest speakers and class projects. Advanced students (Years 2-4) select their science research topic, locate an out-of-school mentor (either in industry or at a local university) and compete in a variety of science fairs including the CT State Science Fair, Southern CT Invitational Science and Engineering Fair (SCSEF) and the CT Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (CT JSHS). Advanced students pursue their selected research in depth, perform statistical analysis and compete at a number of local and/or national science fairs and competitions. In Years 2, 3, and 4 students are grouped together in a non-traditional classroom setting and are required to meet individually outside of class with their Science Research Instructor biweekly to review individual goals and assess progress. All students participate in the culminating annual activity, Amity’s Science Symposium.


Monday, December 5, 2011

2011-12 Year 1 Research Proposals

Please place your 2011-12 Research Proposal on this Post. Proposals should be approximately 250 words. Be sure to include your name (or initials) and research title followed by a single paragraph including:

Research Question
Hypothesis
Variables
Methods
Location
Mentor (if applicable)

32 comments:

  1. Olivia LeVine
    How Does Athletic Participation Affect How Susceptible Someone is to Peer Pressure
    Peer pressure is a popular subject, especially its relationship with adolescents. Many studies, including a study done at Temple University, show that peer pressure to engage in anti-social behaviors peaks at the age of fourteen and declines thereafter. However there are many factors that can affect how likely you are to give in to outside pressure. This leads to the question, does athletic participation affect how susceptible someone is to peer pressure? The independent variable will be the level of athletic participation and the dependent variable will be the susceptibility to peer pressure. The data necessary will be collected through a survey. The subject will be asked their actual level of participation such as recreational, varsity, or Olympic as well as the sport they participate in. They will also be asked how many hours per week on average they spend participating in the athletic activity. Participants will go on to answer questions that will measure how susceptible they are to peer pressure by having situations described to them. From there the participant will be given multiple choices of how they will react as well as an “other” option and space for comments. The responses will be tallied and analyzed based on how susceptible to peer pressure the response represents. One example of what might be on the survey is they will be asked to read a description of a party. They will then be asked to decide whether or not they will dance at the very end of the night when they are tired if their friends wanted them to. It is hypothesized that the higher the level of athletic participation, the less likely it is the participant will submit to peer pressure.

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  3. How does time affect ability to recall memorized words?
    Richard Shiffrin, a professor of cognitive sciences at Indiana University, developed the idea that memory is divided into two parts: a long-term memory store and a short-term memory store. After a certain period of time, memories move from the short-term memory store to the long-term one. But it has never been clarified which memory store helps memorizing the most. The following research question can answer this: How does time between memorizing and recalling affect ability to recall memorized words? The independent variable is the amount of time between memorizing and recalling, while the dependent variable is the amount of words one can recall. There are many variables that must be kept constant, such as the amount of activity students do between memorizing and recalling, and the types of words memorized. These will be controlled by making sure all students do the same activities during the waiting time and that they memorize the same words. The hypothesis of this investigation is that if the time between memorizing and recalling is shorter, then more words will be recalled. To test this hypothesis, at least 5 girls and 5 boys in the 9th grade must be gathered. They will have to memorize a random set of 6 English words, and will have 1 minute to do so. They will have to recall the words either 5 minutes later, 15 minutes later, or 25 minutes later. The number of words they can recall (in order) and the time between memorization and recalling will be recorded. All of these meeting and recordings will take place at Amity High School.

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  4. Leah Miller
    Period 5
    The Effect of Water Salinity on Plant Growth
    This project will look into whether or not the salinity of the water used to water plants affects the growth of the plants, and if so, by how much. It is hypothesized that if the salinity of the water used to water plants affects its growth, then the more concentrated the salinity of the water, the less the plant will grow. There have been past studies on the topic of the effect of water on the growth of plants. For example, Stormwater: The Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals has completed a study in New York, testing plants that were affected by high salt-concentrated runoff. They found that about 50.8% of woody plants are sensitive to the salt (NaCl) and that 11 of 15 types of trees are affected negatively by salt in the runoff water. The independent variable is the concentration of the salinity of the water, and the dependent variable is the final height of the plant. This project would be completed by taking 5 bean plants of the same size and height, place them in different pots of the same size, with the same kind and amount of soil. One will then be watered with distilled water (control), one with one teaspoon of salt to the gallon, one with three teaspoons of salt to the gallon, one with five teaspoons of salt to the gallon, and one with seven teaspoons of salt to the gallon. The hope is to complete this project at home or at a science lab in Amity High School, Woodbridge, CT.

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  5. Noah Gallant
    The Internet Engine

    In IBM’s latest creation, Watson, a supercomputer with terabytes of information stored, is utilized to answer questions. Their approach was unique and considered revolutionary; however it is in some opinions unnecessary to have all of that memory stored locally. Using the world’s greatest database of information, the internet, can a program be created to search the web and find answers to complicated as well as simple ones, just as efficient, or more efficiently than IBM’s Watson? Using the programming language Java it might be possible. The program will search the web’s most trustworthy knowledge sites such as, the Encyclopedia Britannica and Wolfram Alpha among others and pick out important information based on the question being asked. If the program cannot find the answer it will then look through past asked questions and see if the answer can be found there, as to be efficient as possible. It is hypothesized that if the program is written correctly then the program would be able to answer questions as correctly as Watson. The independent variable is the size of the program, and the dependent variable is how correctly it can answer questions. The control in this experiment is Watson’s correctness in answering questions. The constants will be the questions being asked which will be taken from the previous tests on the control. This program will be tested based on the percent of answers it gets right. The experiment requires a computer to run the program and a program to write the actual script of the “Internet Engine”.

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  6. Owais Khan
    The Effect of Music on Studying

    Music is a part of society that exists in a number of different cultures. Can this music affect the way humans are able to study for upcoming tests? It is generally thought that humans have a tendency to get bored after focusing on one thing for too long. This in turn compromises their best effort put into the task such as studying. If they were to listen to music as they worked, they may focus different. This would make them more or less prone to boredom. The information gained from this experiment could be used to support the notion that music can actually benefit a person studying. It is hypothesized that if someone studies with music playing in the background, then they will be able to remember the material better and perform much better on a short-term vocabulary test. In this research, there will be ten people used as participants. Each person will be asked to study for one vocabulary test with no music playing in the background. Each person will be taking the same test. They will then be asked to study for another vocabulary test that is similar to the first one, but has different vocabulary words. They will each study for this test with music playing in the background. In this investigation, the independent variable will be whether or not music is playing while studying for the test. The dependent variable will be the scores of the tests. Once the participants have finished with their tests, their results will be taken, scored, and graphed.

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  7. How does the 5210 healthy lifestyle initiative affect the weight of students?

    In the last three decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has reached to 75% in adolescents. Early invention is the key to prevent unhealthy weight gain. Factors identified to reduce overweight and obesity includes dietary and physical activity modification. By introducing a culture of smart, healthy choices in diet and physical activity, it is possible to change the lifestyle in adolescents. A program called 5210 has been developed to promote healthier life style. 5210 stands for 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, less than 2 hours of recreational screen time, 1 hour or more of daily physical activity and 0 sugar-sweetened beverages.
    It is proposed that by introducing the 5210 program to adolescents, they can be followed for 4-6 weeks and be assessed based off their change in behavior. The program will first be introduced to students by providing them with knowledge about overweight and obesity. Then they will be informed about how this 5210 program could be beneficial and how it could help the student’s dietary habit. It is hypothesized that 5210 Healthy Lifestyle Initiative will encourage healthy dietary and lifestyle activity among high school students. In the proposed experiment, the independent variable will be an introduction of the 5210 program; the dependent will be the change in weight of participants. The control group will be the students who are enrolled but are not expected to follow the 5210 initiative. To keep the participants involved with this program, they will be encouraged by the results of having a healthy diet and could possibly have a healthy weight for their age. To keep them up to date, there will be a log form, which they will fill out every day and record their 5-2-1-0 results. The main goal is to see the change in weight of the enrolled adolescents, while using the 5210 Healthy Lifestyle Initiative.

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  8. Geodesic Domes: Solar Efficiency
    Flat Solar Panel vs. Geodesic Dome Solar Structures


    Solar energy represents one feasible solution to the problem of climate change. However, current solar panel arrays allow less than half of the light reflected to be converted into electrical energy. As published in MIT News (April, 2010), researchers have created a computer simulation showing that geodesic domes, consisting of triangular and hexagonal shapes, are up to 240% more efficient in converting solar to electrical energy as defined by the amount of electricity generated per unit time when compared to flat solar panels. This is only a simulation, and has not yet been proven in a real-world, experimental setting. Therefore, the research question is: will an array of geodesic domes mounted with solar panels collect more solar energy per day when compared to an array of flat solar panels? It is hypothesized that a geodesic array of solar panels will generate a statistically significant greater amount of electrical energy as measured in volts using a voltmeter when compared to an array of flat solar panels. The independent variable will be the type of array: geodesic dome versus flat panel. The dependent variable will be the amount of electrical energy as measured in volts generated from each array in a 24-hour period. The flat solar units will serve as the control group. The total surface area of the geodesic array will be equal to the surface area of the flat solar panel array. The solar panel type to be used will consist of a collection of 6.0” X 3.0” flexible solar panels. Each array will include either 2 identical solar geodesic domes or 2 identical flat solar panels. The arrays will be tested for solar capture for 3 days. From sunrise to sunset, the four panels in each array will be measured on an hourly basis for electrical output in volts using a voltmeter. This data will be graphed to display the hypothesized difference or similarity between the geodesic versus the flat panel arrays.

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  9. Gabrielle Totten
    mindsets aMAZE
    how mindset affects completing a difficult maze

    There have been several studies that have tested different types of mindsets, most of which have been done by professor Carol Dweck of Stanford University in 2007. The two types of mindsets found were growth and fixed mindsets. A person with a growth mindset is a person who believes that they can develop and manipulate their brain and talents to improve their skills. A fixed mindset is a mindset where you believe that you either do, or do not have a certain talent and you can’t change that fact. But how can this information affect how quickly students will give up on a challenge? In this study, participants (all of which will be in high school) will be given a very difficult maze and will have as long as they need to complete it. All participants will be timed and told that they have the option to give up at any point. After they are done, the students will take another test, which was written by Carol Dweck, to see if they have a growth or fixed mindset. The independent variable is the mindset, and the dependent variable is how long the students last on the puzzle. It is hypothesized that people with a growth mindset will be less likely to give up than people with a fixed mindset.

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  10. A Tie of Tune and Tongue
    Zoya Fan

    Language is thought to connect mankind verbally while music is thought to connect people emotionally. Language is as diverse in grammar, expressions, and sounds as humans are in traditions, perspectives, and morals. However, everyone can connect somehow to music. In musical pieces, such as Beethoven’s Fifth or Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, there seems to be a message that is conveyed. However, does a certain age group have a better developed ability to perceive this linkage better than others? It is hypothesized that a stronger connection between language and music occurs between the ages of 8-10 than in younger ages. The Independent Variable is the age group and the Dependent Variable is the time that it takes for the children to respond after hearing the music. There will be three groups with the ages of 6-8, 8-10, and 10-12. Participants will be instructed to listen to Beethoven’s 5th symphony 1st movement and then express what they feel, or think of when listening. They will be asked to answer these questions verbally. The time it takes for them to answer (starting directly after the piece is over) will be measured and recorded. The responses will be written down and categorized. This research will attempt to correlate two complicated ideas that are similar yet different, showing that even during a younger developing age when children first become exposed to the outside world, they are capable of transferring something that they listen to with their ears to something they express verbally with their mouth.

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  11. Victoria Liu
    The Effect of Exercise on Cognitive ability in Relation to Word Memorization

    A study at Rome University in Italy in 2009 was conducted to see the effects of acute exercise on free-recall memory in preadolescents. In the end of this study, the results were that more words were recalled after a more vigorous acute exercise. This experiment would act as a basic outline, but a few factors would change. The research question for this study would be: does exercise increase your cognitive memorization ability? It is hypothesized that if exercise does indeed affect how fast you can memorize something, then the more you exercise, the more you can memorize because when doing physical activity, more blood is pumped to your brain and improves brain function. The independent variable in this experiment would be the amount of time spent jogging in place (time), the dependent variable would be the number of words memorized (from a list). The control is a group that has done zero minutes of exercise. To conduct this experiment, there would at least need to be 12 participants. The participants would be spilt into four groups: Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4. The participants would be given a first list, and would have to memorize it in a certain amount of time (5 minutes), and recite the words shortly after. Heart rate would be taken (by hand) before the participant begins to jog. Group 1 would then have to jog in place for five minutes, Group 2 would jog in place for ten minutes, and Group 3 would jog in place for fifteen minutes. Group 4 is the control, and does no exercise. Another list of words will be given, and would be memorized. Heart rate would be taken again during this time. This project would take place in a classroom, so no other disturbance would distract the participant.

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  12. Kristin Zakoworotny
    The Correlation between an Individual’s Mathematical Ability and Musical Instruments
    A study done by the CollegeBoard and Music Educators Conference in 2001 found that high school music students’ score higher on math and verbal portions of SAT compared to their peers. What isn’t as widely known is the correlation between mathematical ability, the type of instrument played, and how many years the student has played the instrument. The research question is: does playing a specific type of instrument for a specific amount of time have a greater effect on mathematical brain function? A study done by the University of California- Irvine researchers concluded that playing piano improves proportional reasoning, a critical skill in mathematics. Thus, it is hypothesized that if people have played piano for over 5 years, they will have the best mathematical ability. The independent variable is the type of instrument played and how long the subject has played that instrument. The dependent variable is the ability of the person to do basic math problem correctly. The control group is students that do not play any instruments. A survey will be conducted in 5 math classes at the honors level. This survey will contain questions regarding the student’s musical ability, the student’s math ability, how long the student has played their instrument, and what instrument they play. It will also have a portion to test mathematical ability and understanding. Two higher order thinking questions will be asked in an allotted time slot. The survey will be conducted at Amity High School, during school hours. Once the survey is completed, the data will be separated into groups based on the number of years the student has played, and by the instrument they play.

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  13. Harsha Lingareddy

    Effects of Different Type Music on Test Taking Ability

    Does music (rock, classical,pop) have a different effect on math test taking abilities?

    In many workplaces it is common that many employees are allowed to listen to music while working. The main reason why it is allowed is to promote concentration while working by blocking out all outside conversations and disturbing noises. It is shown in a study conducted by Jamie Thorne, Jenny Shannon, and Crystal Spencer that heart rate is accelerated by music, which causes people to perform better at either taking a test or working on a project. This experiment tests weather music like rock, hip hop, metal, classical or rap improves in math test taking abilities. It is hypothesized that hip hop will produce the highest test score because it is very upbeat and fast, which will make the heart beat faster. The faster heart beat is thought to produce better math test score. The independent variable would be the type of music. The dependent variable is the different test score got for each test. The control is the test with no music playing while taking the math test. The constants are the time period, type of test, level of difficulty of each test to the of participants grade level. The test groups are rock, hip hop, metal, classical, rap, and no music. In this study each test group will have 5 participants. Each participant would each take 2 tests one with music and one of these genres (rock, hip hop, metal, classical, or rap). I will play a genre during each one of the tests and one test with no music. The time for each test is for 3 minutes and music will be played throughout it or there will be silence. There will be different people in each group. Also I will take a preference survey prior to the Research. To find the data the total score will be recorded to see if different type of music’s increase test score. Also to find the Data the total number completed will be recorded, to see if different types of music make the participant’s worker faster. The location of the experiment would be 278 silverbrook rd.

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  14. The Effect of Technology on Math Testing
    Dana Chung

    Over the past few years, schools all around the country have been changing their classroom atmospheres by using new technology. Studies from Boston Colleges have shown that scores from electronic tests on languages are higher than a written test. But the real question is; what is the effect of technology on scores of math tests? This experiment is important for our knowledge today because technology is becoming a part of everyday life. More and more schools are beginning to assess students using electronic tests, but what if test scores differ because of the use of technology? To conduct this experiment, two different classes from the fifth grade, will be given two identical tests that cover the same math material and both contain multiple choice and open ended questions, one on a computer and the other as a hand out. It is hypothesized that the students who complete the test on the hand out will score higher than the students who complete the test on the computer. After data is collected, the data will be analyzed using a pie chart for the percentages of the different scores received using each method and a bar graph to compare the two results. This experiment will be conducted at the Turkey Hill Elementary School. The independent variable is the method of testing, the use of computers, while the dependent variable is the score of the tests given to student and the constant are the material that is being tested and when the test is conducted.

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  15. Arpita Jajoo

    Do stress levels affect high school students’ cognitive ability?

    When the body is stressed, the brain secretes a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol can be a good thing, but when there is too much, it can prevent the brain from creating new memories or limit access to previously existing ones. This study is designed to test how great the effects of an overdose of cortisol are. Do excessive stress levels affect high school students’ long-term and short-term memory ability? The independent variable is the amount of stress, in the form of a video. The dependent variable is the amount of words memorized from the given list. It is hypothesized that the more stress a student is under, the less he or she will be able to remember. In addition, long-term memory capabilities will be especially affected and hindered. To test this, each subject will have a list of five-letter nouns that they must memorize as well as possible within two minutes. The participants will be split into two groups: A and B. Group A will be a control, who will not be put under any stress. Group B will be put under mental and emotional stress, in the form of the audio of the video “Editing- Drama (intense argument)” by emzchen83 on youtube.com. It is a clip from the movie I Am Somebody, and depicts one man yelling at another for allegedly murdering his daughter. Only the audio of the clip between 10 and 35 seconds will be used. The participants in Group B will listen to the video preceding the memorization period. Each group will be tested on what they memorized five minutes and a day after the memorization period, so as to get results on both long and short term memory. The five minutes time period can be classified as short term memory, and the day time period can be classified as long term memory. The amount of words remembered by the participant will be recorded in a data table, compared, and analyzed for the difference in amount of words memorized each time. All participants will take part in this study in a closed, private room.

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  16. Maddie Snow
    The Effect of Technology Usage on Test Scores

    The use of electronics, in our everyday life, is increasing at a rapid rate. Products like the iPad, Kindle, and Smartphone have taken over the role of books, hand written notes, and traditional methods of communication. These electronics are very costly when schools and businesses aren’t even sure if they are helping people learn or if it’s just an easier way to take short cuts and not do the work themselves. In order for me to see if the usage of iPads in the classroom are effective, a number of freshmen will be given a reading comprehension article from a CAPT practice to read; they will have 10 minutes to read the article. Then, the article will be taken away and they will have 5 minutes to answer 11 multiple choice questions. This process will be done on and iPad for one half of students and paper and pencil for the other half. The independent variable will be the technique of reading the article and taking the test, on paper or an iPad. The dependent variable will be the test scores from each way of preforming reading and completing the test. It is hypothesized that the group that uses a pencil and paper to complete the assignment will have higher testing scores. The test scores of both groups will be gathered, averaged, and compared. This experiment will take place at Amity High School.

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  17. Ben Ewing
    Effect of iPad's in the classroom on academic performance

    The purpose of this study is about how interactive activities and lessons done on an iPad will affect students’ academic performance levels. The iPad was invented by Apple in January, 2010. Ever since its introduction, iPads have been changing the way people work. Studies have been completed where children with Autism have shown learning improvements through activities done on the iPad. The experiment will be done in a math classroom, learning a math lesson. The hypothesis for this experiment is if students are using iPads for learning activities in the classroom, then they will perform better on the test/quiz. The independent variable is if there are iPads in the classroom, and the dependent variable is the average quiz score. The materials needed are the iPads, and the students willing to participate in the experiment, and the quiz on the material. The experiment will be conducted by students learning a lesson and taking notes on the iPad and practicing the concepts learned, and then they would take a quiz on the material they learned that would be compared to the control group’s scores. They would also take a survey asking whether or not they preferred this lesson to traditional lessons, do they look forward to more lessons like this. This data would then be collected and used to find out how many students preferred the iPad lesson to a regular lesson and see if there was a correlation between higher quiz grades and student preference. There will be two identical lessons, one with iPads, and one without iPads.

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  18. Tyler Ronne

    The Effects of Playing Soccer on Academic Performance

    Many freshman students throughout high schools play sports of all kinds. Kids manage a high performance sport while trying to maintain class responsibilities. What are the effects of soccer being played more than an hour a day during the week on the student’s grade? It is hypothesized that involvement with soccer will have a positive correlation with test scores and grades. The independent variable would be if the student is involved with soccer and the dependent variable would be the grade the student is maintaining. The data can be found by evaluating the grades of 20 students who do play soccer and 20 students who don’t play soccer. To get this data, a survey will be handed out to students of the freshman class with the student writing their grade for first quarter and if student plays soccer that requires an hour or more of practice/games a day. With these results, the best way to record them is to put them into a data table. It would be divided by grade and if the student plays soccer. The grades for each category will be averaged. This study will be taken place in Amity High School.

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  19. Arvene Golbazi

    Exploring the Efficiency of Solar and Wind Energy

    Green energy has revolutionized the way we look at renewable resources. Now, instead of depending on non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas, we have a new outlook for the future. Scientists are now looking at the efficiency of supplying energy using renewable resources such as wind and solar power. Obtaining information on which methods retain the maximum work productivity possible could greatly benefit our use of green energy. The question that is being explored is which type of green energy (solar or wind) maintains the maximum work productivity. It is hypothesized that if both types of green energy are subjected to the same amount of energy, then solar power will be the most work-efficient. Because green energy can only work in specific environments, the variables of this experiment will be controlled extensively. Each type of energy source used (small solar panel and miniature wind turbine) will be subjected to the same amount of energy (measured in joules by conversion through watts). Power will be supplied to the solar panel through a light and to the wind turbine by a fan. The amount of joules from the input force of each method will be kept the same. The independent variable will be the types of energy conductors (small solar panel and miniature wind turbine). The dependent variable will be the work efficiency (measured in how many watts per hour each method produces) of each type of green energy. The constants will be the amount of input force exerted on each conductor, the same environment in where each type of energy is tested, and how long each trial runs for. The data collected will be graphed as a bar graph so that it can be clearly examined. This experiment will be conducted in Amity High School. Through this experiment, we will be able to take a closer look at which type of energy (solar or wind) is more effective for beneficial use.

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  20. The Effect Cold Temperature on Blood Sugar in Diabetics and non- Diabetics

    Currently, there are few studies done about blood sugar at different temperatures. Many Diabetics will argue that cold temperature does make their blood sugar go low. Others, however, will argue that temperature does not affect blood sugar at all. It is important to find out if cold temperature affects blood sugar in Diabetics as well as non- Diabetics because low blood sugar is a very dangerous thing if it goes unnoticed. This study will be taking place in school with the Diabetics, under the supervision of the school nurses, and at my home with my family as the non- Diabetics. The participants will prick their finger before starting the study to find what their starting blood sugar is. The blood sugar will be recorded. Then the participant will go outside for 5 minutes in about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the day the temperature outside could vary slightly. The participant will test their blood sugar again after the five minutes is up. The Diabetics will be participating in this study at school and the non- Diabetics (my family members) will be doing this study at my house. Everything that is done in this study will be supervised Dr. Eda Cengiz. Finding whether or not cold temperature affects blood sugar can help Diabetics control their blood sugar more because they’ll know whether their blood sugar runs high or low in lower temperatures. The independent variable will be whether or not the participant is Diabetic or not. The dependent variable is how the cold weather affects the participant’s blood sugar. The control for this research are the non- Diabetics.

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  21. Sarah Horbury
    Does physical activity before problem solving affect the ability to solve the problem?

    A study investigating the effect of physical activity on problem solving may be able to help individuals become more successful with problem solving. An experiment conducted by in 2001 explored how children played with blocks at age four, and then they tracked down those same children’s academic grades. They also discovered that the kids that played with blocks in the most creative manner had high math grades and achievements. In 1964, Marion Diamond and her colleagues created an experiment on rat’s brains. In the experiment, they put a few rats in a boring environment, while they put some other rats in a stimulating/toy filled environment. They discovered that the rats in the stimulating environment had thicker cerebral cortices than the rats in the boring environment. Other researchers have conducted similar experiments that show that the rats in a stimulating environment had bigger brains and were smarter, since they could find their way through a maze faster. Does exercising before solving a math problem make it easier to solve the problem? It is hypothesized that exercise before problem solving will increase ability to problem solve. The independent variable is the amount of time people spent exercising, while the dependent variable is how long it takes to solve the problem. The materials for this experiment would be thirty human test subjects that are in grades 9th-12th, five stop watches, and a Sudoku puzzle. All the subjects will have a written tutorial on doing a Sudoku puzzle before they start the problem for the experiment. For the procedure, thirty human subjects will be separated into three groups of ten. The first group will be the control group and not do any exercise, so they will just start the timed easy Sudoku, after the tutorial. The second group do jumping jacks for 2.5 minutes before starting the timed easy Sudoku. The third group will do jumping jacks for 5 minutes before starting the timed easy Sudoku. The recorded times for exercise and problem solving will be put into a data table and analyzed.

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  22. Matthew Whitehill

    The Use of Technology in Age Groups



    “As technology creeps into more and more areas of consumers' everyday lives, the risk of overexposure to gadgets, content, games and high-tech services rises…[and] some believe that too much technology can pose dangers on today's youth” according to TechNewsWorld online magazine. So are humans using technology for more recreational purposes than practical? Do younger people have a greater tendency to over use technology (for non-educational or recreational purposes) than older people? It is hypothesized that if humans are using technology, then it has a greater, negative impact on the youth. The independent variable being studied is age, while the dependent variable is usage. The ages of the participants will be broken down into 20 year groups. To test to see if humans are abusing the virtual world, each subject will receive a confidential survey via Surveymonkey.com. On the survey, test subjects will be asked how many electronic devices they have and what sources and their exposure to these devices throughout the day. An identical experiment will be conducted on an older group(s) of people.

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  23. Sricharan Kadimi
    The Effect of Different Environmental Factors on Stalactite Mass and Length

    Stalactites are fragile structures formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals (from a solution) on cave ceilings. It is also important that they be preserved as they are beautiful structures yet very slow growing and rare. However, today a range of environmental factors including increased storms, increased temperatures, and human interference mean that the factors affecting stalactite formation have changed. This study is designed to investigate how factors like decreased calcium carbonate (solute) content in stalactite solution, increased temperatures of solution, and humans touching stalactites affect stalactite mass and length. For this experiment, a graduated cylinder, beakers, thermometers, water, a pot, a stove, washers, wool string, washing soda (in place of the calcium carbonate), a triple beam balance, antibacterial soap, and a researcher will be used. Models of the stalactites will be made using a solution of washing soda and water allowed to drip down the string. The affecting factors such as the concentration of washing soda in each solution, the temperature of the solution, and the amount of times a human touches the stalactite will be changed. For the human interference trial, the subject will wash his hands with antibacterial soap, dry them, wait for five minutes, and then touch the stalactite. One stalactite will begin to be touched three days after the experiment begins and will be touched in the same designated spot until the end of the experiment. After about seven days, each stalactite will be taken and their mass and length will be measured. The independent variables will be the temperature of the water, the amount of washing soda in each solution, or the amount of human interference. The dependent variable will be the mass and length of the stalactites. It is hypothesized that if the independent variables affect stalactite mass and length, then more washing soda, faster cooling water, and less human interfered stalactites will be larger. Constants will include the amount of water in each solution, the type of string used, the humidity of the testing area, and more. The experiment will be conducted in a home basement and the data will be put into a bar graph.

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  24. How does time affect ability to recall memorized words?
    Richard Shiffrin, a professor of cognitive sciences at Indiana University, developed the idea that memory is divided into two parts: a long-term memory store and a short-term memory store. After a certain period of time, memories move from the short-term memory store to the long-term one. But it has never been clarified which memory store helps memorizing the most. The following research question can answer this: How does time between memorizing and recalling affect ability to recall memorized words? The independent variable is the amount of time between memorizing and recalling, while the dependent variable is the amount of words one can recall. There are many variables that must be kept constant, such as the amount of activity students do between memorizing and recalling, and the types of words memorized. These will be controlled by making sure all students do the same activities during the waiting time and that they memorize the same words. The hypothesis of this investigation is that if the time between memorizing and recalling is shorter, then more words will be recalled. To test this hypothesis, at least 18 students in the 9th grade must be gathered and split into 3 even groups. They will have to memorize a random set of 6 English words, and will have 1 minute to do so. They will have to write down the words either 5 minutes later, 10 minutes later, or 15 minutes later. The number of words they can recall (in order, spelled correctly) and the time between memorization and recalling will be recorded. All of these meeting and recordings will take place at Amity High School.

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  25. ~Joseph Neumann


    Alzheimer’s disease is a widely known disease that affects nearly 5 million people today. This disease will continue to harm people’s lives until either the disease is solved medically or doctors can advise Alzheimer’s recipients with a certain routine to minimize the disease’s damage. This study aims to discover whether or not there is a correlation between playing video games and short-term memory. It is hypothesized that if various people were told to memorize a series of nonrepeating numbers played a video game for 5 minutes, then the participants will have approximately a 10% improvement. The research would involve telling one group participants a series of 10 nonrepeating 2-digit numbers (which is different for each participant), followed with the participant playing a non-published video game for 5 minutes. The participant would then recite orally as much of the list as possible. The other group would have to memorize a similar list, except they will just watch the same game being played. They will then be tested on their memory using the same method. The projected findings would show that there is a notable increase for those who played the game, by almost as much as 40% thus far. The benefits could possibly be increased even more radically if the game-playing was for a longer span of time. It appears that the hypothesis seems has not been supported by the data thus far. So far, there appears to be a data trend that would suggest those who played the game retained more memory of the number pattern. This would suggest the hypothesis is somewhat accurate. An experiment like this has potential to have several implications, such as if participants were to play the same game for a longer time, then they could possibly remember more of the same type of number pattern.

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  26. Do Radio Waves Emitted Speed of Yeast Growth?

    Cell phones emit small amounts of radio waves. In a study conducted by Nora Volkow, a brain researcher and director of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse, it has been shown that cell phones increase brain glucose metabolism. Does that mean that radio waves effect growth? It is hypothesized that if organisms are exposed to radio waves, then their metabolism will increase as opposed to organisms not exposed to them. This will speed up growth, thus increasing population in less time. Yeast will be grown with exposure to radio waves and without. The independent variable of this study will be the exposure to radio waves, and the dependent variable will be the population of yeast resulting to being exposed to the radio waves. A total of 6 beakers of yeast will be grown, 3 exposed to radio waves the frequency of a cell phone for 24 hours each day for the period of a week. The other will not be exposed to radio waves at all, because this is the control group. Factors to control are temperature, nutrition, and the initial beginning amount of yeast. The yeasts’ population density will be measured by the haemocytometer once every day. This study will be conducted with an Amity biology teacher.

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  27. What affect does dance have on a student’s educational skills?

    What affect does dance have on a student’s educational skills? Most people say dancing improves a person’s thinking ability. The motivation for this project came from the researcher’s personal thoughts on dancing. It is said that when a person improve one so their skills then the others skills will be affected positively, by dancing a student improves their concentration causing them to also improve their educational skills. Eight students from the ages 9-16 will be tested before and after dancing. Two participates will dance for ½ hour and two won’t dance for ½ hour. Another two participates will dance for 15 minutes and two don’t dance for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, two subjects will be given a test. Then after a ½ hour, the other two subjects will be given a test (cognitive). The first test will be mathematics. The second will be solving a maze. The third test will be memorization. The subjects will be given t10 words to memorize. They will then be given 40 words and will have to find the10 words they were told to memorize. For the fourth test the participates will be shown a collage of pictures before dancing. Then after dancing they will be told to write down what picture/words they remember from the collage. The same test will be given to all participates. This experiment will be performed once a week for four weeks and it will take place in the researcher’s house. The hypothesis is, if a student dances for ½ hour before doing educational work, then the student’s educational skills will improve. The educational skills of each student will be measured in the amount of time taken to complete each test and the amount of right answers.

    Vimratha Teepireddy

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  28. Rachel Marcus
    Science Research Proposal
    The Effects of Male Voice Depth on Teenage Girls’ Cognitive Memory
    Earlier this year, a university in the United Kingdom tested the effects of depth in a male voice helping women to remember more. The researchers tested about 45 women in their first study. The study showed that women remember more while being spoken to by deep male voices. Based on this study, the proposal problem is; what level of depth of a male voice will help teenage females remember better? Interaction with the participants will first measure a group of males who have different voice pitches and measure their voice pitch with a spectrum analyzer or on a downloadable computer program. After the males are recorded for their pitch, they will each repeat a passage that is age appropriate and be recorded. Then, a large group of teenage females will be gathered to test. The females will listen to the same passage recorded by each of the different pitched voices. After each female listens to the passage, they will take a follow-up multiple choice memory test. The independent variable of this experiment would be the different pattern of voice pitches that the females will listen to in the experiment. The dependent variable would be the females’ ability of remembering the passage and how they each do on the memory test. The constants would be the genders that are used for the experiment and the 30 minutes to an hour that each female receives for the test. It is hypothesized that if the lowest male pitch voice is used, then the females will have a better cognitive memory. The experiment will be tested at the high school and at home.

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  29. Owais Khan
    Revised Science Research Proposal

    Music is a part of society that exists in a number of different cultures. Can this music affect the way humans are able to study for upcoming tests? It is generally thought that humans have a tendency to get bored after focusing on one thing for too long, as proven in a study done by the American Psychological Association. This in turn compromises their best effort put into the task such as studying. If they were to listen to music as they worked, they may focus differently. As detailed on by emedicalexperts.com, research confirms that playing music while studying enhances performance on cognitive tests. The information gained from this experiment could be used to support the notion that music can actually benefit a person studying. It is hypothesized that if someone studies with music playing in the background, then they will be able to remember the material better and perform much better on a short-term vocabulary test. In this research, there will be twenty people used as participants. Each person will be asked to study for one vocabulary test with no music playing in the background. Each person will be taking the same test. They will then be asked to study for another vocabulary test that is similar to the first one, but has different vocabulary words. They will each study for this test with music playing in the background. In this investigation, the independent variable will be whether or not music is playing while studying for the test. The dependent variable will be the scores of the tests. Once the participants have finished with their tests, their results will be taken, scored, and graphed.

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  30. By: Alec Melotto
    The Effects of Listening to a Piece of Music Before you Attempt to play it.
    Music has entertained many people throughout many years. According to previous research, music helps a person figure out pattern faster than without music. This study was done by Ruby Nadler called, “Positive Mood Allows Human Brain to Think More Creatively.” The research problem is: Does listening to a piece of music before you sight read it, help you play the correct notes while you sight read? It is hypothesized that if the subject listens to the piece of music then they will have an understanding of the correct notes and rhythms to play. The independent variable is the subject listening to the music before he/she play. The dependent variable is the performance of the subject. The control of this experiment is the subject without the music played. The constants are the number of songs being tested, the type of instrument being played, the songs, and the years of experience. The experiment will be conducted in this order: First, set up smart music on whatever computer used. Using this program, it is possible to play the song before they listen to it, and then see what notes they played correctly. The tempo can be controlled and many other variables so it is possible to test the problem/question efficiently. Next bring in the control group and this person will play the song without listening to it before he attempts to preform it. After he has attempted the song, bring in the next person. Then, his part will be played once through. Then he will attempt the song. Finally, the third person will come in and his part will be played first, then the accompaniment and allow him to try the song afterwards. It is planned to be tested 2-3 times on 2-3 different songs. There will be several three person groups and all of them with have the same set up as the last group. It is planned to stay after school one day in the band room so the subjects don’t have to bring their instruments back and forth between school and home.

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  31. Motor reaction times in response to different distractions

    With the advent of telecommunications technology, the use of cellular devices while driving has become a growing problem in the US. In 2009 alone, 5,474 people were killed and about 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted driving. One main concern of distracted driving is that it hinders drivers’ abilities to react to events; a recent Texas A&M study showed that reaction times are doubled while texting and driving. But visual distractions, such as texting, may not be the only problem. If a driver is talking on the phone, they may also show an increased reaction time. Is reaction time affected by the type of distraction? It is hypothesized that if distractions such as texting or talking on a phone affect reaction time, then participants not using any devices will show faster reaction times over those using them. The independent variable is the type of distraction, which will be either texting or talking on the phone. The control experiment will be those participants with no distractions, but will still be tested. The dependent variable is the participant’s reaction time. A custom-built reaction timer will turn on a light and time how long it takes the participant to press a handheld button. These tests will be conducted mainly at school with volunteer students as participants.

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  32. How does the 5210 healthy lifestyle initiative affect the weight of students?

    In the last three decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has reached up to 75% in adolescents. Early prevention is the key to prevent unhealthy weight gain. Factors identified to reduce overweight and obesity include dietary and physical activity modification. By introducing a culture of smart, healthy choices in diet and physical activity, it is possible to change the lifestyle in adolescents. A program called 5210 has been developed to promote healthier life style. The 5210 stands for 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, less than 2 hours of recreational screen time, 1 hour or more of daily physical activity and 0 sugar-sweetened beverages. It is hypothesized that if adolescents follow the 5210 healthy lifestyle initiative, then will maintain or lose some weight. The program will first be introduced to students by providing them with information about statistics, impact of unhealthy foods and lack of physical activity on overweight and obesity. They will be informed about how the 5210 program will be beneficial for their health. In the proposed experiment, the independent variable will be the 5210 program; the dependent will be the change in weight of participants. In this experiment, there will be three groups. One group will be the control group which includes the students who will be enrolled but have no knowledge of this program nor will be expected to follow the 5210 initiative. Second group will include the students who will be enrolled in this program, have knowledge of the 5210, but will not expected to follow it. The last group of students will be participating in the 5210 program. The students will be required to participate in this investigation for four weeks. The weight will be checked in the beginning of the program and at the end of the four week period. To keep up to date, there will be a log form, which they will fill out every day and record their 5-2-1-0 results, having their parents sign the log as well. The main goal is to see the change

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