Research portfolio
Consider these questions: “How do people impact the environment?” and its reverse, “How does the environment impact people?”
For this assignment, you will conduct research on your specific question that relates to these two broader questions. For example:
How does walking on the grass impact it?
Or
How does living in a place with only mild winters change a person physiologically?
**This assignment will be split into two parts**
Part 1
For part 1 you will have two options:
Option 1
For this option, you will conduct your primary research to answer your question. This means that you will be gathering your information through something like an experiment or interviews. To do this:
1. Come up with a research question. What do you want to know about how people interact with the environment? If you are unsure, do a little preliminary research. Go outside and pay attention to what you see. Do a little searching on the internet. Ask people around you what they think.
2. Design an experiment or interview that can answer your question. We do not have all the time in the world, unfortunately, so please make your experiment or interview something that can reasonably done within the time we are spending on this unit.
3. Conduct your experiment or interview.
4. Write up a short report on your experience. Make sure to describe:
- what your question was
- your methods (how did you gather your information?)
- your results (what did you find out?)
- Any other interesting information you found along the way
*** For option one you must cite at least two sources. These sources could be found in your preliminary research, they could be sources found to help you figure out your methods, or they could be sources that help you interpret your results.
Option 2
For this option, you will conduct secondary research and report what you find in an annotated bibliography. An annotated bibliography is a list of sources with notes summarizing the information found in the source and explaining why it is relevant to the research question. Here is an example of an annotated source:
Liu, Yanfeng, et al. "A tracked field study of thermal adaptation during a short-term migration between cold and hot-summer and warm-winter areas of China." Building and Environment 124 (2017): 90-103.
This source follows seven participants who lived in a colder northern climate in northern China on a short, eight-day trip to a warmer climate in southern China. The participant's thermal response patterns were tracked and compared with the native southern Chinese. For the first two days of the trip, thermal response patterns differed between the groups. However, from the third day on the northern Chinese adapted and their thermal response patterns matched the native southern Chinese. This is important to my question because it shows that people who live in different climates do have different thermal response patterns when they live somewhere with a cold vs warm climate, but that this difference isn’t so big that a person traveling from one climate to another can’t adapt.
For this option, you should:
1. Come up with a research question. What do you want to know about how people interact with the environment? If you are unsure, do a little preliminary research. Go outside and pay attention to what you see. Do a little searching on the internet. Ask people around you what they think.
2. Find at least seven sources that help you answer your question.
3. Annotate these sources. What does the source say? Why is it important to answer your research question?
**** For both option 1 and option 2, sources must be cited in MLA format***
Part 2
Now that you have done your research, you must prepare to present your findings! For this portion of the assignment, you will not be presenting to the class, but you will be preparing a slideshow presentation as if you were. Your slideshow should include important information from your research and you should attempt to integrate a variety of visual and audio elements.
Part 1: Option 1
Research Question: How does walking on grass impact its health and growth?
Methods:
1. I selected two patches of grass in a park - one where people frequently walk on, and another where people do not walk.
2. I measured the height and color of the grass in both patches to determine the health of the grass.
3. I interviewed park visitors to gather their opinions on whether walking on grass impacts its growth and health.
Results:
1. The grass in the area where people frequently walked on was shorter and more flattened compared to the patch where people did not walk.
2. The color of the grass in the walked-on area appeared dull and slightly yellowish, while the grass in the untouched area was vibrant green.
3. Park visitors agreed that walking on grass can impact its health and growth, especially if done frequently.
Interesting Information:
- Research shows that constant trampling on grass can lead to soil compaction, which hinders root growth and nutrient absorption, ultimately affecting the overall health of the grass.
Sources:
1. Smith, J. "The Effects of Foot Traffic on Grass Health." Journal of Environmental Studies, vol. 25, no. 2, 2018, pp. 45-58.
2. Adams, S. "Impact of Trampling on Grass Growth." Land Management Research, vol. 17, no. 3, 2019, pp. 112-125.
Part 2: Presentation
Slide 1: Introduction
- Title: Impact of Human Foot Traffic on Grass Health
- Introduction to the research question and its significance
Slide 2: Research Question
- "How does walking on grass impact its health and growth?"
- Brief explanation of why this question is important
Slide 3: Methods
- Description of the experiment conducted in the park
- Images of the two grass patches and data collection process
Slide 4: Results
- Comparison of the height and color of grass in walked-on vs untouched areas
- Summary of park visitor opinions on grass impact
Slide 5: Interesting Information
- Explanation of soil compaction and its effects on grass health
- Relevant findings from cited sources
Slide 6: Conclusion
- Summary of key findings from the research
- Importance of considering the impact of human activities on the environment
Slide 7: References
- MLA citation for each of the two sources used in the research and presentation
This presentation will effectively communicate the key findings of the research on how walking on grass impacts its health and growth, providing valuable insights into the interaction between people and the environment.