Chapter 1 is the Introduction to your research paper, and it establishes why your research is important, the problem that your research examines, the question that your research will attempt to answer, and what you think the outcome of your research will be. Chapter 1 is made up of three sections, Problem Statement, Research Question, and Hypotheses.
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Reaction Time Activity/Experiment Link
Specific Requirements for Chapter 1: Introduction
As discussed in detail below, Chapter 1: Introduction must contain the following.
- Problem Statement
- Research Question
- Null Hypothesis (H 0)
- Alternative Hypothesis (H 1)
Problem Statement
The problem statement outlines the problem that your research will examine and explains why your research is important.
Problem Statement
Testing can cause stress, and according to Klick (2014), students with higher stress levels had heart rates of 67.30 beats/minute while students with lower stress levels had a heart rates of 65.54 beats/minute. People are taking tests everyday. Some are being timed and some are not. The goal of this research is to determine how timed tests affect heart rate. In answering this question, we may be able to help teachers have a better understanding of how testing conditions can impact a student's level of stress and performance. In doing this, we may be able to assist teachers in creating more appropriate testing environments. |
Activity
Working with a small group, brainstorm problems around CLC that we might be able to examine through experimentation.
Research Question
The research question is a question that defines what your research hopes to answer.
The research question should define, in general terms, what the experimenter will manipulate or change and what the experimenter will measure.
The research question should define, in general terms, what the experimenter will manipulate or change and what the experimenter will measure.
Research Question
Does limiting the time allowed to take a test raise a person's heart rate more than if they were taking a test with no time limit? |
In the question above, the experimenter...
- will manipulate or change the time allowed to take a test.
- will measure a person's heart rate.
Activity Link
Hypothesis
You will need to develop two hypotheses. The null hypothesis (H 0) is a hypothesis which the researcher tries to disprove, reject or nullify. The 'null' often refers to the common view of something, while the alternative hypothesis (H 1) is what the researcher really thinks is the cause of a phenomenon.
Sounds complicated, but we will simplify this.
The Null Hypothesis (H 0) states that there will be no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group is the group that receives the treatment (the group you do something to). In the above example, the experimental group would be the group that has a time limit for completing the test.
The Alternative Hypothesis (H 1) states that there will be a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group.
With that said, for your research, the Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis are nearly identical. The hypotheses will have four basic parts, the assumption, the participants, the condition, and the prediction.
Assumption
The assumption is a brief statement of what you think.
The participants is a description of the people that will take part in your experiment.
The condition describes how you will conduct the experiment.
The prediction explains what you think will happen. In the case of the Null Hypothesis, you will predict that there will be no difference.
Sounds complicated, but we will simplify this.
The Null Hypothesis (H 0) states that there will be no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group is the group that receives the treatment (the group you do something to). In the above example, the experimental group would be the group that has a time limit for completing the test.
The Alternative Hypothesis (H 1) states that there will be a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group.
With that said, for your research, the Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis are nearly identical. The hypotheses will have four basic parts, the assumption, the participants, the condition, and the prediction.
Assumption
The assumption is a brief statement of what you think.
- If it is true that being timed on a test does not have an effect on your heart rate...
- If it is true that being timed on a test has an effect on your heart rate...
The participants is a description of the people that will take part in your experiment.
- ...then when two groups of 10 middle school students...
The condition describes how you will conduct the experiment.
- ...are given the same memory test, but with one group being told they have as much time as needed to complete the test and the other group being told they have 5 minutes to complete the test...
The prediction explains what you think will happen. In the case of the Null Hypothesis, you will predict that there will be no difference.
- Null Hypothesis (H 0) - the group that has a time limit will not score significantly different from the group that does not have a time limit.
- Alternative Hypothesis (H 1) - the group that has a time limit will score significantly different from the group that does not have a time limit.
Null Hypothesis (H 0)
If it is true that being timed on a test does not have an effect on your heart rate, then when two groups of 10 middle school students are given the same memory test, but with one group being told they have as much time as needed to complete the test and the other group being told they have 5 minutes to complete the test, the group that has a time limit will not score significantly different from the group that does not have a time limit. Alternative Hypothesis (H 1) If it is true that being timed on a test has an effect on your heart rate, then when two groups of 10 middle school students are given the same memory test, but with one group being told they have as much time as needed to complete the test and the other group being told they have 5 minutes to complete the test, the group that has a time limit will score significantly different from the group that does not have a time limit. |
Activity
Working in a small group, and using the research questions you developed in the Research Question Activity, write a Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis for each research question.
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Complete Example of Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Introduction
Problem Statement
Testing can cause stress, and according to Klick (2014), students with higher stress levels had heart rates of 67.30 beats/minute while students with a lower stress levels had heart rates of 65.54 beats/minute. People are taking tests everyday. Some are being timed and some are not. The goal of this research is to determine how timed tests affect heart rate. In answering this question, we may be able to help teachers have a better understanding of how testing conditions can impact a student's level of stress and performance. In doing this, we may be able to assist teachers in creating more appropriate testing environments. Research Question Does limiting the time allowed to take a test raise a person's heart rate more than if they were taking a test with no time limit? Hypotheses Null Hypothesis (H 0) If it is true that being timed on a test does not effect on your heart rate, then when two groups of 10 middle school students are given the same memory test, but with one group being told they have as much time as needed to complete the test and the other group being told they have 5 minutes to complete the test, the group that has a time limit will not score significantly different from the group that does not have a time limit. Alternative Hypothesis (H 1) If it is true that being timed on a test has an effect on your heart rate, then when two groups of 10 middle school students are given the same memory test, but with one group being told they have as much time as needed to complete the test and the other group being told they have 5 minutes to complete the test, the group that has a time limit will score significantly different from the group that does not have a time limit. |
Activity
Working with a partner, and using the Problem Statement that appears below, write a Research Question, Null Hypothesis, and Alternative Hypothesis.
Problem Statement CLC has provided iPads for the 7th and 8th graders to use. Some of the students have complained that the iPads are not as good as MacBooks. This research study will examine if iPads enable students to learn at the same rate and level as MacBooks. |