Research Proposal

Lesson 7 – Writing research proposals
1. Indicate the type of research that you are adopting:

• [  ] Test a hypothesis: Hypothesis-driven research
  
• [  ] Measure a value: Experimental research (I)
  
• [  ] Measure a function or relationship: Experimental research (II)
• [  ] Construct a model: Theoretical sciences and applied mathematics
  
• [ X ] Observational and exploratory research
  
• [  ] Improve a product or process: Industrial and applied research
  
  2. Write a research proposal of your interested topic in the following format:
  Title: An investigation of how different types of water affect the growth of a Hydrilla Plant
  A. Question or Problem being addressed
  A student wanted to find out how different types of water affect the growth of a Hydrilla plant. (The aim)
  The independent variable is the type of water.
  The dependent variable is the Hydrilla
  The constants are:
  (a) Amount of water 
  (b) the type of Hydrilla Plant used 
  (c) the type of glass the Hydrilla is placed in
  (d) the same environment the Hydrilla is placed in
  (e) the temperature of the water
• (f) the number of leaves the Hydrilla has
  
  B. Goals / Expected Outcomes / Hypotheses
  Changing the type of water the Hydrilla is in affects the rate of growth of the Hydrilla.

C. Description in detail of method or procedures (The following are important and key items that should be included when formulating ANY AND ALL research plans.)
Equipment list:

• -  Clean beaker (250 ml) x 12
• -  Hydrilla plant x 12
• -  Dissolved Oxygen Sensor DO-BTA x 1
• -  Forceps x 1

• Procedures: Detail all procedures and experimental design to be used for data collection

1. Place all 12 Hydrilla into a dark room overnight to de-starch the plant
2. Set up four beakers beside each other in the biology lab, repeat it 3 times
3. Measure the height of all the Hydrilla
4. Fill up each of the beakers with the 4 different types of water
5. Place 1 Hydrilla Plant into each beaker
6. Record the height of the Hydrilla on each day

• Risk and Safety: Identify any potential risks and safety precautions to be taken.


• Data Analysis: Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results that answer research questions or hypotheses

1. Check the pH of the different types of water the plant is in. 
2. Place 100 ml of the 4 types of water into each of the glass beaker.
3. Check the plants to be similar. 
4. Place the similar plants into each of the 12 beakers filled with water.
5. Check the height and oxygen produced by the plant everyday.
6. Record observations.

D. Important Questions
1.Why Hydrilla?

-Hydrilla plants are common and are found quite often, in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, impoundments and canals, they too have a highly specialized growth habit, physiological characteristics, and reproduction that make this plant well adapted to life in submersed freshwater environments.  It can grow quite quickly which allow us to complete the experiment in a relatively short amount of time, at the same time, the hydrilla is able to live at a shallow depth of a few inches or up to 20 feet.

2.What conditions does Hydrilla Plants require to stay alive and grow?

-The growth habit of hydrilla enables it to compete effectively for sunlight. It can elongate very rapidly, up to one inch per day, until it nears the water surface. Hydrilla is able to grow under a wide range of water chemistry conditions. It is commonly found in oligotrophic (low nutrients) to eutrophic (high nutrients) lakes. It can grow in water up to about 7% the salinity of seawater (Haller et al. 1974) or higher (Steward and Van 1987); and it tolerates a wide range of pH, but tends to grow better at pH 7 (Steward 1991).


E. Bibliography: List at least five (5) major references (e.g. science journal articles, books, internet sites) from your literature review. If you plan to use vertebrate animals, one of these references must be an animal care reference. Choose the APA format and use it consistently to reference the literature used in the research plan. List your entries in alphabetical order.

Armstrong, S. (2013, JULY 09) “Gardening-know-how” Gardening-know-how retrieved from http://whatisthatingredient.com/ingredient.php?id=60

Langeland, K. (2013, JULY 09) Hydrilla verticillata "The Perfect Aquatic Weed" retrieved from http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/184

Luis, A. Catherine, M. Poss, James. Donald, A. (2013, JULY 09) “Salinity and Alkaline pH in Irrigation,Water Affect Marigold Plants: II. Mineral Ion Relations” Hort Science retrieved from http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/53102000/pdf_pubs/P2294.pdf

Morris, T. (2013, JULY 09) “Acid Rain and plant growth” Fullerton College. Retrieved from http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/tmorris/lab/lab_manual/acid_rain_04.pdf

Royle, L. (2013, JULY 09)  “Hydrilla verticillata” New York Invasive Species Information retrieved from http://www.nyis.info/?action=invasive_detail&id=16

What is that ingredient (2013, JULY 09). “What is that ingredient” Retrieved from http://whatisthatingredient.com/ingredient.php?id=60

Whiting, D. (2013, JULY 09) “Plant Growth Factors: Water” Colorado State University retrieved from http://www.cmg.colostate.edu/gardennotes/144.pdf