AP Research students are entering into their second semester as members of the class and have begun the process of conducting their own original research studies.
For students who are using the survey method, QR codes linked to the surveys have been posted in the West Mall near the cafeteria for student participation.
The survey is a unique method, as it relies on willing participants in order for the researchers to gather enough data. Due to this, throughout the month of January, QR codes will be posted for students to scan to be able to participate in the surveys.
“QR codes are up, and links to the surveys are on Canvas as well,” AP Research teacher Mrs. Tonya Henke said. “The surveys will stay up throughout January and come down at the end of the month.”
Ethan Yeow, an AP Research student, is using a survey to aid in his research surrounding pregame meals for soccer athletes. Yeow needs the participation of soccer players specifically in order to adequately obtain results.
“For my research project, I’m researching pre-game meals for soccer athletes…to create an optimal pregame meal that would be beneficial both for nutrition and for what they actually want to eat,” Yeow said.
Surveys certainly have benefits for the AP Research students using them, as data collection informs them about their topic of research.
“I chose surveys because I wanted to see the actual, personal desires of the athletes, rather than just what they would need objectively for their nutrition,” Yeow said. “By surveying, I could get their personal feedback; I could tie that into how we create our pregame meals and what goes into the personal wants of each one of the athletes.”
Senior Landon Lazear is researching the impacts of listening to jazz.
“I feel like surveys are pretty easy to use generally and also it gives you a wider range of results you can get from several different areas and focus groups,” Lazear said.
Added Yeow: “You get the primary data from the people who are actually involved and actually impacted by these things.”
Additionally, the benefits of surveys don’t stop at the researcher, but extend to the participants as well.
“In my case, creating a pregame meal which would help athletes in the future with creating a meal that helps them perform well and that would sit well on their stomach and be what they want also,” Yeow said.
Added Lazear: “Student participation can help me and many of my peers gain more knowledge that we could use that could provide future benefits to those people who take the survey.”
In order for the best results, student participation is needed, and the surveys must be easy to access and simple to complete. With this in mind, AP Research students count on the participation of the student body to ensure a representative cross-section. Therefore, the student body is encouraged to participate in the AP Research surveys to help aid students in their research.
“Student involvement is really important because there are future benefits that could come out of our research,” Yeow said. “Each one of our researchers are attacking a specific need or problem in society, so by answering these surveys they are really just helping solve this problem or come up with a solution.”
QR codes and links to participate in the AP Research surveys will be posted on the bulletin board beside the cafeteria and on students’ “Class Of” pages on Canvas.