SCI 101: NatureHood Assignment Guide

From Observations to Research

Now that you've spent time observing your NatureHood, it's time to reflect on your findings and start thinking about potential research topics. This page will guide you in connecting your observations to broader scientific themes and help you generate research questions that are both meaningful and feasible. Explore the following resources to help support you develop a research question for your project: 

• Topic Exploration Worksheet: A worksheet to help you explore your topic further and identify related scientific themes.
• Sample Research Questions: Examples of research questions to inspire your own. These questions are starting points and require further development to be appropriate for your NatureHood projects. 
• Library Research Guide: Resources compiled by our Science Librarian help you find scholarly articles and background information on your topic. 

By connecting your observations to broader scientific themes and refining your research question, you’re taking the next step in your research journey. Remember, the best research questions come from genuine curiosity and a desire to understand the world around you. Happy exploring!

Follow these steps, or use the Topic Exploration Worksheet for more detailed support. 

Step 1: Identify Themes in Your Observations

Review your observation log and look for recurring themes or patterns. What caught your attention the most? Consider the following categories to help you identify potential themes:

• Environmental Patterns: Did you notice patterns related to the health of plants, the behavior of animals, or the distribution of natural resources (like water or sunlight)?
• Human Impact: How does human activity influence your environment? Did you observe pollution, habitat disruption, or beneficial human interventions like community gardens?
• Natural Interactions: What interactions did you notice between different elements in your environment? For example, how do animals interact with plants, or how do weather conditions affect the landscape?

Use the Topic Exploration Worksheet to list the key themes you observed and jot down initial thoughts on each one by answering questions 1 and 2. 

Step 2: Explore Broader Scientific Topics

Once you’ve identified themes in your observations, think about how they connect to larger scientific questions. Below are some examples to inspire your thinking:

• Urban Ecology: How do urban environments impact biodiversity? Are certain species thriving while others are declining?
• Climate Change: How might changing weather patterns affect the plant and animal life in your neighborhood?
• Conservation and Sustainability: Are there conservation efforts in your area? How effective are they in preserving local ecosystems?
• Public Health: How do green spaces or lack thereof impact the physical and mental well-being of residents?

Step 3: Brainstorm Potential Research Questions

Using your observations and the broader scientific topics above, start brainstorming possible research questions. Remember, a good research question should be specific, focused, and answerable with the resources and time available. Consider these examples:

• Urban Ecology Theme:
  • “How does the presence of urban green spaces influence the diversity of bird species in my neighborhood?”
• Human Impact Theme:
  • “What is the effect of roadside pollution on the health of street trees in my local park?”
• Climate Change Theme:
  • “How do seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation affect insect populations in my backyard?”

Use the Scientific Research Question Templates at the bottom of this page for additional help. You can also explore the Sample Research Questions to help you brainstorm topics you're curious about and generate questions that are relevant to your own NatureHoods. 

Step 4: Refine Your Research Question

Once you have a few ideas, it’s time to refine your research question. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the question specific enough to be studied in the time you have?
• Is it interesting to you and potentially meaningful to others?
• Is it feasible given your resources and the scope of the assignment?

For more comprehensive instructions, work on question 6 of your Topic Exploration Worksheet to help you narrow down your ideas into a clear, focused research question.

Step 5: Get Feedback

Share your refined research question with a peer, instructor, or with a Librarian for constructive feedback. Schedule an appointment with a Librarian using their scheduler buttons on this page. Consider their suggestions and revise your question if needed.

Scientific Research Questions: Templates 

Scientific research questions are designed to explore the relationship between different variables—factors that can change or be manipulated—and the contexts in which they are observed. A good research question identifies what you want to measure (the dependent variable), what might influence it (the independent variable), and the specific setting or conditions for your study. These elements make the question focused and allow for measurable, quantifiable outcomes.

To help you develop effective research questions for your NatureHood project, the provided templates offer structured guidance. Each template helps you frame a question that is both meaningful and appropriately scaled for your two-week observation window, ensuring that you can gather relevant and manageable data.