- The organisms I plan to study are olive and lemon trees
- Given that these trees have been established in their current locations for a long time, relocating them for the experiment is not a possible option. Consequently, I have selected four distinct locations: two of them receive ample sunlight, while the other two are situated in a more shaded area (2 locations for olive trees while the other 2 are for lemon trees).
What I’ll be measuring exactly is the size of lemon and olives in different areas as well as how the trees itself are different (in terms of color, production, height,etc). I’ll pick a branch on each tree and use it for the rest of the research project to compare.
- First location: Direct sunlight-exposed olive trees demonstrate vigorous growth, a tall and flourishing canopy, and prolific fruit output.
- Second location: Olive tree in a more shady area, next to many other trees.
- Third location: Lemon tree directed towards sunlight, noticeably smaller in size compared to the shaded lemon tree.
- Fourth location: Lemon tree in a shady area, the tree is taller than the one in the third location.
Hypothesis: The growth of olives and lemon will be influenced by the amount of sunlight they receive.
Prediction: I predict that trees exposed to direct sunlight will exhibit greater growth in terms of height, leaf density, and fruit production compared to those in shaded areas.
Response Variable: Number and size of lemon and olives
Explanatory Variable: Light conditions (Direct sunlight and shaded areas)
You chose a highly intriguing subject for research, and your post appears simple and straightforward. The premise and conclusion are much more obvious, however it would be preferable if you could include more influence as your textbook contains many of them.
I think your overall study design is good but my only concern is sample size. You have only one tree in each area. You won’t be able to compare trees because it sounds like your sample size is 1 in each case. You can compare fruit because this will give you more samples though they won’t be completely independent because they are all on the same tree.
Your hypothesis and prediction are clear. Your prediction is falsifiable and I agree with it especially because of the growth rate of the olives in the first location.
For the lemon tree in the third and fourth location there might be a reason for its contradiction to your prediction, maybe the lemon tree in the third location is a younger tree that the fourth thus age of trees will be a confounding variable here.
Your predictor and response variables are easily measurable in their original location especially with your concerns on relocation.