Hello team, 

The type of data you collect is always based on your research questions.  It is connected to what you want to find out.  So it looks like you are thinking about plant growth.  An important question you need to ask is how do you determine growth?  Is it by the amount of time it takes to germinate (come out of the seed)?  Is it how fast the root grows (most likely millimeters per day)?  How fast the stem will grow?  So you need to determine what you want to use to measure growth.  This will be your quantitative measurement (numbers).  

All researchers should be noting observations, writing down unique things that happen, differences between trials, potential differences in procedures.  This informaton is all qualitative.  It isn't a number, but may provide insight into your findings (after the experiment is over) and also may give you inspiration for your next experiment.  

Your research will mostly be quantitative (whatever you decide to use to measure growth rate) with a little qualitative (observations).  

My research is focused in qualitative research, I complete interviews and observations of students.  Within those interviews and observations, I am able to notice patterns and develop interesting ideas that hopefully will inspire someone to ask other questions and test quantitatively (using numbers).  

Let me know what you decide to use to measure growth.

Don't forget, it is very important to organize your data tables before you start collecting data.  This way, you have thought about all of the potential data points you need to collect and it is in the same place.  

Have a great day,

Kara 

Great start.  So, tell me, what questions do you have?  All scientists start with a question.  So you have an experiment in which you will see how water and light effect plant health. What do you want to know from this experiment? This may help determine which plants you use in your experiment.  So my question for you, what do you want to find out about photosynthesis?

A few things to remember: photosynthesis rates change based upon light intensity, amount of carbon dioxide, air pollution, temperature and water.  In your current experiment, you would be changing the light intensity and amount of water.

Kara

Hello Madeline,

Photosynthesis is the process of utilizing the free energy from the sun into another form of energy sugar.  It is the opposite of what occurs in our body, where we eat sugar to gain energy and release carbon dioxide.  The chemical equation for photosynthesis is Image result for photosynthesis chemical equation
The chemistry and the process of creating sugar at the molecular level is really interesting too.  Unsure how much detail you want me to go into at the moment.  Let me know if you want more detail.  Also, attached is a fun little music video that gives you the basics. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgYPeeABoUs

Plants have special organelles that allow them to harvest the energy of the sun (chloroplasts). I think it is easier to show a video, photosynthesis is a complex process - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dn_zdAZN0I.

Plants are the backbone of any ecosystem. Because they are autotrophs (they make their own energy), they are the key to all the rest of life.  Every other living thing, nematodes, humans, most bacteria, fungi, etc., all need to consume a form of food in order to survive. 

So of the light that hits the surface of the leaf, only about 1% of that energy is converted into energy.  Photosynthesis is not very efficient. 

Let me know if you need clarifications or explanations for any of these processes. 

Kara