Objective:
To apply the scientific method to investigate the impact of urban green spaces on local air quality using simple observational techniques.
Instructions:
You will conduct a simple observational study to determine if urban green spaces (parks) have an effect on the air quality in their surrounding areas.
Steps to Follow:
Ask a Question:
Do urban green spaces improve local air quality?
Do Background Research:
Gather information on how plants and green spaces can affect air quality. Use textbooks, library resources, and reliable online sources to understand the current knowledge on this topic.
Construct a Hypothesis:
Formulate a hypothesis based on your research. Example:
“Areas with more green spaces will have better air quality compared to areas with less or no green spaces.”
Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Observation:
Design a simple observational study to test your hypothesis. Describe the materials and methods you will use.
Materials:
Notebook or paper for recording observations.
Pen or pencil.
Access to different locations within your city (you can walk, use public transportation, or bike).
Method:
Select three different locations within your city:
A large park or urban green space.
A residential area with moderate green spaces.
A busy commercial area with minimal green spaces.
Visit each location at the same time of day (e.g., 10 AM) over the course of three days.
Use your senses to make observations about the air quality in each location. Consider factors like:
Smell: Does the air smell fresh or polluted?
Visibility: Is there smog or haze?
Presence of dust or particulates: Do you see or feel dust in the air?
Record your observations in a table like the one below:
Location Date Time Air Quality Observations
Large Park MM/DD/YYYY 10 AM Fresh smell, clear visibility
Residential Area MM/DD/YYYY 10 AM Slight smell of pollution, clear
Commercial Area MM/DD/YYYY 10 AM Polluted smell, some haze
Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion:
Review your observations and look for patterns or differences between the locations.
Determine whether your hypothesis is supported or not based on the observations.
Communicate Your Results:
Write a report summarizing your study, findings, and conclusions. Include the following sections:
Introduction (including your question and hypothesis)
Methods (how you conducted your study)
Results (what you found)
Discussion (interpretation of your results, implications, and possible sources of error)
Please note there is no ‘maximum’ or ‘minimum’ page number or word count. Just address each of the sections mentioned above.
Example Report Outline:
Introduction:
Question: Do urban green spaces improve local air quality?
Hypothesis: Areas with more green spaces will have better air quality compared to areas with less or no green spaces.
Methods:
Locations: Large park, residential area, commercial area.
Data Collection: Observations of air quality at each location at 10 AM over three days.
Results:
Present data in a table showing air quality observations for each location.
Discussion:
Discuss whether the data supports the hypothesis.
Reflect on the implications for urban planning and public health.
Identify any limitations or sources of error in the study (e.g., subjective nature of observations).
Submission:
Submit your written report along with your observation table and any additional notes.
This assignment will be run through turnitin software. This is NOT group work and must be done individually and originally. Submissions created using AI will not be accepted and will result in a zero. I am young and extremely well versed in AI. I can tell.