Blog Post #4

Overall, my hypothesis was largely rejected. Although it was expected that color would not have an impact on the dogs adopted from shelters, it was unexpected that certain breeds of dogs were adopted from urban or rural areas. Additionally, the breeds that were more likely to be adopted in certain shelters was also unexpected. It was hypothesized that smaller dogs would be adopted more quickly from urban shelters, but the data showed that lap dogs (smaller dogs) were adopted more quickly from rural shelters, completely rejecting the hypothesis. Additionally, the age of dogs adopted from shelters did not correlate to population density, however the data collected did corroborate past studies in that younger dogs were more likely to be adopted than older dogs across all shelters. This rejected the hypothesis as there was no correlation between a shelter’s location and the likelihood of dogs of certain ages to be adopted. 

However, my findings have opened up more questions about factors influencing the adoption patterns and rates of dogs. Further studies on how shelter size, and animal availability at shelters impact the characteristics of dogs more or less likely to be adopted will help shelters better understand how to improve adoption rates. 

One of the most important things I learned from the writing and oral defense process is that it is important to spread out your work across all the time that you're given. I was absent for a few weeks near the end of the process for swim meets and the HOSA state conference, so I ended up having to cram quite a bit at the end, and if I had not been pacing myself and hadn't started the writing process and my presentation before I was gone, I don't know if I would have been able to finish. I also learned how to plan out the process and check in and make sure that I was on track to reaching my goals. 

AP Seminar has already set me up with some of the writing skills, but this project once again reinforced the skills needed to write an academic paper and given me the tools to write other papers with more confidence. I also learned the importance of peer reviewing, as the peer review process gave me many insights on what I could improve. 

I can use the skills I obtained to apply this to my future endeavors in research and use the writing and problem solving skills I gained in other subjects as well.

Through this research process I learned not just writing skills, but also time management and the ability to plan. I learned the importance of setting small goals for yourself in order to reach bigger goals. I learned important skills that I can use in all aspects of life and not just in research. I will be sure to use these skills that I learned to manage my time and bring some more structure into my academics and life in college. 

This whole research process has also taught me a lot on flexibility. From now on I will be able to reflect on what things are working for me and what things aren't and make changes according to what I believe works for me. These lessons I learned I will carry with me to college and beyond. 

I would like to thank my mentor Mrs. Dobos for being such an amazing mentor and supporting all of us on our research journey. Without her guidance I would not have been able to make it through the entire research project, and there would be no way I finished my project on time. Her advice really helped me direct my research efforts in the right direction.

I would also like to thank all of my fellow research students for keeping me positive and providing feedback and advice. Without all of them around me I would not have been able to make it through the class. 

Here is my final paper and presentation that I submitted to College Board: