L3d - Introduction IV

Activate Learning 

Please read the 4th paragraph of the Introduction article and comment on what are the characteristics.

There should be about 1 characteristics that you and your team mates can identify easily.

Promote thinking and discussion

4. Conclude the Introduction

4.1 Specific objectives of the research

The earlier paragraphs should lead logically to specific objectives of your study. In the earlier part of the Introduction, we may mention the research done on odonates as environmental indicators, while the concluding part will specify what is the relationship that we are looking into. At the same time, avoid too much detail because those belong to the Materials and Methods section of the paper.

Hence, these three studies demonstrated the possibility of using the odonates as an indicator for the ecological health of freshwater resources. The following diagram shows the possible relationship between the adult odonates as an indicator of the water physiochemical parameters. If this hypothesis holds true, then we will have a convenient method of conducting an initial assessment of the water quality before other complimentary and more accurate methods are used. 

Fig 1: Conceptual relationship between odonates and water quality upon which this study was based

However, in order to verify my hypothesis, I had to carry out a verification exercise to show the relationships between the odonates and the water parameters of their respective habitats. If the correlation can be established, the odonates could then be confirmed as a useful bio-indicator for Singapore’s freshwater habitats.

4.2 Research Questions

You have to be careful about making statements about questions. It should be written only if you are going to answer it. If you have no intention to answer the question, then it is important that you do not put it in.

Our research question is as follows:

What is the type of odonates found in different physiochemical environments in the Macritchie Catchment area? 

4.3 Research Hypotheses

Each hypothesis answers directly to each of the research questions above. Please do not state additional hypothesis if you are not going to answer it.  

We decided to test the following hypothesis:  

Different physiochemical environments will have different types of odonates.

Specifically, we hypothesise that dragonflies were more likely to be found in areas that were more disturbed or open while damselflies were more likely to be found in shaded streams. 

        4.3.1 Independent variable

                 The independent variable is the frequency of the watering.

        4.3.2 Dependent variable 

                 The dependent variable is the growth of the plants.

        4.3.3 Controlled variables

            1.Sunlight

            2. Temperature

            3. Amount of water per watering

            4. Position

            5. Type of soil

            6. Mass of mung beans

Compared to two other sections of a typical research paper, namely Methods and Results, Introduction and Discussion are more difficult to write. However, the 4-step approach described in this article should ease the task.

Get into your project groups and discuss how your 4th paragraph should look like. 

Facilitate Demonstration of Learning 

After your discussion, pen down the 4th paragraph in the google documents. 

Monitor and provide feedback

Your teacher will provide you with the feedback of 4th paragraph the INTRODUCTION section after you have submitted your proposals for review.