Our research group at Carnegie Mellon University is recruiting middle school students (entering grades 7-9 in the Fall of 2020) for a study that investigates the effect of how students develop hypotheses for a given research question on their learning of how to interpret experimental data. This study has been approved by CMU's Internal Review Board (IRB).

This study will take place completely on-line. Students will first answer questions where they will interpret example experimental results. Then they will go through a lesson in which a student forms a hypothesis for the given research question (about the effect of initial water temperature on the amount of crystal growth on a string, which we have found to be a common science fair project among middle school students). Then students will go through a lesson on data interpretation, which will discuss key elements such as how to organize, summarize, and interpret experimental data. Finally, students will answer questions so we can see what they learned from this lesson. The approximate total time of this study is 1-2 hours.

Students can work at their own pace, and will receive $15 for their participation. Students will log in to complete all study activities using anonymous usernames that will be given to them.

If your child is interested in participating or if you have any questions, please contact  Stephanie Siler, at siler@cmu.edu or call her at 412-559-5148.

Thank you,

Stephanie Siler

Special Faculty Researcher
Principle Investigator: ISP Tutor project
354E Baker Hall
Psychology Department
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
siler@andrew.cmu.edu