Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi, I was going to do an experiment with the question, 'Do paper bags ripen bananas faster than plastic bags', but my independent variable does not allow continuous data collection and I cannot compare paper to plastic. I am supposed to rethink my question and I am a bit confused as to how I can make my question have an independent variable that is continuous.

I am considering doing 'Does paper bags affect the ripening of a banana?' or 'How fast do paper bags affect the ripening of a banana?', but I am not sure how or if these questions will allow me to collect continuous data. If my experiment is placing a banana inside a paper bag and monitoring the affect it has on the ripening of the banana, should I describe the ripening stages of the banana as my continuous data or does continuous data have to be a number?

Should I think of a new question about ripening bananas without any bags? I don't know if measuring the ripening of a banana will give me continuous data or a number. I have already researched and handed in my logbook so I don't think I can do an entirely new question. I think I am supposed to change my question slightly so that my independent variable is continuous, but does my independent variable have to be continuous in order for me to be able to collect continuous data? If this is so, do I have to change me measuring the ripeness of a banana because I am not sure how I will be able to collect continuous data.

I don't know how I can change my question so that there is one independent variable that can allow me to collect continuous data.

I am very confused and I don't understand how and to what I will be able to change my question to. I would greatly appreciate some advice. Thank you very much.

Hello and welcome to Science Buddies!

You are asking good questions and Science Buddies has a Project Guide which has several sections that will help you:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ience-fair

Check out the section on "Your Question" and look at the examples too:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... t-question

Then read the section on "Variables":
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... /variables

There is also a good discussion of "continuous variables" (look at the table "Quantitative Variables":
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... e-projects

Let us know if these sections help! When you post again, it would help if you describe what you put in your log book which you say you've already turned in. If that means you've already done your experiment, then be sure to describe what you did!