Jobs for the Young Science Question

[Simmedancer]

So I am starting a science project and Id like to base it on what middle school and high school students want to do as a job....I was thinking that they could tell me what they are aspiring to be and some of their intersts then take a career test....only problem is that i need a question... ex. which lipstick stays on best? if you were to do it on different brands of lipstick.... so i need a question and what I am trying to fiqure out...Thank you sooooooo much in advance

[deleted-71841]

Hi Simmedancer,

There are probably a number of different questions you could ask with this information, and it's important to pick a question first so that you make sure to collect all the data you need to answer it. You should think about what kinds of questions you are most interested in, then think of something you can test. What made you interested in doing this project? Do you want to know if different types of people want to have different types of jobs, or if people's ideal careers are usually something they are well suited to, or if different types of people score differently on career tests, etc. Once you've figured out what you're interested in, think of a question you can test. For example, you could ask if female students are more likely than male students to want to be teachers, or if people's interests correctly predict the results of a career aptitude test.

If you think of an interesting question but are having trouble figuring out how to test it, feel free to write back.

Hope that helps!
Tricia

[Simmedancer]

Thank- you soooooo much! I have a question and am now conducting research! YAY !! So I am going to fiqure out if peoples skills and interests suit their aspiring career or not.... I was going to get about 20ish people ranging from Gr. 7-12boys and girls to tell me what they would like to be one day....Then take a career test and skill test (I have found a good one) and then see if it matches up....As a side question I could see which gender as more accuarte results. Does this sound ok?!? or is there something I could do better?!?! Im open to suggestions Thanks again

[deleted-71884]

Hi Simmedancer,

It's great that you have such an interest in conducting research at such a young age! Your study design is fine for now, but one thing you have to think about is how will you collect your data from people. Will you randomly go up to them and ask them to fill out the form? Will you only ask your friends? Will you give the form to every 10th person you see? When you start conducting research, how you go about getting your results is very important. You always want to eliminate any sources of bias because that can ruin your results. For example, if you give the forms to all your friends, it could just so happen that all your friends want to be lawyers. Then what will you do about all the other professions? The key to getting good results and to sample as randomly as possible.

Hope that helps!

-Sam