Investigation of School Absences, Research Paper Example

Is there is a common reason for the absences? Explain.

Upon reading the interviews with parents who had absences on May 20 and May 21, it is apparent that a commonality exists amongst the symptoms of the students. Likely, there was a flu epidemic and the contagions infected the students who were in close proximity due to band class. Students at Jackson Middle School and Truman Middle School showed statistically proximate absence records on the dates of the 20^th and 21^st of May. Both schools had a spike in their absence records, indicating some sort of overlap in the band programs that would land the students in proximity which would in turn lend to the spread of the flu virus.

Otherwise, there is an overall high rate of absence shown in students attending physical education classes. The average is close together for these schools. The greatest indicator of a correlation is the abrupt spike seen on the graphs denoting band students from Jackson Middle School and Truman Middle School.

Hypothesis #1: The cause for the spike in absences in Truman and Jackson Middle Schools was a flu epidemic.

The records will be obtained from the children’s doctors to see the true nature of the illness. After the doctors’ notes are obtained, the hypothesis can be confirmed or denied.

Hypothesis #2: The source of the flu virus was in some common locale for the two bands in Truman and Jackson Middle Schools.

The hypothesis will be tested by looking over the schedule of both bands and seeing what the common place that they shared. It will be hypothesized that this is the location of where the germs spread that caused such a high number of absences between the two schools.

Question #1: What was the diagnosis given by the child’s pediatrician in each case?

Question #2: Was there any event in which both bands were together in the same location where the spread of the virus could have occurred?

Question #3: Was there any other commonality shared by each sick child besides the nausea?

Question #4: Were there any other classes besides the data for art, band and physical education that showed trends of illness?

Question #5: Why were only these classes selected for the data involving absences?

Question #6: Was there any similar foods that could have been the source of food poisoning rather than stomach flu?

The statement involving astrological correlations to one basketball loss is a very poor hypothesis. Hypotheses are generally derived from a noticeable pattern of behavior or actions. To link two entirely separate events that occurred on one evening is quickly falsifiable and illogical. Any two events can occur at the same time without necessitating a correlative link between the two.