Journal Entries

The other day we received the assessment task notification for our Year 12 Biology Depth Study, it focuses on Modules 5,6, 7 and 8 of the HSC Syllabus. Since we have received it, I have brainstormed and completed some initial research into what topic I want to investigate. This initial research will help me to develop and formulate my question and also ensure the topic my question is based on is appropriate in terms of the amount of information it has.

The topics I have an interest in from my initial research include;

• Autoimmune conditions (endocrine focus)
  • Type One Diabetes
    ▪ Prevention
    ▪ Cure (research going into finding prevention and cure)
    ▪ Long term ramifications (complications, heredity risk)
    ▪ Management (technology and advances)
  • Hashimoto’s
• Infectious Diseases
  • Staphylococcus infections (bacterial infection)
    ▪ Explore mutations (bacteria) with a focus on Staphylococcus aureus (golden staph)
    ▪ Long term effect, predispositions it causes
    ▪ Different strains
    ▪ Evolutionary nature
  • Measles epidemic
    ▪ Analysing the need and effectiveness of vaccines
• Genetic disorders
  • Hematopoietic – Sickle cell anaemia (autosomal recessive, Mendelian disease).
  • Nervous system – Huntington disease (autosomal dominant, Mendelian).
  • Nervous – Fragile X Syndrome (X-linked recessive disorder)
  • Nervous system – Degenerative diseases affecting the cerebral cortex
    ▪ Alzheimer Disease

This afternoon I’ve been figuring out my possible topic based on the ones I have listed previously and then developing some possible questions based on this. The topics I have developed some possible inquiry questions for include Staphylococcus bacteria, Alzheimer’s disease and Type One Diabetes.
These questions include;

• How do Staphylococcus bacteria mutate and what are the health ramifications associated when an individual contracts this infection?
• What is Alzheimer’s disease and how does this disease affect brain function and consequently an individual’s ability to function? Or What is Alzheimer’s disease and how does this disease affect an individual’s ability to function?
• What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
• What are the long term health complications associated with a youth diagnosis of Type One Diabetes?
• What is Type One Diabetes and what are ways in which it can be prevented in the near future? (Eg; targeting T-cell proteins and immunotherapy)
• What genetic and environmental factors trigger the onset of the autoimmune condition, Type One Diabetes?

After completing some more research/ readings of articles found on databases that are associated with my topics above, I’ve decided to shift my focus away from these topics. I’ve decided to focus on Non-infectious diseases, particularly hypothyroidism and osteoporosis.
Some questions I have brainstormed for this include;

• What has contributed to the rise of hypothyroidism in the last decade?
• What are the modifiable risk factors for developing hypothyroidism that can be addressed?
• Modifiable risk: diet, treated with radioactive iodine (a treatment for thyroid cancer), exposed to radiation to your neck or upper chest area.
  • What are the modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors of osteoporosis?
• What are the modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis to prevent the debilitating consequences of this disease?

After discussing my possible inquiry questions with my biology teacher, I have taken on her considerations, advice and comments as well as my own interests and have modified and finalised my inquiry question! It is;

What are the modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis to prevent the debilitating consequences of this disease?

I am extremely happy with this topic and inquiry question as it is very relevant to our contemporary context and I am interested in learning more about this disease. I will now focus on conducting in-depth background research using a wide range of resources available to me.

Today’s lesson was a depth study lesson. This was extremely helpful as it meant I was able to dedicate time to create subtopics or areas of specific research that I need to undertake in order to effectively conduct my background research. By creating specific areas of research into my topic I will be able to not only stay on track with my approach but I will also be able to gain a deeper understanding of my topic, enabling me to thoroughly understand by inquiry question topic and to therefore answer my inquiry questions with success and understanding.

These specific areas include;

1. What is Osteoporosis? – an overview
2. Treatment
3. Management
4. Symptoms – How does the disease present?
5. Susceptibility to osteoporosis  – Who is at risk?
6. Possible risk factors contributing to the development of Osteoporosis:
   1. Impacts on Bone Health;
      1. impact of calcium
      2. impact of vitamin D
      3. impact of exercise
      4. Family history
      5. Medical history
      6. Lifestyle factors
7. Predisposition to other diseases
8. Ramifications – Consequences
   1. Low
   2. Moderate
   3. High (Debilitating)
9. Prevention
10. Bone Mineral Density (BMD)
11. Statistics

Today I conducted more background research under a few different headings, including an overview of what osteoporosis is, its ramifications and its symptoms.

In addition to this, I created the new heading of osteoblasts and osteoclasts after completing some in-depth research in bone mineral density (BMD). This then led me to do some research on both of these topics in relation to each other to fully understand them. Following this, I conducted some research into menopause and its relation to individuals with osteoporosis. This was extremely fascinating as I discovered that when a female undergoes menopause, it predisposes them to develop osteoporosis. After this, I conducted some initial research into treatments, such as medicines.

During the last few days I have been completing further background research for my depth study. Some of these areas of research I’ve been working on include further research on the symptoms of osteoporosis, complications associated, and completing research under the headings of osteoporosis overview and its treatment.

I have also started to synthesise all the information I have collected and fill in areas that are missing necessary information.

The last few days, I have been focussing on synthesising all the information I have collected for my background research in order to refine it, including what is needed to answer my inquiry question and to find areas that are lacking certain aspects of information. Although this has been a long process as I have also been making sure to include the source reference/ information I access and the date I accessed it, it has been extremely beneficial as I feel confident in my knowledge of my topic as well as the accuracy, reliability and validity of the information I have collected.

Today we had a depth study lesson in class which was a great opportunity to complete my synthesis of background research. In this lesson I was able to critically go through each subtopic within my background research and refine it, ensuring it was directly relevant to my question and was accurate when compared with a variety of other reputable and updated sources. By doing this, I am able to ensure that this information is valid to draw conclusions from when addressing my inquiry question.

In addition to this, I also started to in-text reference using the source references/ information I have included in each step of my background research. By including these dates and information prior to finalising my references, it meant I was able to double-check the validity, accuracy, relevance and reliability of these sources while I was finalising my references.

I plan to finish my in-text references and subsequently my background research by the end of this week, meaning I will be able to move on to further aspects of my depth study.

Today I moved on to identify and construct the aim of my investigation as well as the hypothesis. The aim of the investigation identifies the purpose of it, therefore it will enable me to consolidate information and assess its relevance to my question. After edits, alterations and critical feedback from some of my peers in my class, the aim of my investigation is;

• ‘The purpose of this second-hand investigation is to investigate the modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis’.
  This aim directly addresses what I have outlined in my inquiry question and also uses key verbs to establish what I will be doing. In addition to this, I also completed my hypothesis. I identified that I need to address both risk factors, consequences of osteoporosis and its possible prevention in my hypothesis as that is what I have outlined in my inquiry question and aim. It reads as;
• ‘The modifiable risk factors investigated will include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise whereas other risk factors investigated will include gender, build, and genetics (family medical history), which are unable to be modified. Through identifying modifiable risk factors, individuals with osteoporosis will be able to reduce the identified debilitating consequences of osteoporosis, such as fracturing, and if there is early detection or alteration of modifiable risk factors determined, individuals can reduce their risk of diagnosis.’.

In today’s depth study lesson, I discussed my progress with my biology teacher and I also completed my methodology. It was extremely helpful to discuss with my teacher the direction I am heading with my depth study and whether I am on the right track. We briefly went through my background research, discussed my aim and hypothesis and she also provided me with some general feedback regarding how I am progressing. This was both extremely helpful and motivating as she approved what I have done!

In addition to this, I completed my methodology after working on it after school during the last few days. In order to do this, I researched ways to write a methodology for a second-hand investigation which examined the necessity of including them and also provided me with a variety of alternate ways to structure a methodology. Furthermore, I viewed previous students’ approaches to writing their investigations methodology by accessing previous students’ depth studies on the One Note. With this research, I made summary notes on key features and styles that made the most sense to me and were most suitable to the aim of my investigation. The structure that I am using follows an overarching step which then contains a small description of the requirements of this particular step. I actually really enjoyed working on this step of my depth study as it provided me with a structure of what my end goal of the investigation is and how I can achieve it within the given time frame.

I have been working on planning my peer feedback, ensuring I address each component of my investigation when others assess it as a whole or in sections. After considering how previous depth studies have approached this section, I have decided to approach this via a survey. I will create a short yes/no answer question form regarding my depth study. These questions are general however they will provide feedback regarding how my depth study is understood (such as its purpose and method of delivery), the awareness regarding this topic and their knowledge after reading my depth study. These questions are extremely straightforward and will therefore reveal areas that my depth study is lacking. Additionally, the final question is an open question, allowing responders to suggest improvements. I will then address how these responses through the form helped me and how I will act upon the suggestions to improve my depth study.

As well as working on the above, I have been drafting my results and discussion. This has already proven to be a lengthy process as I am consolidating all information gathered, however, it has also been super rewarding to finally be up to this step!

I have completed my results and discussion! As it is now the first week of holidays, I have been using some of this time to work on my depth study. In order to complete my results and discussion, I decided to research and source a reputable journal article that covers my topic extensively. This was found in the article titled Clinician’s Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. By choosing to do this, I was able to analyse the relevancy, reliability, accuracy, validity and credibility of this article extensively in order to use it as evidence supporting the conclusions drawn in my background research. I really enjoyed this approach as it not only increased the validity, reliability and accuracy of my previous research (as I was essentially applying the tool of cross-referencing), but it also provided me with a comprehensive source regarding the nature of my topic and inquiry question, both of which assisted me to complete my results and discussion! I am now moving on to my conclusion.

In order to complete my conclusion, I referred to previous years depth studies as well as researching various scaffolds in combination with prior knowledge. Both of these aspects assisted me to draw evidence-based conclusions in my research to ultimately answer my inquiry question thoroughly and effectively. Additionally, my biology textbook outlined necessary elements in a conclusion as well as an evaluation (which will assist me when I conduct this step) and an entire depth study (which allowed me to go through and edit my previous work to improve it).

Additionally, I have also completed my bibliography using the online bibliography generator provided to us by the school through destiny. Although this was time-consuming, I had bookmarked every link accessed during the development of my depth study alongside the date which made it much easier to complete. Overall, it was very rewarding to see the final (alphabetised!) result.

Since I have completed my conclusion, according to my methodology, I am now up to my evaluation of my depth study. However, in order to complete this I must collect my responses to my peer feedback and act upon any suggestions made. These changes made in accordance to my peer feedback include;

• I have included statistics as a part of my background research. These are important as they effectively illuminate the current data regarding individuals who have this disease and additionally add more credibility to my research.
• I have included much more diagrams, tables and images to act as a visual aid, assisting the portrayal and understanding of my research.
• I have re-visited my original aim and created a more thorough one, in order to clear mis-understanding regarding the purpose of my investigation.
• I have added in comprehensive information regarding specific factors that affect bone health in the Bone Mineral Density section of my background research.The purpose of this second-hand investigation is to investigate and determine the modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis and to critically analyse and identify the debilitating consequences of this disease and its possible prevention.

By doing this, I am confident in my depth studies ability to effectively engage and present my collected information in a way that creates a deeper understanding of both the topic and the conclusions drawn regarding my inquiry question within my viewers.

By completing this step, I have been able to write and complete my evaluation! I really enjoyed writing my evaluation as it was an opportunity to critically analyse how I conducted my research and to identify any ways I could improve on this in addition to identifying any challenges I can across. I will now move on to final editing of my depth study and also formatting all my information into a website!

After going through my entire depth study and editing & checking it, the last aspect of my depth study is formatting all my collected information into a website. I originally started to do this using SquareSpace however I wasn’t finding success in the process nor the result, so I changed to WordPress, which is what I used for my Year 11 depth study. I was able to use WordPress as I used my dad’s log-in details, meaning there were no payments necessary to host it. Using this instead was extremely better and the results look incredible. Although this process was extremely time consuming (and also extremely frustrating at times…), I was able to figure out how to use each tool because I have successfully used this site previously as well as referring to some YouTube videos for extra help! Overall, I am extremely proud of the final outcome of my website and how it effectively presents my depth study in an extremely engaging way. Additionally, I decided to also format my research into a report that is able to be downloaded as a PDF through my website. By doing this, it allows individuals to access every part of my depth study as a whole.

This means I have finally finished my depth study! I have enjoyed learning about a topic that holds direct relevance to both our biology modules (particularly non-infectious disease) and to my family. Although I found this process challenging, I have developed my critical thinking skills as well as my ability to research widely and thoroughly.