June 10, 2024
AP Research, taken in Grade 12, extends the work begun in AP Seminar in Grade 11 and completes the AP Capstone program. Students who complete AP Capstone and four additional AP courses during high school earn the AP Capstone Diploma, awarded by the College Board. In both AP Seminar and AP Research, students select topics of personal interest, develop research methodologies, evaluate sources, and present original arguments through papers and presentations, establishing themselves as interdisciplinary scholars.
While AP Seminar focuses on developing skills and concludes with performance tasks and an AP exam, AP Research emphasizes producing a mini-dissertation based on independently collected data and research.
In AP Capstone, students distinguish themselves not by the content or skills acquired, as in other AP courses, but by the outcomes and articulation of their independent research. Curious about the innovative work students have done this year? Explore a sample of this year’s AP Research Projects below.
ANISH A.
PROJECT TITLE: Using Machine Learning to Detect Fraud in Blockchain Transactions
ABSTRACT: The exponential growth of e-commerce and the acceptance of cryptocurrencies have revolutionized global transactions, but they have also opened new avenues for fraudulent activities. This presentation explores the use of machine learning models to address the growing need for effective fraud detection in blockchain transactions. Building upon a diverse range of literature, it discusses fraud types, blockchain technology fundamentals, and existing research on fraud detection techniques. The model uses an Ethereum transaction dataset, employing neural network models and hyperparameter optimization to develop robust predictive capability. Results indicate successful model performance with an 83.84% accuracy rate. Key findings include the importance of features such as the time difference between transactions and the impact of hyperparameter configurations on model performance. Limitations include reliance on a single dataset and computational efficiency concerns. Future research should explore broader datasets, alternative optimization techniques, and scalability for real-world applications so that fraud detection capabilities in blockchain ecosystems can become more advanced.
ELIZABETH C.
PROJECT TITLE: How Will Current Customer Perception of Fast Food Service Influence Patterns of Tipping?
ABSTRACT: Tipping culture in the US is said to be “out of control,” according to Forbes, with 66% of Americans having a negative view of tipping (Kelly, 2023). Around 30% of respondents saying that tipping culture is “”out of control,”” with vexing pre-ented tip screens and business relying on gratuity rather than paying employees (Kelly, 2023). Though patterns for customer opinion on sit-down restaurants and tipping have been established, the gap this research study aims to bridge is how customers view tipping in fast food and what specific factors might cause them to tip more at fast food versus sit-down restaurants, specifically emotions and thought processes associated with tipping. What primarily motivates tippers, and do these factors exist in both fast food and sit down restaurants? Based on the literature review and reflection and already analyzed patterns in sit-down restaurants, a hypothesis was made that fast food will not be extremely successful in the future regarding current tipping patterns and declining public opinion of tipping. To answer these questions and more, an incentivized flyer was distributed to local colleges, Starbucks, and libraries, and results showed a leaning towards tipping in sit down restaurants due to the culture of fast food restaurants versus sit down restaurants, the quality of food in sit down restaurants compared with fast food, and the already established norm to tip in sit down restaurants versus the practice of tipping in fast food being relatively novel.
SAANCHI K.
PROJECT TITLE: Understanding the need for a Technology based Solution for Hospital Systems
ABSTRACT: This project delves into the pressing challenges faced by orthopedic clinics regarding operational inefficiencies and the need for technological interventions. The study highlights the prevalent issues of outdated systems, workflow inefficiencies, and communication barriers among orthopedic clinics in the Bay Area. Through narrative interviews with case managers from five diverse orthopedic clinics, key pain points were identified, including manual data entry, outdated software, and difficulties in coordinating care and sharing patient information. The findings reveal a consistent demand for innovative solutions such as MedSetGo, a digital platform aimed at streamlining care coordination, automating data entry, and enhancing communication among healthcare stakeholders. The thematic analysis categorizes the primary challenges faced by clinics into themes of workflow inefficiencies, outdated systems and software, and interoperability and communication barriers. These themes underscore the critical need for a comprehensive technology solution like MedSetGo to address the identified pain points. The limitations of the study, including sample size and geographical scope, are acknowledged, suggesting avenues for further research. Nevertheless, the results affirm the hypothesis that workflow inefficiencies are a significant concern in orthopedic clinics and validate the potential impact of implementing MedSetGo to enhance operational efficiency and patient care outcomes.
SHREYAS N.
PROJECT TITLE: Impact of Temperature on the Coefficient of Restitution in 3-piece and 4-piece Golf Balls
ABSTRACT: This study investigates the impact of core construction on the consistency of the coefficient of restitution (COR) of golf balls at varying temperature conditions. This research seeks to fill a gap in existing literature regarding the influence of temperature on golf ball dynamics across different ball types, focusing specifically on the Titleist ProV1 and ProV1x. The experiment uses the Rebound Method for measuring COR. The study’s findings show a statistically significant difference in the COR percent change between the two types of golf balls, which suggests that core composition does have an effect on distance consistency under temperature differences. These results could help both manufacturers in golf ball design and players in selecting equipment suited to varying environmental conditions. This study also highlights the need for standardized regulations in the sports equipment industry.
ALYSSA N.
PROJECT TITLE: Intersectional Analysis: Optimizing Treatment Strategies for PCOS and Diabetes Symptomanagement
ABSTRACT: PCOS, despite being one of the most common endocrine disorders that affects female-born individuals worldwide, suffers the same downfall that is consistent with most female-based illnesses and research in the healthcare field – it is understudied and undervalued. This leads to not knowing what causes PCOS to manifest, to undereducating physicians, to underdiagnosing patients, and to leaving everyone dissatisfied. This is especially true when looking at research that studies the association with other diseases that are correlated with PCOS, such as type 2 diabetes. While growing, previous research leaves many gaps in academic literature, including a comprehensive comparison of available treatment strategies for PCOS patients in conjunction with diabetes-symptom management. This meta-analysis seeks to bridge this gap and invites future researchers to fully understand which cases and symptoms respond best to which treatments. To compare the effectiveness of various PCOS models of care on patients who also have type 2 diabetes symptoms, I conducted a metanalysis. By combing through numerous databases consisting of PCOS research, I organized relevant clinical studies to analyze quantitative data tracking select symptoms’ levels through independent one-sided t-tests. The results of my metanalysis, though inconclusive, give insight into existing clinical studies and guide future research on better understanding how these models of care could be utilized for the benefit of PCOS patients.
ANOUSHKA T.
PROJECT TITLE: HFC Emission Mitigation in California
ABSTRACT: In the past decade, California has advanced high-level legislation to curtail the use of the short-lived climate pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs are estimated to be responsible for 5-20% of global warming until 2100, depending on the IPCC scenario. Preliminary analysis indicates that despite legislation, HFC emissions in California continue to increase. TThis presentation investigates the technoeconomic feasibility of HFC abatement in the Californian refrigerant industry, which makes up 90% of emissions. Findings indicate that HFC abatement in the commercial and industrial sectors occurs at or below zero marginal cost, but difficulties arise due to safety concerns of natural refrigerant alternatives in the residential and transportation sectors. Findings also indicate that HFC alternatives tend to be 10-20% more energy efficient and cheaper, noting the growing prices of HFCs. 35% of HFC reduction can occur without cost, indicating that California’s goal of 40% reduction by 2030 likely should be more aggressive as to have greater impact on curbing HFC use.
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