In this hypothetical classroom activity we looked at how the number of hours of light a plant receives per day relates to the amount of growth. We had 24 bean plants total, which we split into two groups of 12. One group received 8 hours of light each day; the other received 12 hours. Each pot received 40 ml of water every other day and we checked them over a 14-day period. The pots contained the same kind of soil and were all placed in the same room. This was an exercise in how to interpret data, not an attempt to create a universal rule for growing beans. After the 14 days, the mean height of the plants in the 8-hour group was 11.2 cm, while in the 12-hour group the mean height was 13.6 cm. So, the difference between the means was 2.4 cm. There were 2 yellow-leafed plants in the 8-hour group and 1 yellow-leafed plant in the 12-hour group. There were no dead plants. These results suggest there is a possible relationship between hours of light and growth in the context of the experiment. It does not prove that more light was the cause of the increase in growth. Some limitations need to be stated to properly interpret the results. The plants were sorted based on where they were located on the tray, rather than being placed in a group using a random assignment procedure. The starting height of the plants was not recorded, so there could have been a difference between the two groups at the beginning of the experiment. Light intensity wasn't measured either, and while the pots were all in the same room, they weren't all the exact same distance from the lamp. All of these things may have played a role in causing a difference between the two means. With the limited amount of data presented, it is impossible to know which factor or combination of factors contributed most. To replicate this study, initial height, random assignment and light intensity at the pots should be noted, and a separate tray should be set up for each light setting. A second set of data collection can help determine if the results hold up. The data presented shows evidence that supports the hypothesis that there is a relationship between light hours and growth, but does not tell us what the optimal light hours are. Noting the limitations is part of interpreting the results and not an excuse to not complete the task.