Cellular Respiration Lab - An Experimental Design (Page 2 of 3) in pdf

II. Pre-Lab Work:

All scientific experimentation tries to answer questions about a problem. It is your job

to come up with a question to be answered. Just think what you would like to find out

about the effects of exercise on CO

production and breathing rate. You might decide

to work on how your body adjusts to changes in your activity levels, or perhaps you

may want to determine if gender effects CO

production and breathing rate. Is there a

difference in resting factors between different body masses or fitness level, etc....

If your answer to any of the following questions is NO, then look for a different

question. Could you really do this experiment in this lab? Could it be done in one

class period? Can your experiment be done with ordinary lab equipment?

NOTE: IF YOUR EXPERIMENT REQUIRES EQUIPMENT MAKE SURE WE HAVE

THAT EQUIPMENT OR BRING IT FROM HOME!

B. The Question to be Answered: (Label your paper with this subheading)

Once you and your partner have decided on the question you want to work on write it

out in this section.

Have another group read your question. If they think your idea is a reasonable one

have them sign your paper next to where you have written the question.

If you do not think the idea is appropriate or possible, do not sign the paper!

C. The Hypothesis: (Label your paper with this subheading)

You and your partner decide on a hypothesis for your Question. Write your hypothesis

on your paper in a, "If this.... then that....." format.

D. Materials: (Label your paper with this subheading)

Make a list of all the material that you will need in order to conduct the experiment.

E. The Procedure: (Label your paper with this subheading)

Write out the procedures you plan to follow in order to answer your question.

NOTE: IF YOUR EXPERIMENT REQUIRES EQUIPMENT MAKE SURE WE HAVE

THAT EQUIPMENT OR BRING IT FROM HOME!

F. Variables and Controls: (Label your paper with these 3 subheadings)

1. Independent Variable (the cause) - the one you are experimenting with.

2. Dependent Variable (the effect) - the one that will change as a result of the

independent variable.

3. Controlled Variables/Control Groups (usually many) - a list of all the other

variables besides the Independent Variable that could affect the outcome of the

experiment if they were not controlled, ie. held constant during the experimentation.

G. Data Tables: (Label your paper with this subheading)

Ask yourself the following questions. What will you observe when you do the

experiment? What data will you need to collect and record? What are the proper units

of measurement? eg, number of drops, breaths/minute, etc...

H. Log of the Experiment: (Label your paper with this subheading)

In this section you are to record notes, qualitative observations, ideas for improvements,

and any comments while the experiment is in progress.

Cellular Respiration Lab - An Experimental Design Page 2