Research Methodssites.uci.edu/researchmethods/files/2013/07/Sample...Research Methods 2008 The University of Texas at Austin Inquiry II Proposal Introduction: Having an interest in

Research Methods

2008 The University of Texas at Austin

Inquiry II Proposal

Introduction: Having an interest in marine biology, I am also interested in the ocean, and its ability to be self-sustaining. Taking this interest to a much scaled down level, I propose to create two equivalent self-sustainable aquatic fresh water ecosystems in which I will test the effects of temperature and light exposure on the ecosystem. This project is a creation of a model which will test for multiple response variables inclusive to Oxygen level, temperature, pH, and the ecosystem’s overall ability to be sustainable. Data that I plan to take will be probe measurements of the above variables, and answers to questions that will define the ecosystems sustainability. I will read probe readings twice a day, and record results. To correctly measure these I will need a water quality MultiMeasure sensor to measure dissolved Oxygen, to measure pH/ISE/ORP, a water quality temperature probe, and also a probe to measure the light that the ecosystem is receiving. In addition to these probes, I will need two sealed containers, two aquatic plants, several ghost shrimp, and rocks suitable for a fish tank, two aquatic heaters, and a blanket or towel which can limit the light exposure for one of the ecosystems. For my graphs, I will probably end up graphing each individual response variable on the Y-axis with the corresponding independent variable as the X-axis. Some data will be categorical, while other data like the probe reading may be continuous.

Describe aspects of the experiment you are proposing to conduct for Your Inquiry II, as they are relevant to the components listed below. If some components do not apply to your proposal then simply leave those “Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect” boxes blank. Idea Components

100 Safety and Ethics

Inquiry is conducted in accord with safe laboratory practice, and treats human subjects in ethical manner

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect:

20 Motivation Student is engaged by question and progress could reasonably be expected in time allotted.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: To create three identical, self-sustaining aquatic ecosystems, controlling temperature and light exposure, and observing them for sustainability, pH level, temperature, and Oxygen levels.

Experimental Design

20 Calibration Instrument has been configured to take meaningful data.

Comment [MO1]: it sounds like you have an interesting topic here indeed. You will need to make sure that you can produce adequate quantitative data that will lend itself well to statistical analysis and modeling, so keep an eye on that as you refine your design.

Comment [MO2]: This is an impressive array of dependent variables.

Comment [MO3]: This may take some serious thought to determine.

Comment [MO4]: Remember that we typically only have access to the lab twice per week, although we may consider lending out some of the probes for some experiments, if necessary.

Comment [MO5]: We should consider if any of these items may be eliminated for simplifyihg your apparatus, i.e. you might not need to have heaters or you might skip the light probe, as long as you can characterize the light conditions in some other simpler way. However, you may have compelling reasons for including them, and if so, let’s start gathering and mastering your equipment. We definitely have the Water Quality Probes (6 of them) and we do have 3 light level probes. We would have to buy the water heaters, so check that out and see how much they would cost. Perhaps they are available for our ecozone kits from PASCO, so please look online for that and get back to me.

Comment [MO6]: You will need to get specific about this by making up hypothetical graphs of what you might expect, so you can better understand your variables and statistics prior to experimentation.

Comment [MO7]: Consider the safety of the heaters, since they could cause a fire or electrocution if set up improperly. This is very important.

Comment [FS8]: It may be difficult to get all the data for all of these various dependent variables. Attempting to simplify by dropping some might be more practical.

Comment [MO9]: I’m interested in your independent variables, of the three systems and how you will set that up.

Research Methods Inquiry II Proposal Form

2

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Calibrate pH probe to register a pH of approximately 7 for the initial distilled water in the ecosystems, and calibrate all of probes to make sure they provide reasonable values for how much is actually supposed to be in each container.

20 Error

Possible sources of random and systematic error have been identified and actions have been taken to reduce them when possible.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Possible sources of error may be caused by an overlap in variables, such as overexposure to sunlight may cause higher temperatures than that for the ecosystems receiving little to no light. There also might exist error in overall variation in plant and animal life, as some plants may seem to both be healthy and growing at first, but may die off faster. Also, additional error can be created by weather conditions, as they might alter temperature and light exposure beyond which that I can control.

10 Effects of random error are reduced to acceptable level through appropriate number of samples.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Each ecosystem will consist of exactly the same water, type of aquatic plants, type of rocks, and same number of ghost shrimp. This will ensure that all ecosystems at least start at the same place, and that all changes made to them will hopefully be by me, and purposeful. Any changes that must be made such as adding water, will be done to both ecosystems at the same time, as to not affect overall results.

10 Variables

Study is carefully designed to vary control, measure response, and keep other variables constant.


Comment [MO10]: Yes, you should read up on all of the probes and the manuals and instructions are in your course materials. The pH probe will also have a 4.0pH buffer for calibration.

Comment [MO11]: Yes this is going to be a very complex set of systems and you are thinking correctly about it. It will be very interesting! You may be most successful at controlling the initial conditions, i.e. number of fish and plants, as your independent variable, but after that it may be more difficult, although well worth tinkering with, since it sounds like you want initial conditions to be controlled.

Comment [FS12]: The student’s writeup for this section doesn’t address this rubric point. It deals with gathering enough sample data to minimize error (e.g. for this experiment potentially running multiple ecosystems with the same controls/independent variable). From the rubric: 5 points deducted for Number of measurements hampers ability of student to arrive at conclusions. Example: Effect of vinegar on plant growth is conducted with five plants with different levels of vinegar, but no two plants with the same amount of vinegar, providing no estimate of the natural fluctuations in height from one plant to another.

Comment [MO13]: These are a good set of controlled variables, although you should consider whether you want to have an independent variable within the initial conditions.


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Control variables will be the temperature and sunlight exposure each ecosystem receives. These variables will be tested separately, while one is kept as constant as possible. Response variables are inclusive to pH, Oxygen levels, visibility of the water, overall sustainability of life in the ecosystem, and plant growth.

Analysis

10 Graphs Displays data in graphical form, including histograms or functional relations as appropriate.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I intend to keep a journal with daily readings of each probe used, as well as with data tables in it which will provide information on response variables. After all data is collected, it will be turned into various charts and graphs to show how it was altered with changes in the independent variables.

5 Indicates error bars on measurements as appropriate.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I plan to show significance of all my calculations, and to include the values of error and any outliers in my write up, but not necessarily in calculations.

5 All axes are labeled and units clearly indicated.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Label axes in control versus response axes.

5 Statistics Computes means and standard errors for measured variables.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: All calculations will be performed accordingly and appropriately.

20 Makes appropriate use of statistics.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I will use some statistics in concluding and calculating my data. I also might use statistics to prove correlation between my control and response variables.

Comment [MO14]: You still need to define your independent variables. We define controlled variables as those factors we want to be held the same among our samples/trials. You may be using the UTeach terminology of “Control” variable as your independent variable, but please clarify this. You may find it difficult to differentiate temperature and sunlight, if you use our ecozone systems, since they are typically attached. Let’s consider that during class tomorrow.

Comment [MO15]: Creat some sample charts now with hypothetical data, as discussed for your introduction.

Comment [MO16]: I think you would enjoy the calculations, as a math major, and that does need to be a focus of your project, since you are a math major. You will at least need to make some good attempts to model the relationship of your variables mathematically, but this can and should happen after you have gathered your data.

Comment [MO17]: We will talk about this in class more this week.

Comment [FS18]: Which statistical tests, specifically?

Comment [MO19]: Think about what statistics you will employ, once you have graphed your hypothetical data.


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20 Modeling Constructs simple predictive relations, and compares with data.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I plan to model ecosystems prior to assembling them to decide proper amount of water and ghost shrimp, which type of aquatic plant will be most efficient, and placement for the ecosystems so that they will comply to the restrictions of the control variable.

Sources

10 Literature Makes use of research literature to answer questions outside scope of project as needed.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I will need to do some research to learn how to best create a self-sustaining ecosystem, as well as for ways to test its overall sustainability.

Written Presentation

20 Overall quality Clearly written with correct grammar and spelling

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I plan to use appropriate writing programs to avoid any grammatical or spelling errors.

10 Abstract Clearly explains purpose of project and summarizes main conclusions.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I have not come up with an exact abstract for this project yet, but I plan for it to include an overall description of self-sustaining aquatic ecosystems and how they work. I also want to include a hypothesis based off of my previous knowledge, and hopefully make a good assessment of what will occur.

10 Design Written presentation clearly records and explains procedures followed

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I plan to write out all of my steps and actions in a journal, as a way to collect all of my data and experimental observations. I will then use this

Comment [FS20]: seems to be confusing “predictive” meaning a general relationship that could be used to extrapolate or calculate a dependent variable response to independent variable change with “predict” as in knowing what the result will be ahead of time.

Comment [MO21]: That is a good way to plan our what you expect to need in your ecosystems, but the modeling will also come in once you have your data and attempt to explain your observed relationship of variables.

Comment [MO22]: You’ll want to do this asap

Comment [MO23]: Good

Comment [MO24]: Your abstract will also need include your results/conclusions.


5

journal to later explain my procedures and record my data.

100 Literature Provides citation for all sources employed in study and explains their significance.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I will include a works cited page and possibly a few source evaluations to determine the significance of each of my sources.

10 Engages in critical analysis of sources.

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Pull out quotations and important information which I can use in my paper along the way.

10 Collaborators Acknowledges all collaborators on project and explains their role.


10 Analysis Significance of graphs and statistical tests is clearly explained in words

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I will explain each chart/graph/figure that is placed into the final inquiry with a detailed explanation, informing the reader of what actions and calculations were done and why.

10 Conclusions Lessons learned from study are clearly communicated

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: This can be shown in my conclusion paragraph which will be a clear and concise paragraph stating my conclusions.

100 TOTAL

Inquiry 2 Extended Social Significance or Education Checklist

50 Social or Educational

Details Social Issue Related to Inquiry w references or Describes Adapted K-12 Lesson


Comment [MO25]: Do so in a manner that the details would allow another student to replicate your experiment.

Comment [MO26]: Great

Comment [MO27]: Good, and also analyze your source for quality as a reliable reference, i.e. is it a peer reviewed journal or the national enquirer.

Comment [MO28]: Record and acknowledge everyone who helps you with your project along the way, specifically giving them credit for their contributions.


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The ocean is one of the most important examples of a self-sustaining ecosystem. The elements of a self-sustaining ecosystem can be taught to kids K-12 as well as the importance of lowering human impact on these ecosystems. It is also important to include in the lesson what happens when human impact ruptures these ecosystems, and then apply that knowledge to make a prediction of what could happen to the ocean if human impact continually increases. To assist this lesson, an aquatic self-sustainable ecosystem can be created and observed in the classroom.

Research Methods


Inquiry II Proposal Form Student:__________________ ____ Evaluator:________________________ Introduction/Overview of Inquiry Proposal: Guidelines for Research Proposals for Research Methods Research scientists spend a large fraction of their time writing proposals. Proposals are a necessary tool to apply for grant funding, or for permission to conduct research, but they also serve a more useful role. Developing a research proposal forces you to think carefully about what you plan to do, why it is interesting to you, and how you will go about doing it. In the Research Methods class, you will be asked to write a number of proposals. These will both help you focus your thoughts (perhaps after a perfectly natural period of frustration), and give the instructors a better opportunity to keep track of what you are doing and hence give you feedback. The more detailed your proposal is, the better feedback you will get, and the stronger your final project will be. With this in mind, here are a few suggested guidelines for writing your research proposal Introduction: Please discuss the following, in the order shown, within your introductory paragraph(s) 1. Explain briefly what motivates you to carry out this project. 2. The first chapter of the Research Methods Notes lists a number of different types of research projects. Decide which type of project you are conducting. Usually projects Test a Hypothesis, Measure a Relationship, or more rarely Construct a Model. 3. If you are testing an hypothesis, you should clearly state the question you are interested in answering, and your null and alternative hypotheses. If you are measuring a relationship, you should clearly describe the dependent and independent variables. 4. What type of data will you collect? How will you collect the data? What equipment do you need? How many measurements do you need to take? The more detailed your plans are, the better we can identify and head off problems before they arise. Ideally, you may want to write out step-by-step instructions, like writing a lab manual for your experiment. 5. Draw a made-up graph of what you think your data might look like when the experiment is complete. What type of data are your dependent and independent variables: categorical? Continuous?


2

Introduction: I am conducting an experiment to measure the decrease in carbon dioxide concentration in club soda over time and in different temperature conditions to explore the rate a carbonated drink gets flat. My motivations for this experiment stem from my personal curiosity as to the best conditions to keep a carbonated drink from going flat after opening it. I believe this experiment is a Measure a Relationship experiment because of the observation of a phenomenon and testing the parameters to determine the effect on the result. The dependent variables is the club soda and its carbon dioxide concentration levels and the dependent variables include the temperature shift and the other conditions the club soda will be subjected to. The type of data I will collect is the concentrations of carbon dioxide in the club soda over time and the concentrations of carbon dioxide in the club soda and its temperature. The data also may show a correlation between the three measurements. I will collect the data by using the corresponding probes made available to us in the lab such as a temperature probe and the carbon dioxide concentration probe. To measure the concentration change at the differing temperatures over time I will take a measurement every 10 minutes unless more or less change occurs, then I will shift accordingly.




Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) The safety awareness that is necessary is to be cautious when increasing the temperature and being careful with the probeware. I also need to be aware of the people around me.


Comment [MO1]: This should be called your independent variables.

Comment [MO2]: Please list every condition, independent variable you are considering so we can discuss their relative merits.

Comment [MO3]: Do you intend to change the temperatures during individual trials?

Comment [MO4]: How would you graph that? It will be good for you to work on graphing that correlation.

Comment [MO5]: Good, so begin working with those today. You will want to read all of the manuals for those probes now. (see you course materials)

Comment [MO6]: Good. So this will be during your gathering of initial data

Comment [MO7R6]:

Comment [MO8]: Fine


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Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) My motivations for this experiment stem from my personal curiosity as to the best conditions to keep a carbonated drink from going flat after opening it.

Experimental Design


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) The clock used does not need to be calibrated. The temperature probe will be in degrees Celsius and the carbon dioxide concentration probe will be measured in molarity.

20 Error


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) Error could stem from a problem with the range of data collected as well as human error.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) I would like to take 3 samples of the club soda for each condition to determine a range or trend for the different environments.

10 Variables


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) The control variable is the amount of club soda and the variables that change are the concentration of carbon dioxide and the temperature all in relation to change in time.

Analysis

Comment [MO9]: You could probably also mention your interest to making up a soda pop lab for K-12 implementation in the future.

Comment [MO10]: Please review the probeware instructions and determine whether calibration is possible on the probes. Some of them calibrate using software controls and other probes have a calibration button on the probe box itself.

Comment [MO11]: Please develop your list of errors specifically.

Comment [FS12]: Eliminate this by being extra careful, human error is too often used as an excuse.

Comment [MO13]: That seems reasonable, and you can add more trials if your data has high variance, once you determine your standard error.

Comment [MO14]: Temperature does not necessarily need to change if you don’t refrigerate your soda, but it does make it more realistic if you do, so you might want to consider a control test in which you test a soda that was not initially chilled. This will help you differentiate the thermal effects from the CO2.


4


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) A scatter plot will be able to show the trend of the decrease in concentration of carbon dioxide over time and allow for a best fit line to be drawn determining the relationship.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) I am not sure what this means.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) The vertical axis or the dependent variable would be the concentration of the carbon dioxide in the club soda and the independent variable would be temperature or the time. In another graph the independent variable would be the same, but the dependent variable would be the temperature. I’m not sure, but I would also like to graph to compare the concentration and the temperature.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) Not sure what statistics would show my data the best. Maybe a standard deviation from researched data?


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) The data will be explained clearly and not just left in a chart. The relevance of the statistics support the conclusions that are made.

Comment [MO15]: Yes and you will want to explore other kinds of graphs.

Comment [FS16]: Considering that he wanted to vary temperature with time as well, this would require some sort of 3D graph to show the movement with all 3 variables. Otherwise state what combination of 2D graphs you’d use to draw which conclusions.

Comment [MO17]: You made standard error bars on the HW 2, and this just means you will do it on your data.

Comment [MO18]: You will need to explore bivariate analysis, but that will be interesting for you. What are you going to manipulate, specifically.

Comment [MO19]: You will begin with Standard Deviation and Standard error, after you average your data. Then you will go on to some other statistical tests to see if your data curves are different for the independent variables you impose, such as reducing temperature change or whatever else you are thinking of doing.

Comment [MO20]: That will be your focus after you have some initial data to play with and you have studied more statistics


5


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: The two sets of data need to be compared and shown using the statistics to be relevant to each other.

Sources


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) Look into other experiments that have done the same thing and related topics. Not sure where to look at this point.



Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) Spell check everything and do multiple drafts to see the problems and get peer input.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) The introduction paragraph that I have written will be used for part of the abstract. However, the final results I get need to be discussed and my conclusions drawn as well.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) The graphs will be effectively inserted in the paper and referenced as Graph 1 or Figure 2 for example. The experiment parameters as well as the method of data collection will be explained.

Comment [MO21]: Yes, and this will be modeling of the relationship of those variables correlation by mathematical formula.

Comment [MO22]: Begin on Google, Google Scholar, on to Web of Science, etc…

Comment [MO23]: Good

Comment [MO24]: Yes and you will hold the Abstract to only 150 words

Comment [MO25]: Yes explain them so that others could replicate your protocol for the experimental steps.


6


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) I will include a clear collection of resources which are cited throughout the paper.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) The relevance of using the sources I used will be necessary to support the conclusions I make and validate the results I get.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) All peer edits and alteration will be recognized.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) This is the most important part of the paper. The data is not relevant if it does not apply to the real world or make logical sense.


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) Will be clearly stated and expanded upon so more topics can be discussed and understood.

100 TOTAL


50 Social or Details Social Issue Related to Inquiry w

Comment [MO26]: Good and begin writing your bibliography of these references now.

Comment [MO27]: Yes, you need to also discuss the reliability of the sources and the application to your linvestigation.

Comment [MO28]: Good, and also mention anyone who gives you information or helps with the lab setup,

Comment [MO29]: This part is not about application to the real world but about how the statistical significance of the data indicates that your results are not merely the result of chance alone.

Comment [MO30]: This is where your relevance to the real world will be explored.


7

Educational references or Describes Adapted K-12 Lesson

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box) Because of the general idea being explored, this experiment can be expanded to apply to K-12 students and get them interested in chemistry. There is an additional expansion off of this experiment having to do with pH as the pH changes due to the decrease or increase of the concentration of carbon dioxide.

Inquiry 2 Extended Oral Presentation Checklist

50 Speaking style

Speaks clearly and at audible volume, engages audience, uses visual and spoken material to convey information clearly.

10 Introduction Describes motivation for project.

10 Background Provides clear summary of relevant background knowledge.

10 Design* Describes project design, explaining major choices, using diagrams and illustrations.

10 Results and Data* Presents main results, using graphics appropriately

10 Conclusions* Summarizes findings w Social/Educational implications

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Unnecessary to Discuss this now, although you may submit ideas or questions if you are thinking about this early.) (Optional: Type your response in this box)

TOTAL

0 100

Comment [MO31]: Yes, this will make a good lab and the pH would definitely be interesting to pursue, and even the weight of the drink will change as the CO2 escapes.

Research Methods


Inquiry II Proposal Form Student: __________________ ____ Evaluator:________________________ Introduction/Overview of Inquiry Proposal: Guidelines for Research Proposals for Research Methods Research scientists spend a large fraction of their time writing proposals. Proposals are a necessary tool to apply for grant funding, or for permission to conduct research, but they also serve a more useful role. Developing a research proposal forces you to think carefully about what you plan to do, why it is interesting to you, and how you will go about doing it. In the Research Methods class, you will be asked to write a number of proposals. These will both help you focus your thoughts (perhaps after a perfectly natural period of frustration), and give the instructors a better opportunity to keep track of what you are doing and hence give you feedback. The more detailed your proposal is, the better feedback you will get, and the stronger your final project will be. With this in mind, here are a few suggested guidelines for writing your research proposal Introduction: Please discuss the following, in the order shown, within your introductory paragraph(s) 1. Explain briefly what motivates you to carry out this project. 2. The first chapter of the Research Methods Notes lists a number of different types of research projects. Decide which type of project you are conducting. Usually projects Test a Hypothesis, Measure a Relationship, or more rarely Construct a Model. 3. If you are testing an hypothesis, you should clearly state the question you are interested in answering, and your null and alternative hypotheses. If you are measuring a relationship, you should clearly describe the dependent and independent variables. 4. What type of data will you collect? How will you collect the data? What equipment do you need? How many measurements do you need to take? The more detailed your plans are, the better we can identify and head off problems before they arise. Ideally, you may want to write out step-by-step instructions, like writing a lab manual for your experiment. 5. Draw a made-up graph of what you think your data might look like when the experiment is complete. What type of data are your dependent and independent variables: categorical? Continuous?


2

Introduction: 1. I want to carry out this experiment because it involves biology, which is a subject that I

find to be extremely interesting. In addition, I am really curious about the results my experiment will produce.

2. I believe that my experiment will measure a relationship between plant growth and various independent variables.

3. My experiment revolves around measuring the growth of plants while substituting different liquids for water. I will grow a constant sample however with the aid of regular water. Therefore, the independent variables will be the different liquids/solutions. The dependent variables will be the growth of the plant.

4. Ultimately, I will be measuring the growth of the plants by measuring their height in inches as time progresses and under their specific conditions. Materials: soil, 3 pots, water, 2 different liquids (possibly energy drink, soda), ruler, seeds (plants that will grow quickly) or the actual grown plants. I will need to take measurements approximately every five weeks or so and water frequently.

5. X-axis will be represented by time in days. Y- axis will be represented by growth in inches. Continuous.


Comment [MO1]: Be more specific about what aspect of biology the experiment deals with and why that interests you, and what the results entail and why that would be interesting to you.

Comment [MO2]: What variables are you working on? Please list those and what you think the relationship might be.

Comment [MO3]: Yes this is the correct terminology for your variables. Add the specific liquid types

Comment [MO4]: You will not have 5 weeks to make your measurements so you need a fast growing plant and you will need to measure the change daily or every few days. Is it likely that people would water their plants with the energy drink? Consider whether you want to select water types that may make sense for actual plant growth practicality, or some other factors such as water pH (acid rain) for how that effects growth.

Comment [MO5]: Yes the data appear to be continuous. Although you may want to consider characteristics other than size alone, such as color or health.


3



Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Type your response in this box)


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Yes, the experiment can be completed in a reasonable amount of time. I am completely engaged by this question and would like to see the effects. Which plant will dominate in the end?

Experimental Design


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Instrument: ruler to measure in inches and a beaker to measure the amount of liquid in millimeters.

20 Error


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Possible sources of error: lack of sunlight since we are experiencing rainy days, varying amounts of CO2, imperfect measurements.

Comment [MO6]: Tell us specifically what you want to learn and why it is so interesting to you.

Comment [MO7]: You should also be using probeware in this experiment, since it is required. So, perhaps measuring some aspect of the quality of the water will suffice for this, i.e. pH.

Comment [MO8]: The sunlight and CO2 will be easily controlled since it is the same for your group of plants if they are all stored together. However, your imperfect measurements should be fully described along with errors like different genetics of seeds from different parental plants, vs clonal seeds from the same parent plant.


4


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: I will try to keep everything else constant.

10 Variables


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Control- plant sample with water and light, amount of soil, CO2 levels. Independent- different liquid Dependent- plant growth

Analysis


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Graph that relates time and growth for each sample.



Comment [MO9]: This is asking you to determine how many plants you will need in your sample group for your experiment. This is what we call N in statistics. We are going to talk about that tomorrow in class and you should get this figured out tomorrow. Do you want to have a dozen plants? How many are you thinking of?

Comment [MO10]: Good, so just continue to expand this list and define the variables more exactly. Focus on characterizing what is different about the liquids. If you only changed one chemical in the liquids or just a few ingredients, but measured their effects individually, then you could determine what the cause is rather than simply concluding that soda pop helps or hinders plant growth – your not sure which of the dozens of chemicals in soda might be causing it.

Comment [MO11]: Make a sample graph with your hypothetical data, i.e. what you predict will happen, or specifically no effect versus a significant effect.

Comment [MO12]: As you make up hypothetical graphs try predicting your standard error bars


5


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: X- axis: time (days) Y- axis: plant growth (inches)






Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: The energy drink will have the greatest effect on plant growth since it contains nutrients that may help the plant grow. Prior knowledge

Comment [MO13]: This is fine, although I recommend doing your measurement in mm or cm instead.

Comment [MO14]: Do this while you are working on your standard error bars for your hypothetical graph.

Comment [MO15]: What statistics do you intend to use, i.e. CHI square, or T Test?

Comment [FS16]: Again a seeming confusion between a predictive model such as a mathematical formula and “predicting” the relationship that will be observed (hypothesizing).

Comment [MO17]: This is where you talk about how the growth effects behaves mathematically, i.e. Pepsi doubles the growth rate each day…


6

Sources


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: After my experiment I will research the results of my experiment. What do the drinks contain? What caused plant growth? What inhibited plant growth? Use research to answer these questions.





Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Purpose: How essential is water in determining a plant’s growth? Is there a more effective substitution out there? Conclusions


Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: 1) Prepare 3 samples 2) Measure height about every 5 days 3) Water frequently

Comment [MO18]: Do your research before you experiment and this will help you think about what to expect and why, as well as perhaps give you some more advanced ideas to increase the rigor of your experiment, which is something I’d like you to work on now. You might for instance find that some plants are more sensitive to nutrients than others. In which case you might change your design to include two different kinds of plants across two different liquids. Or you might decide the quantity of Pepsi is important to vary, so that you add five levels of pepsi/water mixture to find the optimal amount for your experiment.

Comment [MO19]: This is a start and from here you can think about how to improve and switch up your purpose, but you have all the ingredients of an experiments. Now refine.

Comment [MO20]: Be much more specific about your procedures, such as how much water and how often and


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Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Significance- elaborate






Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Graphs show that …



Comment [MO21]: As you do your background research, keep track of every source, bibliographically.

Comment [MO22]: Be critical of what your sources tell you, as you review them, and summarize your thoughts here.

Comment [MO23]: Keep a record of everyone who helps you with your project and write them here. Yes, even me.

Comment [MO24]: Include captions and in text explanation of your graphs.


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Conclusions and possible applications

100 TOTAL


50 Social or Educational

Details Social Issue Related to Inquiry w references or Describes Adapted K-12 Lesson

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: Some social issues that this experiment will relate to would be the most effective way to nourish plants. Other ex. Adaptations plants have developed.

Inquiry 2 Extended Oral Presentation Checklist

50 Speaking style

Speaks clearly and at audible volume, engages audience, uses visual and spoken material to convey information clearly.

10 Introduction Describes motivation for project.

10 Background Provides clear summary of relevant background knowledge.

10 Design* Describes project design, explaining major choices, using diagrams and illustrations.

10 Results and Data* Presents main results, using graphics appropriately

10 Conclusions* Summarizes findings w Social/Educational implications

Proposed Relevant Experimental Design Aspect: (Unnecessary to Discuss this now, although you may submit ideas or questions if you are thinking

Comment [MO25]: You may also want to turn this into a long-term classroom activity, lesson plan.


9

about this early.) (Optional: Type your response in this box)

TOTAL

0 100

Documents

Research Methodssites.uci.edu/researchmethods/files/2013/07/Sample...Research Methods 2008 The University of Texas at Austin Inquiry II Proposal Introduction: Having an interest in