Research Methods 382: Experimental Design
1. Create a question based on observation about your world that you could test using
experimental design:
2. Develop a hypothesis based on your question:
3. Plan your study:
a. Independent Variable:
b. Dependent Variable:
c. Control Group:
d. Experimental Group:
e. Will you collect qualitative or quantitative data? Why?
4. Create operational definitions for anything necessary:
5. Are there any ethical considerations you need to be aware of/explain?
6. Write a paragraph about how you would conduct this study:
Name _______________________
Date ___________ Period _____
Science with the Simpson’s
The Effect of Special Juice on the Number of Papers Stapled
Smithers thinks that a special kinds of juice will increase the productivity of
workers. He creates four groups of 25 workers each and assigns each group
the same task (they’re supposed to staple a set of four papers). Group A is
given the 200 mL of ginsing juice to drink while they stapled. Group B is
given 200 mL of GreenTea juice to drink while they stapled. Group C is
given 200 mL of Echinacea juice to drink while they stapled. Group D is not
given a special juice. After an hour, Smithers counts how many stacks of
papers each group has made. Group A made 1,587 stacks. Group B made
1,718 stacks. Group C made 1,643 stacks. Group D made 2,113 stacks.
Identify the:
1. Independent Variable __________________________
2. Dependent Variable ___________________________
3. Constants ____________________
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4. What should Smithers’ conclusion be? ____________________________
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5. How could this experiment be improved?__________________________
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Name _______________________
The Effect of Coconut Oil and Lemon Juice on the Eradication of Green Slime
Homer notices that his shower is covered in a
strange green slime. His friend Barney tells him that coconut oil will get rid
of the green slime. His other friend Lenny tells him that lemon juice will get
rid of the green slime. Homer decides to check this out by spraying one wall
of the shower with coconut oil, one wall with coconut milk, and one wall
with lemon juice. He sprays half a cup of each every day. After 3 days of
“treatment” Homer thinks there is a little less green slime on the coconut
milk sprayed wall. He thinks there is even less green slime on the wall
sprayed with lemon juice. But, he thinks there has been the most green slime
removed from the coconut oil wall.
Identify the:
1. Independent Variable: _________________________________
2. Dependent Variable: __________________________________
3. Constants: _______________________
_____________________
________________________ _____________________
4. What should Homer’s conclusion be? ___________________________
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5. How could Homer improve his experiment? ______________________
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Name _______________________
The Effect of Microwave Radiation on Physical Strength
Bart believes that people exposed to microwaves will
become extra strong (maybe he’s been reading too
much Radioactive Man). He decides to perform this
experiment by having ten 5th grade boys stand beside
an operating microwave for 1 minute; ten different
5th grade boys stand beside the same operating
microwave for 5 minutes; and another ten 5th grade
boys stand beside the same microwave while it was
off for 5 minutes. His test of strength was to have
each person lift 50 pounds of weight as many times
as possible. He found that the “1 minute microwaved” people were able to
lift it 6 times on average, the “5 minute microwaved” people were able to lift
it 8 times on average, and the “non-microwaved” people were able to lift it 7
times on average.
1. Independent Variable _______________________
2. Dependent Variable ___________________________
3. Constants: ____________________
____________________
__________________
__________________
4. What should Bart’s conclusion be? ______________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. How could Bart’s experiment be improved?_______________________
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Name _______________________
The Effect of Itching Powder on Time Itching
Krusty was told that there were two new itching powders
that were the best thing on the market. Itch Alot claimed
to cause 50% longer lasting itches; while Got An Itch
claimed to cause itching to last twice as long. Interested
in these products, he buys the itching powders and
compares them to his usual product. One test subject (A)
is sprinkled with 50 grams of the original itching powder,
a second test subject (B) was sprinkled with 50 grams of
Itch Alot, and a third test subject (C) was sprinkled with
50 grams of Got An Itch. Subject A reported having itches for 30 minutes.
Subject B reported having itches for 45 minutes. Subject C reported having
itches for 50 minutes.
Identify the:
1. Independent Variable______________________________
2. Dependent Variable _______________________________
3. Constants ___________________
____________________
4. Does the data support the advertisements’ claims about their products?
Explain.
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5. How could Krusty’s experiment be improved. ____________________
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Name _______________________
The Effect of Rogooti on Hair Growth
Now you have the skills to do your own research. Help
Lisa design the following experiment.
Lisa’s task is to answer the question: “Does
Rogooti (which is a commercial hair product) affect the
speed of hair growth”. Her family is willing to volunteer
for the experiment.
Describe how Lisa should perform this
experiment. Identify the control group, and the
independent and dependent variables, and the constants,
and describe how your would do the experiment.
1. Control Group ______________________
2. Independent Variable ___________________
3. Dependent Variable ____________________
4. Constants ___________________
____________________
5. Describe how you would do the experiment (procedures):
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________________________________________________________(over)
Lisa’s Experiment (continued)
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