Lab 1: To Chirp or Not to Chirp? That is lathe Question.

lab report google link:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KUla3Hrmm2gtoq7TM7uMmNqMSmDSc6tmgQiIG6Yhfx8/edit#

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lab you will be able to:

• Describe how logic plays a role in experimental design.
• Identify variables in an experiment.
• Develop logical hypotheses, prediction statements, and conclusions.

Introduction

Your task in this lab is to explore the process of scientific inquiry by investigating the reason and timing of cricket chirps using an online tutorial that was developed by Glendale Community College in Glendale, AZ that will allow you to review steps of the Scientific Method and design your own experiment. To begin, open this interactive website on the Scientific Method:

http://webapp.gccaz.edu/academic/biology/scientific_method/ 

Tutorial Analysis Questions

Click on the “Tutorial” button at the bottom of the screen to begin. Following the instructions provided in the introduction, complete the entire tutorial and then answer the questions below. It is highly recommended that if you do not answer the questions in the tutorial correctly, repeat the exercises until you get it correct.

Please Note:

There is a glitch in the tutorial. When you get to the flower logic problem, do not select the box labeled “White White” as your first selection. The solution the tutorial gives you when you select this box is incomplete.  

1. Were you able to solve the first logic problem about flowers in the box? Briefly your initial thought process as you decided which labels belong on which box (even if you did not guess correctly on your first try).

2. How did you do in the tutorial portion of the activity? Did you carefully read the questions or make assumptions that led to selecting the incorrect answers? Describe what you learned about your analytical skills in this exercise.

Cricket Experiment Setup

In this activity, you will be given 5 potential experiments to run to test the reason that crickets chirp. Your task is to test all 5 of the experimental conditions to test, collect your data, and draw conclusions based on your experimental results. To be most efficient with your time, answer the questions below as you go.

1. Record the BEST problem statement provided in the activity:

2. How do crickets make their chirping sounds?

3. Record the laboratory conditions that have been recreated to simulate the cricket’s habitat:
   Air Temperature: _______________ C
   Atmospheric Pressure: __________________ mm
   Number of crickets nearby:_______________
   Wind Speed:_______________ m/sec
   Cricket Chirps:_______________ per minute

4. For the factor you believe to be the most plausible, identify the following components:
   1. What is your hypothesis?

   2. What is your independent variable?

   3. What is your dependent variable?

   4. What are all the controlled variables?

Data Collection

Perform the experiments, testing every hypothesis made available to you. Collect at least 5 data points for each hypothesis. Record your data in the tables below. Regardless of which hypothesis you believe to be the most likely, you must still collect at least 5 data points for all 5 hypotheses.

Effect of Nearby Crickets on Chirp Rate

Effect of Atmospheric Pressure on Chirp Rate

Effect of Wind Speed on Cricket Chirp Rate

Number of nearby crickets

Chirp Rate (Chirps/min)

Pressure

(mm Hg)

Chirp Rate (Chirps/minute)

Wind Speed (m/sec)

Chirp Rate (Chirps/minute)

Effect of Humidity on Chirp Rate

Effect of Temperature on Chirp Rate

Humidity

(%)

Chirp Rate

(Chirps/min)

Temp

(C°)

Chirp Rate (Chirps/min)

Data Analysis

After collecting and analyzing your data, there are a series of questions to answer regarding your results. Complete all the questions.  BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN DETERMINING WHAT THE QUESTIONS ARE ASKING!! THERE ARE SOME TRICKY ONES THAT YOU MUST THINK ABOUT CAREFULLY!! Be sure you understand what is being asked, and are absolutely certain the options you choose can actually be determined from the data you have! (You do not need to print the trophy when complete.)

Provide a descriptive paragraph below explaining how you used your data to draw the appropriate conclusions. Address the following questions in your analysis:

1. What is your final conclusion on cricket chirp rate?
2. Did the tutorial help you apply logical thought processes to draw your conclusion? 
3. What problems did you encounter in the process? 
4. Did any of the final questions testing your understanding of the data trip you up?