Experimental Design - Medical Detectives

What is a good example of a research question in an experiment about exercise and respiratory rate?

• Does performing jumping jacks for two minutes increase respiratory rate?

• What is the color of the sky?

• How many students are in the class?

• What is your favorite food?

What is the hypothesis for the experiment: 'Does performing jumping jacks for two minutes increase respiratory rate?'

• Performing jumping jacks for two minutes will increase respiratory rate.

• Performing jumping jacks for two minutes will decrease respiratory rate.

• Performing jumping jacks for two minutes will have no effect on respiratory rate.

• Performing jumping jacks for two minutes will decrease heart rate.

In an experiment, which variable is changed by the person conducting the experiment?

• Dependent variable

• Independent variable

• Control variable

• Constant variable

What is the dependent variable?

• The variable you change in an experiment

• The measurable effect or response that happens when you change the independent variable

• The equipment used in an experiment

• The hypothesis of the experiment

In the example experiment, what is the independent variable? Fill in the blank.

• Performing jumping jacks for two minutes

• Measuring heart rate after exercise

• Recording the time of day

• Observing the weather conditions

In the example experiment, what is the dependent variable? Fill in the blank.

• Respiratory rate

• Temperature

• Light intensity

• Time

List the material necessary for the example experiment. Fill in the blank.

• Stopwatch

• Paintbrush

• Notebook

• Thermometer

What is the safety concern for the example experiment? Fill in the blank.

• Only people in good health, with no respiratory problems, should complete this experiment.

• Wear sunglasses at all times during the experiment.

• Do not use any electronic devices near the experiment.

• Only perform the experiment outdoors on a sunny day.

What is the control for the example experiment? Fill in the blank.

• The respiratory rate of the test subjects before they perform jumping jacks.

• The number of jumping jacks performed by the test subjects.

• The time of day the experiment is conducted.

• The amount of water consumed by the test subjects after the experiment.

Why is it important to include multiple trials in an experiment?

• To make the experiment more fun

• To ensure results are not due to chance

• To save time

• To use more materials