Individual experiments on seed germination or seedling ...



Due week of March 7-10

Individual experiments on seed germination or seedling growth: Proposal guidelines

Prepare a proposal using the following pages for a controlled experiment that you will do on seed germination or on seedling growth. Do not mix these two up. You will lose points!!

Seed germination is the process of the seed beginning to grow after a period of dormancy. Seed germination can be measured as number of days until emergence of the radicle or the shoot, length of root, number of germinated seeds, etc.

Seedling growth refers to what happens once plants emerge from the soil. Seedling growth can be measured in several ways: as time until emergence from the soil, number of seedlings per unit area, height of seedlings, mass of seedling tops, etc.

Materials that will be available

| Bean Seeds of various types |Salt |

|Plastic bags/ paper towels/ Petri plates |Vinegar |

|Stapler and staples |Sodium hydroxide |

|Distilled water, regular tap water |Pot labels |

|Fertilizer |Marking pens |

|Soil, vermiculite |Fans |

|Pots |Magnets |

|Flats |Balance |

|Rulers |Flasks |

|Pipettes and pipetters |Graduated cylinders |

|Masking tape |Pipettes and pipetters |

|Foil, saran wrap |Other stuff: ask (lamps, bulbs, thermometers) |

This needs to be a biology experiment, not a “consumer reports” brand comparison. That means you cannot compare the effect of one kind of seed over another kind of seed. How would you have any idea of why they were different?

So, the main restriction is that you need to use just one kind of seed and investigate variables that might affect either the germination of those seeds or the growth of seedlings once they emerge.

[pic]

In addition to the information you will receive in class, we strongly recommend that before you write your proposal, you read about either seed germination or seedling growth. Do not mix these two up.

How does it work? What factors seem to affect it? How do they affect it? What kinds of plants was this tested in? Be sure to keep good notes and bibliographic info because this will be part of the introduction to your final paper and needs to be referenced in this proposal.

To help you brainstorm possible independent variables, answer the question

What affects seed germination? Or What things affect how a seedling grows once it has emerged?

Will the variable you selected increase or decrease seedling growth? Will it speed up or inhibit seed germination?

INDEPENDENT PROJECT PROPOSAL NAME ___________________________________

1.) Clearly state the objectives of your experiment: Which phenomenon will you study and what is the independent variable?

2. State the research hypothesis (conjecture).

3. State the null hypothesis.

4. State the alternative hypothesis.

5. Identify the variables and how you will measure them: What will be measured, how often, with what tools, in what units?

Independent (at least 3 levels of the IV)

Dependent variable

6) Identify what other factors need to be held constant during the experiment to eliminate potential biases.

Also: Identify how measurements, material and process may involve unwanted variability.

7. Materials

List the materials you will need, how many of each

7. Write a detailed, numbered PROCEDURE for your experiment.

Include at least three trials for each level of the IV. This means you will need 9 set ups, three for each level of the IV.

8. Possible outcomes and interpretation table

|Statements of Hypotheses |Predicted results of that hypothesis |Interpretation of H0 HR HA1 |

|H0 | |HR |

| | | |

| | |H0 |

| | | |

| | |HA |

|HR | | |

| | |HR |

| | | |

| | |H0 |

| | | |

| | |HA |

|HA1 | |HR |

| | | |

| | |H0 |

| | | |

| | |HA |

Name of the Peer Reviewer for this proposal __________________________________

1. What are the research, null and alternative hypotheses? If they are not clear, say so and say why not.

2. Has the Independent variable been correctly identified?

3. Has the Dependent Variable been correctly identified?

4. Are both variables operationally defined so that you could do this without asking questions?

5. Examine the procedure:

Would you be able to conduct this experiment without having to ask questions of the writer?

If not, then tell where the writer should clarify the procedure.

6. Are enough replicates included? Is a control included if needed? What is the control?

7. Has the table of possible outcomes been filled in correctly? If not, indicate how it might be improved.

8. Other suggestions for the investigator:

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download