Designing Scientific Investigations

Question 9 • PBCSD_Grade_Forgiveness_2001340_Environmental_Science_S1_2020

Choose the best experimental design to test the question “Does the gender of mice affect the time it takes to learn mazes?”

Answer

Time six male mice and six female mice in the same maze; reward the male mice with fruit when they complete the maze, and reward the female mice with grains when they complete the maze.

Time six male mice and six female mice in the same maze; reward both male and female mice with fruit when they complete the maze.

Time six male mice in one maze and six female mice in a second similar maze; reward both male and female mice with cheese when they complete the maze.

Time each mouse in a different maze; reward the male mice with bread when they complete the maze, and reward the female mice with cheese when they complete the maze.

Explanation

To test whether gender affects maze-learning time, the mice should experience the same maze and the same reward so that gender is the main difference between the groups. Choice B uses six mice of each gender and gives both groups fruit. In choice A and D, the different rewards could affect performance, while choice C uses separate mazes, which could differ in difficulty.

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