Research Plan Template

Student name(s): Taryn Claassens

Research Plan (to Accompany Form 1A)
A) Rationale
Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research is
important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.
I am interested in studying behavior of pillbugs to see how they react to new environments and to see which
environment outside their habitat they will have less stressors. This type of experiment is to understand behavior and
stress in pillbugs in different environments by introducing changes and recording their reactions.
B) Research Question(s), Hypothesis(es), Engineering Goal(s), Expected
Outcomes.
How is this based on the rationale described above?
Research Question(s): In studying pill bug behavior and how they react to their environment, what type of
environment they will be the least stressed outside their normal habitat?
Hypothesis(es): Pillbugs will be less stressed in an environment where they have adequate moisture and a PH
environment they prefer. Temperature and light (within reason) has less of an impact on their stress.
Engineering Goal(s): n/a
Expected Outcomes: Pill bugs will prefer their usual habitat (humid, dark, acidic soil or decomposing leaves).
However, they will do well in environments that offer some moisture, preferable PH and with light, the
temperature will have less of an impact – we will know based on their behavior and how they eat.
Procedure(s)
Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection. Describe only your project. Do
not include work done by mentor or others.
- PH strips
- Filter paper
- Pipetes
- Stopwatch
- 10-20 pill bugs
- Black paper & White paper
- Lemon juice (acid)
- Baking soda (base)
- Petri dishes (double attached if can find or double containers)
- Ice, Heatlamp or heating pad
- Water (rain water)
- Banana peels
- Kitchen scale set to grams
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1.) Observe the pillbugs in a neutral environment to observe them in an active state and observe behavior – this will be a double dish
with nothing in it as a basis for behavior and stress and activity. – record the activity and behavior 3 x 10 min – record data at 1 min
intervals

2.) Observe the pill bugs preferred environment: moist, temperate, dark and state of decomposition and observe them in natural habitat.
I will also observe them in a hostile environment (hot, full light, dry, low organic matter, alkaline)
- All tests are run as basis indicators of behavior and stress – 3x 10 at one min observation – record on data sheet.

3.) After recording behaviors: create three additional habitat environments in additional to their most preferred environment:
a.) Warm, filtered light, moist, acidic (ph 6),
b.) low moisture, light, hot, neutral ph (7),
c.) Moist, shady, cold, basic (Ph 8).
d.) create a control with their ideal environment as a control = total of 4 environments

4.) Use a control of a duplicate mirrored environment (for each of the 4 environments) to measure that food source without the bugs and
also to record the pH of the environment and how that environment changes in both places.

5.) Use a food source (banana peel) as a strong indicator of how well they do (how much they are eating) along with exhibited behavioral
stress indicators to determine which environment they are less stressed in outside the norm.

6.) Measure the mass of the food source in both to quantify how much they eat. This is measured with the control done duplicated so I
can measure the next best habitat creating the least stress. Use the scale to record the mass to indicate how much is eaten.

7.) The habitat observation will be observed for 1 week. Data will be recorded to indicate behavior and stress, eaten food and PH changes
– data will be recorded daily.

Risk and Safety

Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
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N/a
Data Analysis
Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
Will create a form for the original observation for behavior and stressors. I will create a second form for daily
recording of the habitats – it will include areas for recording PH changes, food source recording and behaviors and
stressors. The final data will be entered into an excel spreadsheet.
IF Applicable
Below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your
research plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research:
a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable populations
(minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged).
b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?
c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires or tests? What is the
frequency and length of time involved for each subject?
d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved, social, legal,
etc.) to participants? How will you minimize risks? List any benefits to society or participants.
e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, email addresses)
be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be collected. If not
anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data be stored? Who will have
access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?
f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study, what they
will be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary and they have the right to stop at any time.
n/a
Vertebrate animal research:
a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of vertebrates.
b. Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.
c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain and injury
to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.
d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.
e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care
f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study.
Potentially hazardous biological agents research:
a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.
b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.
N/A
Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:
• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.
N/A