VCE Biology Experimental Method

EXPERIMENTAL METHOD AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Example

Observation: Plant species ‘A’ was found growing in soil with a low pH (ph4-
5).

Curiosity: The investigator wondered whether plant species ‘A’ was adapted to
grow more vigorously under acid conditions than under alkaline or neutral
conditions.

Aim: To investigate how pH affects the growth of plant species ’A’.

Hypothesis: That species A will grow best in a slightly acidic soil.

Prediction: If species A will grow best in a slightly acidic soil then

plants of Species ‘A’ will increase in mass more if grown at pH 5 than
at pH 7 or higher.

Method:

Physical Layout of Treatments

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 VCE Biology Experimental Method

Fluorescent strip
lighting

Fluorescent strip
lighting

1. Explain the best way to take account of natural variability between

individuals when designing an experiment
To have a large sample size and average the result for each
treatment.

(of course Also choose the individuals to be as similar as possible)

2. Explain the importance of ensuring that any influencing variables in an

experiment (except the independent variable) are controlled and kept
constant across all treatments.

This is important so we can attribute any difference in the dependent

variable to the independent variable. (Since all other factors that
could influence the experiment are kept the same between each

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VCE Biology Experimental Method

treatment then nothing else could be responsible for the difference in

results)

3. Suggest why it is important to consider the physical layout of treatments

in an experiment

As ambient conditions can vary in different locations in a room,

considering the physical layout and placing set ups carefully will
minimize differences in these conditions and assist to keep all
factors (except for the independent variable) as similar as
possible (so only the IV varies between treatments)

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VCE Biology Experimental Method

1. Write a suitable aim for this experiment.

 To investigate the effect of temperature on the height of oxygen

bubbles produced from breakdown of hydrogen peroxide by
catalase.
 To investigate the effect of temperature on catalase activity
(although this is being measure by height of bubbles and height
of bubbles is more direct)

2. Write a suitable hypothesis for the experiment

 That as temperature increase the height of bubbles produced

will also increase
 That the higher the temperature the higher the bubble height

3.
a) Identify the independent variable: temperature of the hydrogen
peroxide and catalase mixture

b) State the range of values for the independent variable: 10-60 oC (in
uneven intervals)

c) Name the unit for the independent variable degrees Celsius (oC)

d) Briefly outline a way that the independent variable might have been
established in this experiment.

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VCE Biology Experimental Method

Use beakers as water baths. Use a thermometer and hot and

cold water to establish and maintain the desired temperature.
Place a test tube containing the desired volume of hydrogen
peroxide and a test tube containing the desired volume of
catalase into the bath for a period of time before mixing to let
them come to the temperature of the water bath. Mix them
together in the same tube and keep them in the water bath as
they react.

4.
a) Identify the dependent variable. The height of the oxygen bubble
column in the test tube after one minute

b) Name the unit for the dependent variable. mm’s

c) List the equipment needed to measure the dependent variable and

describe how it would have been used.
A ruler

5. Each temperature represents a treatment/sample/trial (circle one)

6. State the number of tubes at each temperature. 2

7. State the sample size for each treatment. 2 for each trial (so 4
overall)

8. State how many times the whole investigation was repeated. 2

9. Explain why it would have been desirable to have included an extra tube
containing no enzyme

To determine if any oxygen is produced in the absence of

catalase.

10. Identify three variables that might have been controlled in this
experiment and how they could have been monitored.

Same volume of catalase

Same volume of hydrogen peroxide
Same size/diameter of testtubes
Same batch of enzyme
Same person measuring the height of the bubble column

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VCE Biology Experimental Method

Student workbook p13 Worksheet 2: suggested answers

Poor pot plant—critical analysis of experimental method

1 Pot plant 1 is the control—it represents the ‘untreated’ plant that has been
exposed to regular conditions i.e sunlight exposure
2 a The student included three variables sunlight and water and type of
material in which the plant was grown.(potting mix or potting mix and soil
combined)
b Properly controlled experiments have only one variable at a time. In this
instance the variable that the student set out to test was sunlight.
3 The student’s conclusions are not accurate. Pot plant 2 may have died as a
result of a lack of sunlight, or a lack of water or something in the potting mix vs
soil and potting mix combo or a combination of some or all of these factors.
4 Plants need sunlight or water or both sunlight and water in order to survive.
5 a Repeat steps 1–5 as described. Step 6: Water both pot plants with the
same amount of water every 2 days
for a period of 2 weeks.
b Expect Pot plant 1 to be thriving and Pot plant 2 to be dead.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that plants need light in order to thrive and
grow; without adequate light they will die. The hypothesis that ‘green plants
need sunlight to survive’ is supported by the results of this experiment.

Justification: Pot plant 2 was not exposed to sunlight and it died. Since the light
was the only variable, the plant must have died due to lack of sunlight.

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