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BIOL 1208 Spring 2022
1
Scientific Method Case Study ICA
Adapted from: Hubbard, J.K., Shizuka, D., and Couch, B.A. 2016. Knowing your own: A classroom case study using the scientific method to investigate how birds learn to recognize their offspring. CourseSource. https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2016.7
In this case study, you will follow along with lecture videos to become familiar with
the steps of the scientific method and apply them to investigate a phenomenon
observed in American coots (Fulica americana). This exercise will build upon itself
as it walks you through all the steps of the scientific method, so it is important that
you follow the lecture videos and complete the questions in order when prompted.
The goal of this assignment is to push you to think critically. Your answers will be
mostly graded based on effort and participation, not getting the “right” answers.
Read all instructions throughout the assignment so you do not lose points! To make
grading easier, please make sure all your answers are in blue. Your assignment must
be submitted as .pdf (not .docx) with the following file name: [Your last
name]_[Assignment name].
BEFORE LAB
• On Moodle:
o Watch prerequisite videos: Scientific Method Video (11 minutes) and Brood Parasitism Video (4.5 minutes).
o Save this Scientific Method Case Study ICA as a Word document (.docx).
PART I
LECTURE PAUSE #1
1. Describe your observations from the coot video.
• The adult attacked one of the chicks and maybe killed it and just left another one behind as well.
2. Develop a specific research question regarding the behavior observed in the video of the coot chicks interacting with
the adults.
• Why would a parent bird attack and abandon its own offspring?
3. What background information would you want to know prior to forming a hypothesis related to the research question?
What questions do you have?
• I would like to know more about the behaviors of these birds and how they differ from other birds, Why did
the bird attack the baby bird so aggressively and then abandon it?
Background information notes from lecture:
• Steps of scientific method: ask a question, do some research, propose hypothesis, experiment and collect data,
and analyze the data
• Some credit Aristotle with creating the scientific method. Though he wasn’t the best scientist and most of his
research was wrong.
• Before google information spread very slow. The gold age of Arabic science while the plague was going
around Europe. A famous Arab scientist figured out how light interacts with our eyes.
• Many different scientist had different opinions on the scientific method back in time before Isaac Newton
basically wrote the rules for it.
• Many great discoveries were made without the scientific method like Marie Currie did. But now scientists
were called scientists and had discipline.
• The old way is replaced by the new one and equilibrium is restored after all the scientists had been
questioning everything they know.
BIOL 1208 Spring 2022
LECTURE PAUSE #2
4. Given the background information, identify some independent and dependent variables that could be tested to answer
the following research question: How do coot parents know which chicks are brood parasites and which belong
to them? The IV and DV do not need to be paired together; you can think of them as independent of each other.
Independent variable
(influences)
Dependent variable
(responds)
The coloration of the chick
How easily the parents recognize an outsider
The size of the chick
If the adult attacks them
The sound they make
The survival rate of the chick
5. Develop a more specific research question about your observations that clearly states one independent, one dependent
variable, and the model organism. Use any combination that is logical. Remember to think about what constitutes a
good research question.
• Does the coloration of the American coot chick affect its survival rate?
6. Write a null hypothesis, an alternative hypothesis, and a prediction for your revised research question. Plug in your
variables and model organism.
• HO: The coloration of the American coot chick will have no effect on its survival rate.
• HA: The coloration of the American coot chick will have some effect on its survival rate.
• P: The coloration of the offspring of an American coot chick compared to an outsider trying to fit in will
affect the unrelated chick’s survival rate. The closer they are in coloration to the other chicks the better chance
