Hamster GSP Measurement

UNIT 1 ESS LAB REPORT

James P. / 11L / Block A

7/9/2022
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTEXT 3

Research Question 3

Theory 3

Environmental Issue 3

Related research 4

Hypothesis 5

PLANNING

Apparatus & Material 5

Variables 5

Methodology 6

Sampling Justification 7

Ethical Consideration / Risk Assessment 7

RESULT, ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION 9

Data

Quantitative Data 9

Qualitative Data 10

Processed Data 11

Graphing 12

Analysis 13

Conclusion 13

DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION 14

Evaluation of conclusion with 14

environmental issue

Evaluation of Methodology 14

Strength and Weakness of Methods 14

Suggestion for Weakness 15

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 Suggestion for Methodology Modification 15

APPLICATION 16

Application to Environmental Issue 16

Strength and Weakness of Application 16

Suggestion for Weaknesses 16

REFERENCES 17

APPENDIX 18

I. CONTEXT

Research question

“To what extent will the gross secondary productivity (GSP) be affected by the different
gender of Syrian hamsters(Mesocricetus auratus) ?”

Theory

To most researchers, there has been little difference between male and female
Syrian hamsters in terms of how they consume food, how they process it and the amount of
feces between them. Although some biological differences – notably in behaviour where

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Syrian male hamsters are much more “Nicer” and easier to handle. Whereas females are
more aggressive

Additionally to this, there has been recorded differences in size and smell, although
this seems to affect little and will likely have no effect due to the young age of our hamsters
which means they will not be of full size. Due to this, there is reason to believe that it may
affect how much food they consume and the amount of feces they produce.

An additional theory that exists is due to the living environments that we have put
the hamsters in. Which is a small cramped caged surrounded what to them are large living
predators that steals poop and feeds them random seeds everyday for 5 days which may
have a massive effect on the food intake and feces.

Environmental issue

 A fairly relevant environmental issue in relation to this is thusly human activity and
how it can affect these animals and their day to day activities.

Related research

Because these two, albeit related to two different subjects such as human activity
and gender revolve around themselves being factors that will affect the GSP of an hamster.

Hypothesis - prediction, can be expressed using if-then statement.

My hypothesis for the experiment in regards to the hamster is that; due to the combination
of human and age factors. The hamsters will produce less GSP than in non-stressful
conditions and will eat a bare minimum of food.

II. PLANNING

Apparatus -

 1 Item to measure the weigh of feces and food

 Several used papers to store food
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  Pinchers to grab feces
 Standard lab safety equipment

Materials

 100 or so grams of food

 Two Hamsters
 Two Cages

Variables - include unit of measurements

 Independent variable – The Hamster

 Dependent variable- The environment the animal is in.
 Controlled variable – constant variable -DISPLAY IT IN A TABLE. Start with the most
important variables being measured first.
o Example:
Variable Why it needs to be controlled How is it controlled?
Amount of food per To have a unified dataset Determining if each cup
cup coming from a single common weighs more or less than
variable. 10g.

Methodology
Methods –
1. Prepare the food for the hamsters
2. Measure the food for the hamsters
3. Get two hamsters, one male and female
4. Prepare two cages for habitation
5. Feed each hamster 10 grams daily for 5 days
6. Measure the feces and food at the end of every day
7. Create a log of how much food was eaten, how much feces was produced.

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Sampling justification– justify your choice of sampling strategy you are using in your
experiment / survey/ secondary data.
Example: The survey is given out randomly to target respondents of 50 DP students and 50
MYP students. The division of respondents is clear and sample size is chosen based on the
time limit and available contacts. Random sampling strategy is chosen to ensure no biased
answer from group/ community.

Ethical Consideration/Risk Assessment – include a statement about the ethical and safety
concerns.

Example:

o Ethical concerns: Respect individual confidentiality, survey does not appeal

discriminatory ideals that are discomforting to moral values of respondents.

o Risk assessment: For hygiene and safety purposes, the person to carry out the experiment
should use lab coats and wash their hands throughout the process of watering the plants daily.

III. RESULT, ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

Data – organize your data in neat and easy to follow tables with appropriate titles, headings
and units. Constructs diagrams, charts or graphs of all relevant quantitative and/or
qualitative data appropriately. Consistently use of decimal places throughout.
Raw Data - Raw data should include quantitative (always!) and qualitative (usually
appropriate) data.
Quantitative Data – dealing with numbers
Example:
Table 1: Raw data of survey result
N DP student’s EVS N MYP student’s EVS
o Ecocentris Anthropocentri Technocentri O Ecocentris Anthropocentri Technocentri
m sm sm m sm sm

1 1
2 2

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 3 3
4 4
… …
3 3
0 0

Point accumulation
Table 2. EVS Classification results
No of Classification No of Classification
respondents E = eco, A=anthro, respondents E = eco, A=anthro, T=techno
T=techno

1 E 16 1 T 16
2 T ..
3 ET
.. T
15 30 15 30
Total Total
E= E=
A= A=
T= T=

Qualitative data – non-numerical observations, eg: include changes in colour, texture, size
etc . – for experiment

Processed Data - Data processing involves combining and manipulating raw data to
determine the value of a physical quantity (adding, subtracting, squaring, dividing), and
taking the average of several measurements and transforming the data into a form suitable
for the graphical representation. Statistical calculation is needed at least standard deviation.
Provide one sample of calculation.

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Example:
Table 3. Comparative data
EVS DP MYP
Ecocentric 12 8
Anthropocentric 3 10
Technocentric 15 12

Graphs
Think about why you are drawing your graph .... It should be a visual representation of the
data that allows you to answer the research question. Therefore it should look like the
sample below (figure 1).

x-axis = independent variable y-axis= dependent variable.

Graphs must have the following: title, appropriate scales, labeled axes with units,

Example: Figure 1. Average growth of Mung bean

Analysis - interpretation of the results, explain results using correct scientific reasoning
 Interpret your results in paragraph form by describing the trends of the graph,
patterns or relationships in the data so that a valid conclusion to the research
question is deduced.
 analyses the data correctly and completely so that all relevant patterns are
displayed.

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Conclusion - a paragraph explaining whether the experiment results supporting/opposing
your hypothesis (validity of the hypothesis stated). Refer back to the RQ, describe and justify
a clear conclusion which is relevant to the RQ and supported by your data.

You should start with restate your RQ followed by your analysis/argument supported by
correct scientific reasoning and cite your sources. Continue to explain whether the
experiment results supporting/opposing your hypothesis (validity of the hypothesis stated).

IV. DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION - 2-3 paragraphs, evaluate your conclusion connected to
the environmental issue and explaining the limitations of the method of doing the
experiment, strengths and weaknesses, suggestions for improvement (validity of the
method)
Evaluation of conclusion with Env. Issue - explained your results and conclusion using
accepted scientific background (eg. Outside sources); connect your conclusion to the
Environmental Issue discussed in the Context? Specify it.
Evaluation of Methodology – describe the validity of the method used
Strength and Weaknesses of methodology –state the strength and weaknesses that may
impact the conclusion reached (ex: difficulty in weighing the hamsters.)
Suggestion for weaknesses – suggest a realistic and relevant solution for weaknesses (ex:
use digital balance to weigh the hamsters).
Suggestion for methodology modification - what else can be done/ improvement for further
research

V. APPLICATION
Application to environmental issue – potential solution/ effort to the env issue that can be
made based on the result of experiment/ benefit of your experiment to society.
Strength and Weaknesses of application – describe the strengths and limitations of the
solution/effort given before.
Suggestion for weaknesses - suggest a realistic and relevant solution for weaknesses.

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VI. REFERENCES resources list, Harvard style
Example:
Bailey, J. (2018). Bowflex 10M Instructions. [online] LIVESTRONG.COM. Available at:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/300276-bowflex-10m-instructions/ [Accesed 23 July
2019.
Gallagher Fitness Resources. (2018). Factors Affecting Your Heart Rate – Gallagher Fitness
Resources. [online] Available at: https://activesalem.com/factors-affecting-heart-rate/
[Accessed 23 July 23, 2019].

Additional note for lab report/ IA:

Lab report will be assessed using the IA rubric which available in ESS text book page 404-408
Words count: minimum of 1.500 – 2.250 words long.
Excluded: data, table, graph, title/subtitle/headings/subheadings, references, appendix

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