Animal Behavior: An Independent
Research Project
Student Instructions
Purpose
You have read many examples of carrying out biologically valid experiments. You have
also conducted some smaller experiments, and have interpreted your data into meaningful
conclusions. The purpose of this project is to allow you to apply what you've learned in
an animal behavior study of your choice. You will model your study after the way animal
research is conducted by research scientists.
Objectives
1. Identify a testable question about animal behavior, and make a hypothesis about
its answer.
2. Design and carry out an experiment to test the hypothesis.
3. Collect and organize data.
4. Draw valid conclusions.
5. Present your study at a scientific poster session.
6. Model the process of animal research, as conducted by research scientists.
7. Understand the significance of grants and publishing in the scientific community.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
You are a research scientist in the Comparative Medicine department at the local
university. You are paid 10% of your salary by the university for your teaching duties,
but all of your money for research (including the other 90% of your salary) comes from
grants (money provided by a separate agency for a specific research project). It is time to
begin thinking about the next experiment you'd like to do. You will need to write a grant,
submit it for approval, carry out your experiment, and report your results to the scientific
community.
This project will take 10-12 weeks to complete. To keep it manageable, it has been
broken down into a series of tasks. The due dates are listed with Animal Behavior Red
listed first, then Animal Behavior Blue. If there is only one date, both classes have that
due date. There is nothing that says that you can’t hand in something before the due date
in order to insure success
Task 1: Decide whether you would like to work independently on this project, or with a
research partner. Choose your partner carefully, as you will need to work together
closely, meeting regularly outside of school hours to conduct your research.
DUE DATE: March 30th
Task 2: Choose an animal you are interested in researching. The animal must be easily
available, and supplied by you. Research the animal, using the "Animal Info Sheet” to
record your findings. Consider possible questions you are interested in answering about
its behavior. You will be writing these down later.
DUE DATE: (1 per research team) April 6th / April 7th
Task 3: It's been awhile since you've used animals in your research. You need to refresh
your memory about how animal research is conducted in the research community. A
guest speaker will be teaching you how to comply with the laws protecting research
animals, typical animal research practices, etc. Prepare a list of at least 10 questions you
would like to ask the speaker. These could be general questions you have about animal
research, or specific questions about the experiment you have in mind.
DUE DATE: (1 per researcher) April 4th
Task 4: Look back at your Animal Info Sheet. You should now be familiar with the
animal, and hopefully curious about some of its behavior. Make a list of at least 20
testable, clearly written questions you have about the animal's behavior. Put a line
through any questions that are not testable with the equipment and/or time you have
available. Of the remaining questions, circle the one you wish to focus on for your study.
Show your question to a classmate (not your research partner), and have them evaluate
your question for its clearness and testibility. Rewrite (and reword, if necessary) your
question on the back of your paper.
DUE DATE: (1 per research team) April 10th
Task 5: Design a procedure for how you will experimentally find the answer to your
question. Make sure your experiment is controlled and thorough. Since you will be using
animals in your research, you will need to gain approval from the university's Animal
Care Committee (ACC). Complete the "Animal Care Committee Project Application.”
Be sure to review the criteria by which the Animal Care Committee will review your
application listed on the "Animal Care Committee Review Form”
DUE DATE: (1 per research team) April 12th /April 13th
Task 6: Now that your study has been approved by the ACC, you have decided to seek
funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a federal agency that funds many
biomedical research projects. Complete the “NIH Grant Proposal" form. Submit your
proposal to the teacher, who will represent NIH. Be sure to review the criteria by which
your NIH proposal will be reviewed, listed on the “NIH Grant Proposal Review Form”
DUE DATE: (1 per research team) April 28th
Task 7: Once your study has been funded, you're set to go! Carry out your experiment
over the next five weeks. Record your data carefully. Write a conclusion/discussion
explaining your results.
DUE DATE: (1 per research team) May 30th
Task 8: It's time to share your results with the rest of the scientific community. You will
be presenting your study at the regional Animal Behavior Poster Session. Use the
"Scientific Poster Guidelines” as you prepare your poster. Your presentation will be
graded according to the "Animal Behavior Study Poster Session Grading Sheet.”
DUE DATE: (1 per research team) June 12th/ June 13th
Task 9: Congratulations! You have just completed your very own animal behavior study.
As a scientist, your chance of getting future research grants depends on how many papers
you have had published in scientific journals. Only exceptional research will be
published. If your work was exceptional, it will be "published" at a public location of
your choice. Nice work!
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant Proposal
Name of
researcher(s)
Title of Project
Grant proposals must follow strict guidelines to be considered for approval. Type your
proposal on a separate sheet of paper, according to the following criteria.
I. Abstract
This is a one-paragraph summary of your research plan. Briefly explain the question you
will attempt to answer, your hypothesis, your procedure, and the significance of your
study.
II. Budget
Since your "funding" for this project will be a grade, instead of money, you must ask for
the number of points you expect your project to be worth. The maximum number of
points for a project is 200. Asking for a certain number of points does not guarantee that
you will earn them. You are simply setting an expectation for the quality of work you
plan to do. Consider the following guidelines:
200 points All sections of the project completed on time.
All work thorough and scientifically valid.
Poster neat and well-organized.
Presenter prepared, handles questions well.
150 points Most sections of project complete.
Work fair, but lacks detail and thoroughness.
Poster looks hastily completed.
Presenter presents well, but cannot handle questions
100 points Several sections of project incomplete.
Work poor, sections brief, conclusions invalid.
Poster poorly organized, unprofessional.
Presenter not prepared, cannot handle questions.
Record the number of points you would like to earn, and a justification for why you
chose this point value.
Purpose
Again, state your purpose for this study. Explain why you have chosen to study this
particular problem.
Hypothesis
Explain what you think the results of your study are going to show. Give the background
information that supports your hypothesis. Also explain what experimental results will
support your hypothesis, and what experimental results will disprove your hypothesis.
Methods and Procedures
Outline your procedure step-by-step. Your description should be detailed enough so that
another scientist could repeat your experiment. Be very clear, leaving no chance for your
words to be misinterpreted. If your procedure is not thorough, does not test your
hypothesis, or does not include a control group, your grant will not be funded.
Data
Describe what kind of data you will collect, and how this data will help answer your
research question. Include all charts, tables and/or graphs you will use to record your
data. A good data table is organized and requires minimal writing.
Significance
Explain why this study is meaningful and/or necessary.
NIH Grant Proposal Review Form
Name of
researcher(s)
Project title
Rating of Proposal Components
Rating (check one rating on each row)
Component
Inadequate
Satisfactory
Budget
Overall
Objective
Hypothesis
Methods &
Procedure
Data
Significance
Your grant proposal has been:
Approved
Denied
Good
Very
Good
Excellent
Scientific Poster Guidelines
A poster is often used to convey scientific information in an easy to read format for
public viewing. Your poster must:
1. be large enough to be read from a distance. Use butcher or poster paper.
2. be neat and organized. If possible, use a computer to keep the writing legible and
professional-looking.
3. contain physical evidence of your research project. Consider photographs of your
research animals, apparatus, results, etc. If appropriate, bring in your apparatus for
display.
4. contain the following sections:
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Title of project
Name of researcher(s)
Abstract: This is a one-paragraph summary of your research. Briefly explain the
question you attempted to answer, your hypothesis, your procedure, and the
significance of your study. (You may revise the abstract from your NIH Grant
Proposal).
Purpose: Again, state your purpose for this study. Explain why you have chosen
to study this particular problem.
Hypothesis: Explain what you thought the results of your study were going to
show. Give the background information that supported your hypothesis.
Methods and Procedures: Explain your procedure, step-by-step, using enough
detail so that your experiment could be repeated by another scientist. Be sure to
indicate your control group.
Data: Display your data using charts, tables and/or graphs. Choose the format that
most clearly displays your results.
Conclusion: Summarize the data, and explain what it means, in terms of
answering your original question. Based on your knowledge of biology, discuss
why you think you got these results, and what implications your research
suggests. Describe any experimental error that may have affected your results,
and what you would do differently if you were to repeat this experiment. Suggest
follow-up research projects for further study.
For your presentation, prepare a 5 minute oral summary of your research, which you will
present to small groups of scientists/evaluators. Be prepared to answer questions about
your study. Dress professionally.
Poster Grading Sheet
Name of researcher(s)
Name of evaluator
Points
Criteria (Each criteria is worth a maximum of 10 points)
Awarded
Poster is large enough to be read from a distance.
Poster is neat and organized.
Poster contains physical evidence of research.
Title indicates topic of study.
Poster includes name of researcher(s).
Abstract is one-paragraph, and includes purpose, hypothesis, procedure,
and significance of study.
Purpose includes question being investigated, and why this question was
chosen.
Hypothesis gives expected results of study, and supporting background
information.
Procedure is detailed and clear.
Procedure includes a control group.
Procedure tests the researcher's hypothesis.
Data is present in the form of an easily interpreted chart, table and/or
graph.
Data collected gives information to help answer the original question.
Conclusion summarizes data, and answers the original question.
Results have scientific explanation.
Experimental error is addressed.
Conclusion explains what researcher would do differently in subsequent
study.
Presenter is dressed professionally.
Presenter is prepared, and handles questions well.
Overall quality of study is excellent.
TOTAL POINTS EARNED (200 possible)
Comments:
Grading Scale:
A=180-200
B=160-179
C=140-159
D=120-139
F=0-119
Animal Info Sheet
Name of Researcher(s)
Genus, species and
common name of
animal to be used
Book Research
The purpose of this research is to familiarize you with the needs of the animal so that you
can adequately care for it during your experiment. Use general books on animal behavior,
magazines such as National Geographic, Scientific American, and Field and Stream,
and/or the Internet to gather the following information about the animal you wish to
research.
Answer the following questions on an attached sheet of paper, under the heading "Book
Research."
1. Describe the habitat of the animal (preferred environment, temperature,
moisture level, light, etc.)
2. Describe the animal's feeding habits (What does it eat? What time? How
often? How much?)
3. Provide any other interesting information you find.
Observational Research
The purpose of observational research is to get to know the animal you wish to study in
its natural habitat. Careful observation will help you formulate interesting questions you
may wish to research.
Observe several animals in their natural habitat for a minimum of 30 minutes. It is a good
idea to observe the animals at different times of the day, if possible. A better knowledge
of your animal will lead to a better and more meaningful experiment.
Answer the following questions on an attached sheet, under the heading "Observational
Research."
1.
2.
3.
4.
List several physical differences between individual animals.
List several behavioral differences between individual animals.
Describe how the animal moves.
List any interesting behaviors you observe.
Animal Care Committee Project Application
Name of researcher(s)
Project Title
Genus, species and common name of
animal to be used
Answer the following questions on an attached sheet of paper.
1. How many animals will you be using? Why? (Consider both the need to
conserve animals and the need for statistical significance.)
2. Why is it necessary to use live animals for your study?
3. Where will you obtain your animals?
4. Describe the proposed animal care. Include: a) Cage size, b) Number of
animals per cage, c)Temperature range of room where animals are to be
kept, d) Frequency of feeding and water, e) Frequency of cleaning cage, f)
Type of bedding to be used, g) Where animals will be housed.
5. What will you do with your animals when the study is over?
6. Why is your study meaningful and/or necessary?
7. Attach a typed, detailed description of your experiment. Begin with a oneparagraph summary of what you plan to do and why. Include the question
you are attempting to answer with your study. Then list your exact
procedure step by step. If the animals in your study may experience more
than slight pain or distress, you must provide justification for why this is
necessary.
I certify that this Project Review Form accurately describes all aspects of the
proposed animal usage. I accept responsibility that all personnel working on the
project will adhere to the regulations regarding the humane treatment of
laboratory animals. I will obtain approval prior to instituting any significant
changes in the project. I understand that the approval is not final until I receive
notification of such in writing, and that the Animal Care Committee can require
changes to the procedure.
(Signature of applicant)
(Signature of co-applicant, if appropriate)
Animal Care Committee Project Review Form
Name of researcher(s)
Project title
Answer the following questions on an attached sheet of paper. For each question, provide
comments.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Is the number of animals to be used appropriate? Please comment.
Is the use of live animals necessary for this study? Please comment.
Is the proposed care of the animals appropriate? Please comment.
Is this study meaningful and/or necessary? Please comment.
Is the procedure detailed and clearly understandable? Will it provide data
to answer the research question? Will the animals suffer unnecessary pain
or distress? Please comment.
We certify that we have read and discussed the attached Project Review
Application. We recommend this project be (check one):
Approved
Denied
Approved with the following changes:
Animal Care Committee members' signatures