Your assignment for this semester is to investigate a physiological topic of your choice through a scientifically designed experiment. You should choose a topic to which you will be able to apply the physiology learned in this semester; your lab and lecture instructors will be able to advise you about particular topics. For your first few labs, your goals are to become familiar with the lab equipment and to gather preliminary exploratory data. Our lab has a variety of equipment you can use, including:

• MacLabs and Transducers - these instruments allow you to measure up to four of the following at the same time:

Heart Rate and EKG
Heart Sounds
Skin Blood Flow
Chest Movements
Respiratory rate and volumes

• Metabolic Rate Balloons - these allow you to collect a subject's exhaled air and analyze its O2 and CO2 levels. They can be used for respiratory volume measurements or to calculate metabolic rate.

• Fat Calipers – these allow you to estimate a subject’s percent body fat

• Urine Measurements - we have the equipment to make the following measurements on human urine:

Volume
Protein levels

Density
Blood content
Glucose levels
Ketone levels
pH
Chloride levels (an estimate of Na+ levels)

• Nervous and Sensory Test - we can test the following:

color vision
touch sensitivity
reaction time
temperature sensitivity

INDEPENDENT LABORATORY PROJECT CRITERIA

Your laboratory project will consist of a written report (one report from each member of the group) and a group poster presentation and oral report to the class.

The goal of this project is for you to do reputable scientific research and write a paper in the scientific style. The reason for learning this style of writing is that you need it to be taken seriously in the science/health community. It is a style used to communicate with other professionals in your field.

You’ll find that all scientific research papers have the same format:

ABSTRACT – gives a brief summary of your project and its results.

INTRODUCTION - sets up the reason (justification) for the study, why the research is important, and presents your hypotheses and the reason for them. In this section, you should include information on how your work relates to work that has already been done. Properly cite at least three or four references.

METHODS AND MATERIALS - describes not only how you designed your experiment but what equipment you used and how you analyzed the results. Properly cite all software packages used.

RESULTS - discusses the results of your experiment in a narrative form, referring to tables, figures, and statistical analyses. It is not sufficient to state "the results of the experiment are listed in table I " for your results section (the results and discussion may be combined if desired).

In this section, think about making your results readable. Use averages instead of giant data tables; use graphs of the appropriate kind.

DISCUSSION* - this is the portion of the paper in which you may comment on what you think the results of your experiments mean. You may also comment on the problems (what didn't work) and successes (what worked) encountered in your experiment. It is very appropriate to also discuss what you would do differently, and why, if you had to conduct the research again. Suggestions and reasons for further research on the topic should also be included.

LITERATURE CITED - Using APA or CBE formats (your choice), list all references that you cited in the paper. Do not list references that you did not cite. References also should include all software packages used.

THE PAPER AND POSTER/ORAL REPORTS MUST ALSO:

Be written and presented at a suitable level for a scientifically literate audience (Meet Level 3 writing criteria).

Properly credit and cite scientific references.

Present/articulate information in a logical, clear (well organized), concise and complete manner.

Be typed and turned in on time - NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED. The deadline is noted in the syllabus.

Demonstrate attention and professionalism in preparation - spell checked and no typos - proofread!

Use tables, graphs and/or figures where (and if) appropriate to present results or to support arguments and statements.

Include appropriate statistical analysis of the data (your instructor will help you if needed)

Use visual aids in presentation (Pictures, Figures, Tables, Concept maps) to help illustrate points and maintain audience interest.

DO NOT READ THE PAPER TO AUDIENCE (oral report) - present information in a professional manner with little or no reliance on notes.

The paper and oral presentation represent a large component of your lab "grade", so please invest the time, energy, and work in the project. Your success in the course may be adversely affected by a poor lab project.