Using the Scientific Method to Learn More About Your Lifestyle
This week we are studying metabolism in Chapter 19. We are going to take some of what you are learning and apply it to your own lifestyle using the scientific method. You will be collecting data (all food consumption ) over a 3-day time period. You will then analyze your collected data so you can make some recommended improvements to your current eating habits and activity.
You will submit your completed assignment in the form of a lab report. The lab report will explain what you did in your experiment, what you learned, and what the results mean.
1. Watch the following video:
In this video, you will learn the difference between BMR (basal metabolic rate) and RMR (resting metabolic rate).
2. You will calculate your own RMR and then estimate your daily caloric burn using the lifestyle factor discussed in the video.
3. Track your food and drink consumption for 3 days using one of the following websites or an app of your own choosing:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-food-calorie-counter
4. Calculate your total caloric intake for each day and then get an average for the days you track (at least 3, but the more the better).
5. Compare your average daily caloric intake to your RMR/lifestyle number.
6. Submit in lab report format (see below and separate link for the format) in the L16 link by May 8th.
Title page
Name, Date, and Title for Lab
The title should be brief but descriptive.
An example of titles for this activity might be: “Recommendations for Altering Habits in Order to Lose Weight” or “A Three-Day Study of the Caloric Intake and Expenditures of a Busy College Student”.
Introduction/Purpose
Usually, the introduction will have one paragraph that explains the objectives or purpose of the lab. Each person’s purpose might be slightly different. It could be to study the number of calories consumed; to determine metabolic needs based on current lifestyle patterns; or, it could be to study diet and lifestyle patterns to determine what changes need to be made in order to lose weight.
As part of your intro, you should also include one sentence to state the hypothesis (what you think will happen in your study). Remember, a hypothesis should be written as an if/then statement—review the scientific method section in chapter 1 and/or the lab from week 2 or use the resource below.
https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/hypotheses/
Finally, your introduction must contain background information related to the investigation. You should include information like recommended caloric intake, recommended amounts of physical activity, the importance of a balanced diet, etc. Again, your background information will be specific to the purpose of the study (be sure to reference this–at least 2 references are required).
Materials and Methods
List everything needed to complete this activity—this will include whatever app you use to record food data.
Describe the steps you completed during your investigation. This is your procedure. Be sufficiently detailed that anyone could read this section and duplicate your experiment. Write it as if you were giving directions for someone else to do the lab.
Data and Results
This section will include the following:
3-day logs of your food/drink consumption. Please make sure those logs are complete.
Your RMR calculation (show work)
Your RMR/Lifestyle factor calculation (show work)
A calories in (what you consumed) vs calories out (RMR/lifestyle estimate) chart for 3 days
Conclusions/Analysis
The Data section contains the information you collected and your summary charts. The Analysis section is where you interpret the data and determine whether or not a hypothesis was accepted. This is also where you would discuss any mistakes you might have made while conducting the investigation. You may wish to describe ways the study might have been improved.
This can be a paragraph or two that sums up what happened in the experiment, whether your hypothesis was accepted or rejected, and what this means/what you learned–it may seem a bit redundant but you want to summarize here.
Be sure to answer address these questions.
What does your data tell you?
What would this mean if you continued with this pattern?
Would you likely gain, lose or maintain your current weight?
Bibliography
Any material you used in your introduction for background information or anything you might have used to support your conclusions should be cited here. Please use APA style.
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