Question

We are planning an experiment to see whether the new pet food is safe for dogs to eat. In this experiment, how will you implement the principles of control, randomization, and replication?

a) By ensuring the same breed of dogs is used for both foods.
b) By assigning dogs randomly to the two food groups.
c) By repeating the experiment with different sets of dogs.
d) By using only one group of dogs for the test.

Answer 1

To ensure control, randomization, and replication in a pet food safety experiment, dogs should be randomly assigned to two groups (randomization), and the experiment should be repeated with different sets of dogs (replication). A control group is also necessary for comparison.

Step-by-step explanation:

To implement the principles of control, randomization, and replication in an experiment testing whether new pet food is safe for dogs, you would use the following approaches:

• b) By assigning dogs randomly to the two food groups. This ensures that any systematic differences between the groups are minimized and that the assignment of each dog to a group is based on chance, reflecting the principle of randomization.
• c) By repeating the experiment with different sets of dogs. This addresses the principle of replication, which ensures that the results of the experiment are consistent and not due to random chance or a particular sample of dogs.
• Additionally, to apply the principle of control, you would need to establish a control group that does not receive the new food and compare it with the experimental group that does, observing any differences that may arise from the new food.