Experimental vs observational
Distinguish experimental from observational studies and choose the right design and sample size.
Study design decision: experimental vs. observational classification with justification, plus a sample-size estimate and rationale for the Wednesday lab.
- 1Do thisDistinguish experimental from observational studies and choose the right design and sample size.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisPre-lab: Study design decision: experimental vs. observational classification with justification, plus a sample-size estimate and rationale for the Wednesday lab.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Biotechnology for Health (Biomedical Innovations) › Experimental vs observational studies, sample size, graphing, mean, SD, t-test purpose. › Pre-labOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: Choosing the wrong study design before you collect data can make the data uninterpretable -- design decisions made now lock in what you will be able to conclude.
- 0-10Compare experimental and observational definitions with concrete physiology examples
- 10-25Classify three provided example studies as experimental or observational, with justification
- 25-45Decide which design fits your physiology question and write a one-paragraph justification
- 45-60Estimate a reasonable sample size and justify it in terms of expected variation
- 60-75Submit your design choice and sample-size rationale
- 75-80Exit check: could someone replicate your study design from your written description alone?
- • Yesterday you debated data ethics. Today you decide how you will actually design your study.
- • The two big questions are: experimental or observational? And how many trials?
- • Getting these decisions right before Wednesday's lab determines whether your data will be interpretable.
- • Study-design fluency is tested in the Molecular and Genetic Technology strand of WebXam 072125.
- 1Compare definitions of experimental and observational studies.
- 2Classify three example studies as experimental or observational.
- 3Decide which design fits your physiology question and why.
- 4Estimate a reasonable sample size and justify it.
- 5Submit your design choice and sample-size rationale.
- • You can classify a study as experimental or observational.
- • You can justify a sample size for your design.
- • The defining difference between an experimental study (manipulated independent variable) and an observational study (no manipulation).
- • How to match a study design to a specific physiology question.
- • Why sample size affects both the reliability of results and the plausibility of your conclusions.
Your PLTW work today
Experimental vs observational studies, sample size, graphing, mean, SD, t-test purpose. · Experimental vs observational
Day 2 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open Problem 2 in your myPLTW course shell and locate the study-design or experimental-design activity to review the expected format.
Mark the study-design activity complete in your tracker after submitting your design choice and sample-size rationale.
The data-ethics CER is done; by end of today your experimental vs. observational design choice and sample-size rationale should be submitted.
Written study design choice with justification and a sample-size estimate and rationale for the Wednesday lab.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Experimental vs observational studies, sample size, graphing, mean, SD, t-test purpose. · Experimental vs observational
Open Problem 2 in your myPLTW course shell and locate the study-design or experimental-design activity to review the expected format.
The data-ethics CER is done; by end of today your experimental vs. observational design choice and sample-size rationale should be submitted.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Distinguish experimental from observational studies and choose the right design and sample size.
- Compare definitions of experimental and observational studies.
- Classify three example studies as experimental or observational.
- Decide which design fits your physiology question and why.
- Estimate a reasonable sample size and justify it.
- Submit your design choice and sample-size rationale.
Pre-lab: Study design decision: experimental vs. observational classification with justification, plus a sample-size estimate and rationale for the Wednesday lab.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Compare definitions of experimental and observational studies. | _______ |
| Classify three example studies as experimental or observational. | _______ |
| Decide which design fits your physiology question and why. | _______ |
| Estimate a reasonable sample size and justify it. | _______ |
| Submit your design choice and sample-size rationale. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You can classify a study as experimental or observational.
- You can justify a sample size for your design.
Teacher-posted resources
Classroom documents for this lesson. Ones marked “Open the file” open right here; the rest are posted in Schoology. Use the label on each card to choose the right move.
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Human physiology data and research design by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-2_Human-Physiology/2.1_Human-Physiology; keywords:physiology, research design. Score 142. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Human physiology data and research design by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-2_Human-Physiology/2.1_Human-Physiology; keywords:physiology, research design. Score 142. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Human physiology data and research design by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-2_Human-Physiology/00_Problem-Overview; keywords:physiology, research design. Score 138. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
How to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your Pre-lab.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
Khan Academy Statistics and Probability- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Thu, Feb 25, 2027 · Experimental vs observational here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project