In Bart's experiment, the control group would be the group of mice that had not been exposed to microwaves. This group serves as a baseline to compare the results of the experiment.
The independent variable in Bart's experiment is the exposure to microwaves. It is the factor that Bart deliberately manipulates.
The dependent variable in this experiment is the ability of the mice to push away the heavy block of wood. It is the outcome that is measured and affected by the independent variable.
Based on the given information, Bart's conclusion could be that mice exposed to microwaves are slightly more likely to push the block of wood away compared to non-exposed mice. This conclusion is drawn from the higher percentage (8 out of 10) of microwaved mice being able to complete the task compared to the non-microwaved mice (7 out of 10).
To improve Bart's experiment, there are a few suggestions:
1. Increase the sample size: 10 mice in each group is a relatively small sample size. Increasing the number of mice in each group would provide more reliable and statistically significant results.
2. Control for other variables: It is important to ensure that both groups of mice are similar in all other aspects except for the exposure to microwaves. This can be achieved by randomly assigning the mice to the groups and keeping the conditions consistent for both groups.
3. Increase exposure time: 10 seconds of exposure might not be sufficient to accurately test the effect of microwaves on the mice. Bart could consider increasing the exposure time or trying different durations to observe the potential impact.
4. Add a placebo group: In addition to the control and experimental groups, Bart could include a placebo group. This group would consist of mice exposed to a fake or inactive treatment (e.g., simulated microwave exposure) to account for any potential placebo effects or other variables.
By implementing these improvements, Bart's experiment will yield a more robust and reliable conclusion.