Question

an experiment is to be conducted using diatomaceous earth to study its effectiveness in killing fleas from household lawns because it is environmentally safe. the diatomaceous earth will be spread around the perimeter of the container with the fleas and will be spread on the entire bottom of the other container with the fleas. the researchers will determine the adverse reaction of the fleas to the diatomaceous earth by counting the number of dead fleas in each container after one hour. there are 100 fleas available for the experiment, and the researchers will use 50 fleas for each container of diatomaceous earth. for this experiment, identify the treatments, experimental unit, and response variable.
treatments: number of dead fleas
experimental unit: placement of diatomaceous earth
response variable: fleas

treatments: fleas
experimental unit: number of dead fleas
response variable: placement of diatomaceous earth

treatments: placement of the diatomaceous earth
experimental unit: fleas
response variable: number of dead fleas

treatments: placement of the diatomaceous earth
experimental unit: number of dead fleas
response variable: fleas

treatments: number of dead fleas
experimental unit: fleas
response variable: placement of diatomaceous earth

Explanation:

• Treatments are the conditions being tested: here, the two different placements of diatomaceous earth (perimeter vs. entire bottom).
• Experimental units are the objects the treatments are applied to: in this case, the groups of fleas (50 fleas per container).
• The response variable is what is measured to assess treatment effect: the number of dead fleas after one hour.

Answer:

Treatments: placement of the diatomaceous earth
Experimental unit: fleas
Response variable: number of dead fleas