1. THE QUICKER PICKER UPPER Purpose: To investigate how science works To demonstrate the process by which we can solve problems To demonstrate knowledge of correct lab report format

2. You have all probably seen the television commercial touting one paper towel as the “Quicker Picker Upper”.

3. Your assignment is to prove if this statement is correct by comparing various brands of paper towels. Your first task, however, should be to decide what the phrase “Quicker Picker Upper” means.

4. There are various interpretations of this phrase and no two lab groups may have the same idea. After your lab group has decided on its interpretation, you should collectively develop a problem statement, hypothesis, and an experimental design.

5. The emphasis here (and probably the most difficult part of this investigation) is to limit the variables. There are many factors that come into play when trying to determine “the quicker picker upper”. Your job is to limit the variables to ONE while controlling for the others

6. Once your group has developed an experimental design, decide what kind of data will be collected and how it will be collected.

7. Once your results have been established you are now ready to write your lab report: Paragraph I – Introduction with problem statement, background information, and hypothesis. Paragraph II – Materials and methods including dependent and independent variables and control. Paragraph III – Data Paragraph IV – Conclusion and error analysis

8. Safety issues: None Materials: Provided