When the assignment is completed the cards can be donated to the pet store and displayed, or donated to local Head Start programs and other educational institutions. Handout 1 provides an example of a Petscope card worksheet. The study of fish Various species of fish are available in pet stores. Students can be divided in small groups and assigned a tank. Students can use this response to study whether fish respond to stimuli paired with feeding and to see whether time of day or the introduction of novel stimuli inhibit feeding.
Students can also observe responses to new situations or novel stimuli.
Depending on the research question asked and the abilities of the students, research methods can range from recording numbers of animals to the creation of behavioral profiles for various species. After conducting a project, students should have a general understanding of the comparative approach and the importance of animal research. Moreover, students will have learned observational and data recording techniques. If Petscope cards are created, students will have exposure to CD-ROM based databases and other library resources. Moreover, they will have developed writing skills and graphic design skills.