Design an experiment that determines whether rats can see in colour.

An experiment should enable the rat to respond to colour and any response to be measured.  A good answer may involve food as a link between the colour stimulus and behaviour.  A set-up may involve placing two bowls of differing colours (i.e. pink and blue) in a rectangular cage.  A rat would be allowed to enter the cage through a door.  If the rat approaches the pink bowl, the bowl will be filled with food.  If the rat approaches the blue bowl it will get nothing.  By alternating the position of the bowls and determining the frequency of the rats approaching each, we can determine whether rats can see in colour.  For example, if the rats approach the pink bowl 90% of the time then it is reasonable to assume the rats can see in colour.  This is based on the assumption that if the rat can see in colour, it will approach the bowl where it is most likely to be rewarded with food.

Description of an experiment may lead to discussion of the choice of colours used for the experiment, the influence of chance and why colour vision may be useful to the rat.