Experiments
History and Methods
Psychology
Mr. Aiello
Experiments
Over the next several days, we will be conducting, writing up, and discussing a series of relatively
simple psychology experiments. Please follow the directions, and ask questions of Mr. Aiello if
you are unsure of the directions. Please stay on the task that is assigned, and avoid the temptation to
observe others. You will get a chance to do all of the different experiments. It is very important
that you do not vary the order of the different tasks within an individual experiment.
Correlational Study
1. Get a partner and take a large number chart (Card A, B, C, D, E, or F). One person says out
loud and points to each of the numbers from 10 to 59, stating both the number and the color in
which the number is printed. Record their time (convert minutes into seconds). Do not add
time for errors, but pay attention and catch their mistakes so they have to find the correct
number.
2. Find out how many individual, caffeinated drinks your partner consumes in a typical week.
Consider an individual drink to be a typical single-serving coffee, soda (16 – 20 oz.), or tea. A
“Big Gulp” or similar 32 oz. or larger drink counts as two caffeinated drinks.
3. Exchange roles, get a different number chart, and repeat.
4. Place your data on the data sheet on the board.
___________
___________
(your time)
(partner’s time)
5. After all students have put their data on the sheet, Mr. Aiello will give you a copy of the scores.
You will then need to make a scattergram with ‘time in seconds’ and ‘number of caffeinated
drinks’ as the two axes. Then plot 20 points on your scattergram. Juniors should plot junior
scores, seniors plot senior scores. Estimate the numerical correlation for your graph.
Stroop Effect
1. Number off as a 1, 2, or 3 and remember your number.
2. With your partner (it does not matter what number they are), pick up the appropriate card (1, 2,
or 3). On one card (the Color Cards), you will see colored lines, on another card (the Color
Number Cards) you will see numbers spelled out, and on the other card (the Color Name Cards)
you will see the names of colors. All of these will be printed in red, green, yellow, or blue. For
all cards, you are to say out loud the color of the print. Each card has the same number of color
entries. Your goal is to say all of the colors as quickly and accurately as possible. Your partner
will time you and pay attention for mistakes. Use this order for the cards, based upon your #.
1’s – color card, color number card, color name card
2’s – color number card, color name card, color card
3’s – color name card, color card, color number card
3. Switch roles, remembering to follow your partner’s correct order.
Your Time in Seconds
Partner’s Time
Color card
Color number card
Color name card
4.
Think about and discuss the following questions with your partner:
A. What do you believe is the hypothesis of the experiment?
B. What is the independent variable? Dependent variable?
C. What are two significant variables that were controlled? Two variables not controlled?
Experiments
History and Methods
Psychology
Mr. Aiello
Olfaction
1. ONLY ONE PERSON AT A TIME AT THIS STATION!
2. Without making much noise or sharing your thoughts and feelings, take bottle #1, take the top
off, bring the bottle up near your noise, and smell.
3. Try to figure out the smell, and write down the name of the smell, and then any memories or
descriptions that come into your mind.
4. Repeat for each of the remaining bottles.
Name of smell
Memory or image description
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Conclusions – Thinking about your sense of smell, what conclusions can you make about the
perception process and memory.
Weight Illusion
1. There are six white cans of varying size (diameter & height). The diameter and height of the
cans are:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Diameter
4”
3-1/2”
3-1/2”
3”
2-1/2”
5”
4”
Height
7”
3-1/2”
3-1/2”
4-1/2”
5”
6-1/2”
7”
2. Your task is to estimate the weights of these cans. You should use CAN A as the standard can,
which weighs 200 grams. You may hold the standard can in one hand and any other can in the
other hand, but you may not hold two comparison cans at the same time.
3. Write the letter of the can under the weight that you believe it to be.
100 grams
150 grams
200 grams
250 grams
300 grams
4. Think about and discuss the following questions with your partner:
A. What do you believe is the hypothesis of the experiment?
B. What variables are being measured?
C. What variable is being manipulated?
D. What variables have been controlled?
350 grams