Human Ethology Exercise Biology 202 (15 Points) revised Nov 30, 2011
Read the handout “Mechanisms of Behavior” (Web site) which can serve as the basis of your experiment. You are not being asked to replicate the experiment, but to consider the procedures. To better understand the function of the autonomic nervous system read Hickman et al (2011: 741-742). Work in groups of at most four but submit individual papers. See also “Format for laboratory Reports” (Web site) so you will submit a proper predictive hypothesis as well as meaningful Methods and Materials and Results sections.
The paper you are to turn in should have a title (with name and date below), a clearly stated predictive hypothesis. A statement like “music will cause a change in heart rate” is a terrible hypothesis because it is not predictive. In addition you need to include a Methods and Materials section that will provide enough information for your reader to replicate the experiment and a Results section. Here you should present your data and refer to any tables or figures that are appropriate. No table or figure stands alone and is meaningless unless it is referred to in the text of the paper and has an informative caption. Tables contain reduced data. You may choose to tally your data, express as percentages, or averages with ranges.
Other project ideas. Remember: Each study starts with a predictive hypothesis.
1) The average adult American now encounters some 3000 advertisements every day.
(“You are what you buy.” Oct 2000. Smithsonian 31(7): 104). Organize a study to test this statement.
2) “According to the Surgeon General, obesity is officially an epidemic. It is arguably the most pressing public health problem we face, costing the health care system an estimated $90 billion a year. Three of every five Americans are overweight; one of every five is obese.” (Pollan, M. 2006. The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Pg 101-102)
Organize a study to test whether or not 20% of Americans are obese.
3) Designer clothes are quite popular. Which label is the most popular? Is the preference age related? Sex related? Ethnically related? Geographically related? Economically related? Organize a study to test this.
4) News media recently reported that Kern County has the highest concentration of “fast food” restaurants in California. Where would you predict the concentration is greatest in Bakersfield? Organize a study to test this statement.
5) The rear light on Gobalet’s bicycle has three different flashing modes. Which of these is the most visible to nighttime vehicular traffic? Organize a study to test this statement.
6) Empty aluminum soda or beer cans are extraordinarily lightweight. How much weight do you think a can is able to support? Organize a study to test this.
7) Overweight people are more likely to drink diet sodas. Organize a study to test this hypothesis.
8) “Organic” foods are making considerable headway into mainstream eating habits of Americans. Does organic produce taste better than conventionally grown produce?
How about organically grown milk or poultry? Organize a study to test this hypothesis.
9) Hand held cell phones are implicated in auto accidents because of driver inattention to actual driving. How many drivers still use hand held cell phones while driving? Organize a study to make a determination.
10) How many consumers of bottled water actually know the source of the water they are purchasing? How many know that bottled water is less regulated than tap water? How many know that it takes up to 2,000 times more energy to provide bottled water than tap water. Select one or more of these questions (or better yet, create your own), formulate an hypothesis and test it.