Scientific Method Lab – Senses
Do not write on this sheet!
Directions: For this lab you will need to do a lab write up on a separate sheet of paper. The write up will
graded as follows: Title (2pts), Date (1pts), Purpose (2pts), Hypothesis (2pts), Materials (2pts), Procedure
(3pts), Data (8pts), Analysis (4pts), and Conclusion (4pts)
Procedure:
1. In your lab groups come up with a hypothesis based on which sense you fill will have the fastest
reaction time.
2. Organize your lab group into roles: Dropper, Catcher, and Recorder. The student who is catching the
ruler will repeat the experiment 4 times for each of the 3 senses (touch, sight, sound).
3. The student, who is dropping the ruler, holds the top part of the ruler vertical at the 80cm mark. The two
fingers holding the ruler are closest to the edge of the ruler. The student, who is catching the ruler, puts
the top of their index finger at the 0cm mark and their thumb on the other side of the ruler. This lets the
student to grab or pinch the ruler.
4. The catching student has their fingers close to the ruler, BUT NOT TOUCHING IT! Once the other
student drops the ruler, the catcher tries to catch the ruler with their same fingers. The highest point
where the catching student’s index finger is should be recorded in the data table.
5. Sight. The catcher puts their fingers on the 0cm mark again. The dropper drops the ruler without any
cutes. The catcher tries to grab the ruler once it is dropped. Record the results. Repeat 3 times.
6. Sound. The catcher puts their finger back at the 0cm mark and closes his/her eyes. The student who
drops the ruler says “now” and drops the ruler at the same time. Once the catcher hears “now”, they try
to grab the ruler. Record the results. Repeat 3 times.
7. Touch. The catcher puts their fingers back at the 0cm mark and closes his/her eyes. The student who
drops the ruler taps the catcher on the arm and drops the ruler at the same time. Once the catcher’s arm
is touched, they tri to grab the ruler. Record the results. Repeat 3 times.
8. Find the averages of all your times.
Data Table (EXAMPLE): DO NOT WRITE IN THIS DATA TABLE
(YOUR TABLE WILL BE LARGER THAN THIS!!!!!)
Trial
Sight
Sound
Touch
Extension –
Cell Phone
1
2
3
4
Avg.
Analysis:
1. What were the independent variable(s) used in this experiment?
2. What was the dependent variable in this experiment?
Conclusion:
1. In your conclusion section state what your can conclude based on your data. Also, accept or decline you
hypothesis using your data as support for your answer. Also state anything else you observed or learned
here.
Extension
1. Design an experiment to test what causes leaves to fall in autumn (light, temperature, or both).