Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My question is regarding the Now You See It, Now You Don't! Test Your Peripheral Vision posted on Science Buddies’ website. My daughter and I are not clear, probably more confused on the testing procedures. It says to test the subject 3 times per object and record the data at first detection of an object, color detection and shape detection. We were going to repeat the experiment with different sized objects, then with dim light and lastly gently shaking each object. My question regarding this is weather the subject being tested should have 9 readings for each object and then 3 averages each time the experiment is repeated with the variations? Also when testing different people to determine the influence of age, gender, eye color and color blindness, do you test each one of these subjects with the regular sized objects, then the different sized objects, with dim light and gently shaking each object? Please help direct us in the right direction. This is my daughter's first science fair project and mine in 26 years.

Hi,

Sorry it took a few days for us to get to your question--sometimes it confuses the experts when someone posts a new problem in an old topic.

It sounds to me like you are considering too many variables in your project. If you want to consider size, light conditions, presentation of object (shaking/no shaking), age, gender, eye color and color blindness all at once, you end up doing a LOT of tests.

If I may suggest something, if you do want to look at all these different factors, consider keeping many of them controlled instead of trying to look at all the different combinations. For example, do one experiment with size, keeping light conditions and presentation of object along with age, gender, etc. constant. Later, pick one shape, lighting condition, and presentation type to look at the effects of age or eye color.

For each combination of size/lighting/age/etc., you do indeed need to take at least three different measurements (I would actually suggest 6) and average them. You should also present them randomly if you can, so the person can't guess what size, etc. you are using.

If this is your first science fair in a long time, I would really consider starting simple. Do just the experiment with size on a group of students (or whichever experiment she's most interested in), and THEN if your daughter is still interested, do light conditions, and then presentation, etc. I suspect that once she realizes how much work it will be, she will be less interested in doing some of the other tests...and this way, she won't burn out before she gets good data on at least one of her ideas.

Science Buddies has some good information that will help you go through the entire science fair process. I highly recommend taking a look at it: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... l?From=Tab

Let us know if you have any other questions!