The Scientific Method: An Introduction Using Reaction Time

 

Bob Kosinski and John Cummings

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2004, Volume 25

Abstract

Reaction time has many advantages for the introduction of the scientific method–the subject is familiar, many experiments are possible, and students enjoy competition. In our Introductory Biology courses, our students formulate and test a hypothesis about reaction time. We use Kosinski’s Reaction Time software, that records reaction times and then analyzes them statistically using the chi-square median test. Students then write a paper that either rejects or fails to reject their null hypothesis. An online literature review on reaction time helps the students incorporate primary literature into their paper.

Keywords:  scientific method, hypothesis, chi-square test, reaction time, experiment

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2003)