The Scientific Method: An Introduction Using Reaction Time

 

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)