
Competition and Persistence
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Do competitive people try harder at difficult tasks? You might assume they do. This experiment puts that assumption to the test.
You divide 15 participants into three groups. One group identifies as competitive. Another identifies as noncompetitive. A third group serves as the control. Each person tries to make a basketball shot while blindfolded and gets as many attempts as they want.
Compare the average number of attempts across the three groups. The results show whether persistence tracks with a competitive personality.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that persistence and competition are not mutually inclusive.
Method & Materials
You will divide participants into three groups and have them attempt to make a basket blindfolded. You will provide feedback during their attempts and record the number of attempts for each participant.
You will need a basketball hoop, a basketball, a blindfold, and a data sheet.
Results
The results of the experiment showed that persistence and competition are not mutually inclusive. The control group had the highest average number of attempts, indicating that persistence is not necessarily linked to competitiveness.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it challenges the assumption that only competitive people are persistent.
Also Consider
Variations of this experiment could include having participants attempt to make a basket from different distances or having them attempt to make a basket with their non-dominant hand.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related videos
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
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