
Weight Sequence and Perception
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Does lifting a heavy object first make a lighter one feel even lighter than it really is? Research shows that the order in which you experience different magnitudes changes how you judge them.
You give two books of different weights to four groups of participants. Group A lifts the lighter book first. Group B lifts the heavier book first. Groups C and D each lift only one book. Everyone estimates the weight.
Compare the average estimates across all four groups to see how sequence changes perception of the same object.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that perception is affected by the sequence of events.
Method & Materials
You will weigh two books of different weights, divide participants into four groups, and have them estimate the weight of the books.
You will need two books of significantly different weight, a minimum of 20 participants, a weighing scale, and a data sheet.
Results
The results of the experiment showed that the sequence of events does affect perception. The group that held the larger book first estimated the smaller book to be lighter than the group that held the smaller book first.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it shows how our perception can be affected by the order of events.
Also Consider
Variations of this experiment could include using different objects of different weights or having participants estimate the weight of the objects without actually holding them.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related video
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
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