This page outlines my findings from the research experiment I conducted for the IMRaD.
Survey:
Figure 1.
Gum Chewing Habits
Note. A chart outlining the gum chewing habits of respondents.
Figure 2.
Gum Flavor Preferences
Note. A chart outlining the gum flavor preferences of respondents.
Figure 3.
Note. A chart outlining the beliefs of respondents on whether or not they think gum affects memory.
When asked: “How do you think chewing gum benefits/harms your memory?”
- “Increases focus, plus a little sugar for energy!”
- “Assists in keeping me focused on the task I am doing without getting distracted.”
- “It could help you recall certain information.”
- “One way it can benefit is that you might associate chewing gum with the exam.”
- “Dopamine levels going up from the chewing”
- “Destroys my teeth. But the flavor may trigger a memory cue.”
- “I think it benefits because it takes away the need to [fidget] in my mind allowing me to focus more on studying.”
- “Sometimes the noise distracts me”
- “I have never tried it before but I think by chewing gum, your brain connects the learning to that action and helps you retain information better”
Experiment:
Table 1.
Gum and the Impact It Has on Studying
Note. A table outlining the average scores for words recalled and alertness, as well as their respective standard deviations.
Table 2.
Single Factor ANOVA for Finding Statistical Significance Among Gum Conditions
Note. A table outlining the results of a single-factor ANOVA test run on Control*, GWS**, and GDT*** gum conditions.
Table 3.
Paired t-Test for Alertness Scores in Gum While Studying Group
Note. A table outlining the results of a paired t-test run on the GWS gum condition’s pre- and post-alertness test results.
*Control group: No gum was chewed during the entire process.
**GWS group: “Gum While Studying”
***GDT group: “Gum During Testing/Recall”
