James Nicole Autumn Do Preferences Bias Our Choices? Matthew Jason

Will color preference influence the color of M&M’s people pick up? Question

Hypothesis We believe that the kids will go for their favorite M&M’s colors because it’s their favorite color.

Materials Large bowl M&Ms Several participants Sandwich baggies Permanent markers Chart

Large bowl

M&Ms

Several participants

Sandwich baggies

Permanent markers

Chart

Ask the participants to pick out M&M’s as possible, using only a two-finger pinch, and with one arm behind his or her back. The participant should place them on the table next to the bowl as they are pulled out. As the participant puts them on the table, silently count the number of M&M’s on the table. When you see that the participants has pulled out 20 M&M’s, ask he or she to stop. Put the M&M’s the first participant chose into a sandwich baggie. Ask the participant what his or her favorite color of M&M is and write it on the baggie with a permanent marker. Replace the M&M’s that the participant removed with the same-colored M&M’s that the participant took from the bowl. For instance, if he or she removed three red and five dark brown M&M’s, replenish the bowl with three red and five dark brown M&M’s, not from the participant’s baggie. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for all of your participants, replenishing the bowl with the same-colored M&M’s as each participant removed after every trial. Procedure Variable The variable is they all had a different favorite color.

Ask the participants to pick out M&M’s as possible, using only a two-finger pinch, and with one arm behind his or her back. The participant should place them on the table next to the bowl as they are pulled out. As the participant puts them on the table, silently count the number of M&M’s on the table. When you see that the participants has pulled out 20 M&M’s, ask he or she to stop.

Put the M&M’s the first participant chose into a sandwich baggie. Ask the participant what his or her favorite color of M&M is and write it on the baggie with a permanent marker.

Replace the M&M’s that the participant removed with the same-colored M&M’s that the participant took from the bowl. For instance, if he or she removed three red and five dark brown M&M’s, replenish the bowl with three red and five dark brown M&M’s, not from the participant’s baggie.

Repeat steps 1 and 2 for all of your participants, replenishing the bowl with the same-colored M&M’s as each participant removed after every trial.

Results 23 7 6 2 1 5 2 Brown 113 26 27 17 18 15 15 Blue 121 17 37 25 15 23 24 Green 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yellow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Orange 15 7 6 1 1 2 2 Red Brown Blue Green Yellow Orange Red Total Number of M&Ms Chosen Number of M&Ms Chosen of Each Color Favorite Color M&M 30% 26% 8% 4% 2% 8% Brown 23% 23% 15% 15% 13% 13% Blue 14% 30% 20% 12% 19% 19% Green Yellow Orange 46% 40% 6% 6% 13% 13% Red Brown Blue Green Yellow Orange Red Percentage of M&Ms Chosen of Each Color Favorite Color M&M 30% 26% 8% 4% 2% 8% Brown 23% 23% 15% 15% 13% 13% Blue 14% 30% 20% 12% 19% 19% Green Yellow Orange 46% 40% 6% 6% 13% 13% Red Brown Blue Green Yellow Orange Red Percentage of M&Ms Chosen of Each Color Favorite Color M&M 30% 26% 8% 4% 2% 8% Brown 23% 23% 15% 15% 13% 13% Blue 14% 30% 20% 12% 19% 19% Green Yellow Orange 46% 40% 6% 6% 13% 13% Red Brown Blue Green Yellow Orange Red Percentage of M&Ms Chosen of Each Color Favorite Color M&M

Conclusion People just went for M&M’s and not their favorite color.