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= __Catchy Yawning - By Shanelle, Zoe, Danijela and Soroush__ = 


= = That seeing someone else yawning has a contagious effect.
 * __Hypothesis:__ **

__**Background Knowledge: **__ The TV show "Myth Busters" has already conducted a similar experiment around whether yawns are contagious. This experiment can be viewed by  [|clicking here] or by [|clicking here]. The results of this experiment show that yawning is contagious.  When other people yawn, can it be contagious? Can you spread a yawn to somebody?
 * __Question:__ **

__**Introduction: **__ We don't really know if yawning is contagious, so we all decided that a yawning experiment would attempt to answer all our questions. Yawning is something we all do, every week, mostly everyday. But what is a yawn? A yawn is a reflex of simultaneous inhalation of air and stretching of the eardrums, followed by exhalation of breath. It is commonly associated with tiredness, stress, overwork, lack of stimulation, or boredom. We all know how to yawn and it comes naturally to us. But why do we yawn? There are many reasons why people think we yawn including: · A means of cooling the brain. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">An excess of carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen in the blood. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">A way of displaying apathy or arousal. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Tiredness. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">A means of equalizing ear pressure. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Need of food/drink or hunger/appetite due to reduced level of glucose supplied to the brain. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">To cool the body, such as after repeated exercise. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">To moisten the eye, or stimulate the tear ducts. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">And many more!!! <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; msobidifontweight: bold; mso-bookmark: htmldiff1; msobookmark: htmldiff1;">For hundreds of years people have been fascinated about yawns. As a result, many people have had superstitions and lots of myths have been created. But has anyone really found anything in a result. We don't really know this either but we think we will find out by conducting our experiment. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bookmark: htmldiff2; msobookmark: htmldiff2;"> __**Aim:**__ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bookmark: htmldiff2; msobookmark: htmldiff2;">Our aim is to see if someone yawns while watching a video of someone yawning over and over twice. The video will be timed four minutes.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bookmark: htmldiff2; msobookmark: htmldiff2;">__**Equipment/Materials:**__ <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Computer <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Cardboard Box around computer screen (to keep participants focused on screen) <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Special Glasses with cardboard sides (to block the participants side views) <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">You Tube video clip titled "Yawning" <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Participants <span style="font-family: Symbol; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Scissors, Sticky Tape in holder (to construct cardboard) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bookmark: htmldiff2; msobookmark: htmldiff2;"> __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**Method:** __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">1. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Choose participants form Year 4. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">2. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Get them to enter the room and sit down facing the computer. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">3. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Get participants to put on glasses. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">4. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Do not tell participants why they are here or what they are doing. They are to be "blind" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">5. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Tell participants to focus on the screen at all times and to be sensible. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">6. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Press play on the video (make sure it is on loop). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">7. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">After four minutes, stop the video. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">8. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">During the experiment, record how many yawns that came from the participants mouth. Be sure to keep an eye on your participant so you don't lose track of their yawning. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">9. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Compare the results

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**Our Group Roles:** __ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Danijela: Counts how many yawns from the participants. Shanelle: Gets the Year 4 students. Zoe: Keep group organised and up to date on what to do. Soroush: Presses start and stop on the video during experiment. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**What we did:** __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We built a cardboard fence around the computer, we built the fence so when they watch the video they didn't look anywhere else because they might get destracted from the other things in the room. We made glasses, they have a piece of cardboard on the ends for the same as the cardboard around the outside of the computer. Also the glasses are blue and apparently blue is a calming colour so hopefully the video will work. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">
 * __Results:__**

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">**Problems:** __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We think that the sound is a problem, and the time of the day. People could get nervous when other people are in the room. Next time we will not have alot of people in the room so it is not as noisy. and we will change the time & space. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msobidifontweight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bookmark: htmldiff27; msobookmark: htmldiff27;">In the future to improve our experimentation: We will have less people in the room at a time We will also test at different times of the day (yawning may occur earlier in the day). Choosing sensible people might improve our results. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bookmark: htmldiff27; msobookmark: htmldiff27;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In conclusion we discovered that yawning is not contagious as our results showed that everyone we tested on did not yawn. There were two people that we sent out because they were being silly so we tested on new people. So their for we discovered that Yawning is NOT contagious. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Future Direction: __**
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Conclusion: __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> **