Memory Test

Hypothesis

I did this because I wanted to see if it would actually improve memory and maybe this data could help schools allow students to chew gum in class.

Procedure

1. Find People to test.

2. Get the permission forms signed so I can start testing.

3. Pick two poems that both have 48 words.

4. Have a timer set for five minutes and thirty seconds.

5. Have everyone read the poem and have them recite what they read.

6. Do It again but have each person chew gum when reading the poem then recite it.

7. Find the overall average.

Abstract

I decided to see if gum really increased memory or not. During school we’re always told that gum shouldn’t be chewed because it’s a distraction but there always been the myth that it increases memory. I wanted to figure that out myself and see if it really helped your memory. My hypothesis is that gum will improve memory because it has been said before but it didn’t have any data.

The first thing I did was collect the materials I needed. The materials I needed were a timer, pack of Wrigley’s Doublemint, 2 different poems, and 4 participants. Next I gave each participant five minutes and thirty seconds to read the first poem and try and remember as much as they could. After the timer went off I took the poem away and had them recite as many words they could remember. I did the same thing with the second poem except that each participant got a piece of gum.

When I finished the testing and averaged the amount of words that all participant got before and after I came to the conclusion that gum does make you have better memory. The average amount before chewing gum was thirty one words. After chewing gum was thirty eight words. This shows that chewing gum improved the participants memory by twenty two percent.

Doing this project taught me that chewing gum does increase your memory because before chewing gum the average amount of words remembered were thirty one and the average amount of words remembered while chewing gum was thirty eight. your memory and isn't a myth. My hypothesis is correct because memory does increase while chewing gum. This project proves that gum should be chewed in school therefore it would help students memorize what the teacher is displaying. This test was accurate but it could have some improvements. If I had chose a more quieter setting in the house to have the participants read it may have increased their memory. I could have tested another brand of gum other than Wrigley’s Doublemint to see if different flavors affected your memory better than the other. I also could have given the participants an extra thirty seconds.

Conclusion

Does chewing gum really improve your memory? I did this because I wanted to see if it would actually improve memory and maybe this data could help schools allow students to chew gum in class.

Science Board

Data Table