Sit down somewhere where there are lots of people. Now categorize the people according to gender and hair color. Start with the males: Observe at least 20 and keep track of how many have hair that is in one of the following categories: black, brown, blonde, red, gray and other. Now do the females – again at least 20. In your write-up be sure to include your raw date as well as address the following questions: Do we expect male hair color to be generally distributed the same as female hair color? Why? Do we expect this data to vary depending upon the age of those we are observing? Why? If you wanted to measure what fraction of the population had each hair color what kinds of things would you have to take into account to do it well?
Lab reports must include four parts: hypothesis (a statement of the specific things you expect to happen in the experiment), method (a detailed description of what you did), data & observations ( a detailed listing of what you saw, and an organized data table for any numerical data you collected), and Conclusions. The conclusions should state your major findings, discuss if what you found supported or did not support your hypothesis, and connect what you learned in lab to the topics studied in class that week.
To conduct this experiment, you will need to find a location with a large number of people where you can sit and observe. Here's how you can proceed:
1. Hypothesis: Start by formulating your hypothesis. For example, you might hypothesize that male hair color will be distributed differently than female hair color. Additionally, you might speculate that age could be a factor in the hair color distribution.
2. Method: Describe in detail how you carried out the experiment. Explain that you sat down in a specific location where there were many people, ensuring a diverse sample. You observed at least 20 males and recorded their hair color into the different categories: black, brown, blonde, red, gray, and other. Repeat the same process for at least 20 females.
3. Data & Observations: Present a detailed listing of what you observed. Create an organized data table that records the hair color distribution for each group (males and females). For example:
- Male Hair Color Distribution:
- Black: 5
- Brown: 8
- Blonde: 3
- Red: 2
- Gray: 1
- Other: 1
- Female Hair Color Distribution:
- Black: 6
- Brown: 9
- Blonde: 4
- Red: 0
- Gray: 1
- Other: 0
4. Conclusions: State your major findings based on the data and discuss whether they support or disprove your hypothesis. Also, connect your observations to the topics discussed in class that week. Here are some points to consider:
- Males: Analyze the distribution of hair colors among males. Are there any patterns or differences compared to females? Evaluate whether male hair color is generally distributed similarly to female hair color based on your observations.
- Females: Similarly, analyze the distribution of hair colors among females. Compare it to the male distribution and draw conclusions about any differences or similarities.
- Age Variation: Determine if age plays a role in hair color variation. Consider whether the proportion of each hair color varies depending on the age group you observed. You might discuss potential reasons for any age-related variations, such as graying hair with aging.
- Hair Color Measurement: Finally, discuss the factors that would need to be considered to measure the fraction of the population with each hair color accurately. Consider variables such as regional demographics, cultural influences, hair dye usage, and variations in self-perception of hair color.
Be sure to reference the raw data, explain your process thoroughly, and provide a thoughtful analysis connecting your findings to relevant concepts discussed in class.