Need to design an experiment in Biology.....

clashrocker7 · 04-25-2008, 01:11 PM

This is what I was thinking. Please let me know if this sounds like a valid experiment.

Materials: Energy Drink. Placebo

Problem: Do energy drinks really cause people to act hyper, or is it all in one's head?

Hypothesis: If I were to give someone a placebo, and tell them that it is an energy supplement, then they will act hyper.

Independent Variable: Placebo

Dependent Variable: Level of activity of the specimen.

Experiment: Get 10 people. Give 5 people the real energy supplement, and give 5 people the placebo. Observe their reactions. The next day, give each group the opposite of what they were given the previous day. Observe behaviors.

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I think that most teenagers act hyper from energy drinks just because they keep telling themselves that what they are drinking is rich in caffeine and sugar. Now I drink energy drinks every day, but I have never acted hyper. They just keep me up in the morning.

My friends who think energy drinks are the coolest thing since sliced bread will drink half of a can and act crazy. I believe this is all psychological, and that they just think they are acting hyper.

**Tasselfoot** · 04-25-2008, 01:15 PM

biggest flaw: most people know what an energy drink tastes like (aka: piss). how can you give someone a fake energy drink without them being able to taste the difference?

also, i would think you would need to prolong the experiment beyond 1 day per drink. too much variance with such a small amount of data (namely, 1 entry).

**sumzup** · 04-25-2008, 01:18 PM

This should probably belong in Homework and General Information (sub-forum of CT), but whatev. I'll give it a shot.

While the concept sounds workable, I see one very obvious flaw in your experiment. What kind of placebo would you be able to acquire that would mimic the taste and experience of a real energy drink? Remember, placebos are supposed to appear to be the real thing; your friends shouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Also, it would be hard to acquire accurate reactions. The very fact that your friends would have known themselves to be part of an experiment could possibly affect how they acted after drinking. For that matter, reactions can vary significantly between different people; I don't know how you would really be able to compare the data effectively.

Edit: ninja'd by tass on the taste

clashrocker7 · 04-25-2008, 01:20 PM

In response to your "piss tasting" energy drinks: There are a few that taste like soda (such as full throttle). I could probably find some drink that tastes "****ty" enough to resemble an energy drink.

I most likely will prolong the experiment, since data is key to an experiment.

_the_forbiden_ · 04-26-2008, 06:06 AM

Dissect something. That always works for me.

**travman301** · 04-26-2008, 06:15 AM

I suggest you use coffee and de-caff, and call it like a coffee flavored energy drink or something.

Also, how are you planning on quantifying your dependent variable? "Reaction" or "observations" of a person's actions aren't as nearly effective as something you can measure and graph.

**Shadowcliff** · 04-26-2008, 08:50 AM

LOL, my brother can be immature about energy drinks sometimes. He'll take like one sip and he be like "ohsoznvsldvjeoajls;fanvslaoena im so hyper saonce;a; ;'aoewaeov"
It really gets annoying.

**-Fallen-** · 08-1-2008, 02:15 PM

Hyper activity is nothing but imaturity, as far as I'm concerned. Not really an experiment worth taking a shot at. I may or may not be the only one who finds energy drinks have absolutely no effect whatsoever, whether they are consumed waking up early in the morning or late at night before bed, doesn't change a thing.. It's just another drink but with 10 times more sugar.

Sugar rots teeth and makes you faaaaaat. It's not there to make you "hyper active". If they REALLY did make you hyper active or increase your state of awareness noticeably, I'm pretty sure they'd sell a hell of a lot better than they already do.

But that's just me..

Cloud0005 · 08-1-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Fallen-

Hyper activity is nothing but imaturity, as far as I'm concerned. Not really an experiment worth taking a shot at. I may or may not be the only one who finds energy drinks have absolutely no effect whatsoever, whether they are consumed waking up early in the morning or late at night before bed, doesn't change a thing.. It's just another drink but with 10 times more sugar.

Sugar rots teeth and makes you faaaaaat. It's not there to make you "hyper active". If they REALLY did make you hyper active or increase your state of awareness noticeably, I'm pretty sure they'd sell a hell of a lot better than they already do.

But that's just me..

nice bump

**Beethovens mask** · 08-1-2008, 02:52 PM

Most people just fake "hyper" to get attention. Namely my friend Sam.

ledwix · 08-1-2008, 06:18 PM

I've never had an energy drink, so I wouldn't know what it tastes like. I guess I'm a rarity.

Studies have shown several times that your hypothesis will be correct, though, if you somehow get enough people. In my "AlcoholEdu" thingy, they talked about that, too.

who_cares973 · 08-1-2008, 06:29 PM

most energy drinks have no effect on me

except for cocaine

04-25-2008, 01:11 PM	#1
clashrocker7 FFR Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 165	Need to design an experiment in Biology..... This is what I was thinking. Please let me know if this sounds like a valid experiment. Materials: Energy Drink. Placebo Problem: Do energy drinks really cause people to act hyper, or is it all in one's head? Hypothesis: If I were to give someone a placebo, and tell them that it is an energy supplement, then they will act hyper. Independent Variable: Placebo Dependent Variable: Level of activity of the specimen. Experiment: Get 10 people. Give 5 people the real energy supplement, and give 5 people the placebo. Observe their reactions. The next day, give each group the opposite of what they were given the previous day. Observe behaviors. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think that most teenagers act hyper from energy drinks just because they keep telling themselves that what they are drinking is rich in caffeine and sugar. Now I drink energy drinks every day, but I have never acted hyper. They just keep me up in the morning. My friends who think energy drinks are the coolest thing since sliced bread will drink half of a can and act crazy. I believe this is all psychological, and that they just think they are acting hyper. __________________

04-25-2008, 01:15 PM	#2
Tasselfoot Retired BOSS Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Widget Heaven Age: 40 Posts: 25,184	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... biggest flaw: most people know what an energy drink tastes like (aka: piss). how can you give someone a fake energy drink without them being able to taste the difference? also, i would think you would need to prolong the experiment beyond 1 day per drink. too much variance with such a small amount of data (namely, 1 entry). __________________ RIP

04-25-2008, 01:18 PM	#3
sumzup (+ (- (/ (* 1 2) 3) 4) 5) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Seattle Age: 33 Posts: 1,398	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... This should probably belong in Homework and General Information (sub-forum of CT), but whatev. I'll give it a shot. While the concept sounds workable, I see one very obvious flaw in your experiment. What kind of placebo would you be able to acquire that would mimic the taste and experience of a real energy drink? Remember, placebos are supposed to appear to be the real thing; your friends shouldn't be able to tell the difference. Also, it would be hard to acquire accurate reactions. The very fact that your friends would have known themselves to be part of an experiment could possibly affect how they acted after drinking. For that matter, reactions can vary significantly between different people; I don't know how you would really be able to compare the data effectively. Edit: ninja'd by tass on the taste __________________

04-25-2008, 01:20 PM	#4
clashrocker7 FFR Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 165	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... In response to your "piss tasting" energy drinks: There are a few that taste like soda (such as full throttle). I could probably find some drink that tastes "****ty" enough to resemble an energy drink. I most likely will prolong the experiment, since data is key to an experiment. __________________

04-26-2008, 06:06 AM	#5
_the_forbiden_ FFR Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: hidden sound village Posts: 10	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... Dissect something. That always works for me. __________________ No one is Anon if they say they are Anon.

04-26-2008, 06:15 AM	#6
travman301 #swagdog Join Date: Mar 2004 Age: 33 Posts: 2,641	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... I suggest you use coffee and de-caff, and call it like a coffee flavored energy drink or something. Also, how are you planning on quantifying your dependent variable? "Reaction" or "observations" of a person's actions aren't as nearly effective as something you can measure and graph.

04-26-2008, 08:50 AM	#7
Shadowcliff FFR Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cary, NC Age: 29 Posts: 695	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... LOL, my brother can be immature about energy drinks sometimes. He'll take like one sip and he be like "ohsoznvsldvjeoajls;fanvslaoena im so hyper saonce;a; ;'aoewaeov" It really gets annoying.

08-1-2008, 02:15 PM	#8
-Fallen- xqsite OG Join Date: May 2005 Location: Canada Age: 36 Posts: 2,836	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... Hyper activity is nothing but imaturity, as far as I'm concerned. Not really an experiment worth taking a shot at. I may or may not be the only one who finds energy drinks have absolutely no effect whatsoever, whether they are consumed waking up early in the morning or late at night before bed, doesn't change a thing.. It's just another drink but with 10 times more sugar. Sugar rots teeth and makes you faaaaaat. It's not there to make you "hyper active". If they REALLY did make you hyper active or increase your state of awareness noticeably, I'm pretty sure they'd sell a hell of a lot better than they already do. But that's just me.. __________________ One of the original members of the xqsite + FFR community. BlankZero - 15 year vet + RobbyZero - 15 year vet

08-1-2008, 06:18 PM	#11
ledwix Giant Pi Operator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Age: 33 Posts: 2,878	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... I've never had an energy drink, so I wouldn't know what it tastes like. I guess I'm a rarity. Studies have shown several times that your hypothesis will be correct, though, if you somehow get enough people. In my "AlcoholEdu" thingy, they talked about that, too.

08-1-2008, 06:29 PM	#12
who_cares973 FFR Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: :U Age: 35 Posts: 15,407	Re: Need to design an experiment in Biology..... most energy drinks have no effect on me except for cocaine __________________

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