Scientific Method Post

Why Does He Keep Falling Asleep? A Scientific Approach

Testable Hypothesis:

The student is falling asleep in class as a result of a high sugar breakfast, which leads to a spike, followed by a crash, in blood sugar, that leaves him feeling drowsy.

Test:

Based on the hypothesis that the student's diet may be contributing to his falling asleep in class, I would observe his breakfast consumption for a two-week period. During the first week, the student continues eating breakfast in the same way he usually does, which includes sugary cereals or pastries. During the next week, the student eats breakfast that is low in sugar and high in protein such as eggs or oatmeal. The experimental condition that is being controlled is the nutritional content of the morning meal.



Supportive Result Prediction:

If the student is more alert and does not fall asleep in the second week, that would support my hypothesis.



Falsifying Result Prediction:

If the student still falls asleep in class in the second week of a different diet, my hypothesis would be falsified, and that would imply the student has other factors at play.


Untestable Explanation: 

An untestable explanation could be that the student is being impersonally targeted by a supernatural energy drain while he attends anthropology class. Since he cannot observe, measure, or be tested for supernatural force an untestable explanation could not be a scientific question.

Comments

  1. Socioeconomics and Human Evolution June 11, 2025 at 5:02 PM

    Hello, I.M. This was a good way to approach the situation for our diet is so consequential to our physical feeling, you are what you eat so to speak. This student could be suffering from a lack of sugar first thing in the morning, or it could even be a sugar crash from the front load of sugar so early in the morning. It will also be an easy way to see if it is diet based or outside factors.

    I do hope it is the diet, though, as the supernatural energy may devour his energy and move onto someone else, like me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. L RodriguezJune 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM

    Testable Hypothesis (5/5) - Good. Well explained, connecting the hypothesized cause with the problem.

    Test (5/5) - Good test, though the test is actually the second half of that section, where you actually change the conditions.

    Support (5/5) - Good.

    Falsify (5/5) - Very good.

    Untestable Hypothesis (10/10) - Good! You were careful to emphasize that this "energy" is undetectable, though note that it has to be undetectable to *everyone*, not just the student.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Robert WrightJune 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM

    Hi I.M., I think you provided a very logical and likely hypothesis since diet and nutrition can have immense effects on energy levels and sleep habits. The proposed way to test the hypothesis is well thought out as well, and I agree that measuring his energy levels with and without a proper breakfast would verify the efficacy of your test accurately.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AliciaJune 12, 2025 at 10:15 PM

    Hello, I.M., I found your experiment description very thorough and your hypothesis very astute. I too considered blood sugar levels a possibility, but did not choose it as I was unsure how to test this theory. I appreciate how you separated your experiment into weeks where you could keep some factors the same, such as the time of the class and the length of time the experiment is performed per week, while changing some factors, such as food intake and various types of foods with varying nutritional info.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anthropologist11June 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM

    Hello I.M, I think that your hypothesis is well thought out and exceptionally reasonable as a high sugar meal prior to the lecture would be very likely to result in a crash or drowsiness. One question I do have is how the low sugar meals for the student would be fixed or enforced in regards to the testing. Your un-testable explanation is unique and a good example of one as well.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Piltdown Blog Assignment

The Piltdown Hoax: A Lesson on Staying Alert in Science In 1912, amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson reported a startling find near Piltdown, Sussex, England: fossilized remains of a skull that possessed both human-like and ape-like features. Dawson claimed the find was the missing link between apes and modern humans, a coup de grâce in the hunt for human ancestors, declared gargantuan at the time. Dawson was working with Arthur Smith Woodward, a curator at the British Museum, who supported the find and assisted Dawson in reconstructing the skull, which was subsequently called Eoanthropus dawsoni (which means "Dawson's Dawn Man.")   The Piltdown fossil received an enthusiastic response because it coincided with British nationalism and the scientific ideas of the time, in that the method and discovery were important. For example, England was not Germany or France, and it had never made any significant hominid discovery. The find would furnish English pride and elitism. Th...
Read more

Blog Post: Human Variation & Race

Image
  Environmental Stress: High Altitude High altitude serves as an environmental stressor in that it disrupts human homeostasis through the reduced amount of oxygen available in the air. This condition is called hypoxia and stresses the body primarily through the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Mountains and other high-altitude areas may be thought of as high altitude at elevations above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). At elevations of more than 8,200 feet, the atmospheric pressure is reduced, and in turn, fewer oxygen molecules are delivered into the lungs with each breath. In tissue, oxygen is limited, energy production is limited, cognition is limited, and physical performance is limited. Short-Term Adaptation Adaptation: Increased respiration and heart rate. A human adapts by increasing respiration and heart rate to try and circulate more oxygen around the body to maintain oxygen levels in the tissues during high-altitude travel. This is a short-term adaptation that can help m...
Read more

Stranded on a deserted island

If I were to find myself stranded on a deserted island, I would take: 1. Durable Multi-tool - This would include a knife, fire starter, can opener, screwdriver, and other essential items all put together in one convenient item. This would help me build a shelter, cook food, and defend myself if necessary. 2. Large Water Filter Bottle - Clean liquid drink sources are imperative for survival. A filter bottle would allow me to safely drink from streams or rainwater and stay hydrated with several liters of water. With these two items, I would have the basic tools for survival, health, and maybe signal for help.
Read more