Behavioral Science

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Behavioral Science

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2003 - BE033
NETWORK THEORY APPLIED TO INSTANT MESSAGING
Sari Ancel, Nicolet High School
Glendale, WI, U.S.
The Nicolet High School freshmen who communicate by computer through Instant Messenger form a network. Networks have various statistical properties that
are interesting and can be used to predict the transmission of information through them. In a small-world network, any two participants have surprisingly few
'degrees of separation' between them. The network statistic that detects degree of separation is called average minimum path length. The average clustering
coefficient of a network measures its cliquishness and plays a secondary role in determining whether the network is small-world (according to the theory of
Watts and Strogatz). Another informative network statistic is the average number of connections at each node. This study gathered and analyzed data to
determine whether the Nicolet freshman on-line communication network has small-world and other properties. A survey asking students whom they
communicate with at least once a week revealed that 288 of the surveyed students form a connected network. The data from this survey was analyzed using
Excel statistical tools and Pajek, a network analysis program. The average minimum path length between two nodes in the network is 2.49, showing that the
network is extremely small-world. Therefore, information and viruses would disseminate very quickly. The clustering coefficient is quite low showing that the
network is not cliquish. This confirms the observation that Nicolet students communicate outside their groups of immediate friends. It also shows that the strict
Watts-Strogatz criteria would place this network closer to a random network than a small-world network. 
Awards won at the 2003 ISEF
Fourth Award of $500 - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel Foundation
2003 - BE310
BRAIN ACTIVATION: ALTERNATIVE FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE LEARNING?
Aidalis Andino, Lisaida Andino
Superior Urbana Nueva, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Brain Activation exercises were investigated to see if they were a good alternative for a more effective learning in Mathematics and Spanish with the eleventh
grade students of the "Escuela Superior Urbana". The hypothesis is that these exercises are a good alternative for a more effective learning in these
students and subjects. Children and adolescents psychologist's expertise help was used throughout the process. Brain activation exercises were
selected and adapted to help students in Spanish and Math classes. The exercises were presented to several psychiatrists for them to evaluate the exercises
and determine if these could be harmful to students. Teachers elaborated a Math and Spanish test and it was validated by seven eleventh grade
students. The participants were selected at random among the eleventh grade students in school. Students were informed that their participation was
voluntary. Form 4-B was sent to the parents with a letter explaining the experiment. Fifty six students showed up to answer the test. The first exam
was administered. With a psychologist's assistance brain activation exercises more demonstrated and given on writing so that they could be practiced at home,
twice a day for six consecutive days. The same exam was administered a second time to the same students. The exams were graded and tabulated.
The results were compared concluding that brain activation exercises were a good alternative for students in the subjects examined, because there was a
significant increase was observed in their average score in Spanish and Mathematics. 
2003 - BE308
THE EFFECTS OF VIDEO GAMES IN PEOPLE
Wildaliz Arias, Derek Mercado, Jacqueline Velez
Manuel Ramos Hernandez, Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
file:///C/Users/SheilaKing/Documents/Abstracts/Society%20for%20Science%20&%20the%20Public%20-%20Behavioral%20Science.html[8/23/2015 5:41:23 PM]
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There is great concern among psychologists regarding the effects that playing video games have in children. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the
effects that playing passive and violent video games have in the blood pressure and the radial pulse of persons of different ages. To do this research a group of
ten (10) children, age’s five to ten years, ten (10) youth and ten (10) adults were selected. There were two kinds of video games chosen for participants to play
with, a passive one and violent one. The participants were interviewed by a registered nurse to answer questions about their health. She also monitored their
blood pressure and their radial pulse before, during and after they played the video games. People suffering of certain health conditions were not allowed to
participate in the research. All participants were asked to play for 30 minutes with each kind of video game. Analysis of the results demonstrated that all
participants were significantly affected in their blood pressure and radial pulse rate. These results proved the hypothesis to be correct.
2003 - BE307
REACTION TIME
Bradley Joel Baggett, Jon-Erik Ian Garrido
Cedarville High School, Cedarville Arkansas, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to show that cell phones, hand-held and hands-free, affect the time that a person has to react to a given situation. Although
the researchers do not use a vehicle in this experiment, the purpose of this experiment was to show that distractions, such as cell phones, can cause slower
reactions while driving. To perform this experiment REACTION TIME, the researchers gathered 50 test subjects. Second, the researchers tested each
person separately by letting them place their hand in the opening of the reaction distance apparatus where the meterstick was dropped. Third, the researchers
told each test subject that the meterstick was going to be dropped and they needed to catch it as quickly as possible. Next, the researchers dropped the
meterstick and recorded the distance the meterstick fell from the bottom of the meterstick to the top of their hand. The researchers then repeated this same
exercise with someone talking to them on a hand-held cell phone and with someone talking to them on a hands-free cell phone. Out of the 50 people
tested, without talking on a cell phone, the test subjects had an average reaction distance of 21.26cm. While talking on a hand-held cell phone, the test subjects
had a reaction distance of 30.30cm. While talking on a hands-free cell phone, the test subjects had an average reaction distance of 31.54cm. By
conducting this experiment, the researchers have concluded that cell phones, hand-held and hands-free, affect the time that a person has to react to a given
situation. The researchers successfully completed a T-Test to show that there is no significant difference between the average reaction distance for talking on a
hand-held cell phone and the average reaction distance for talking on a speaker phone. 
Honorable Mention Award - American Psychological Association
2003 - BE030
ARE PERSONALITY TRAITS MORE HERITABLE FROM THE MALE OR FEMALE PARENT IN PAN TROGLODYTES:CHIMPANZEES?
Elizabeth Anne Baker
University High School Tucson, AZ. USA
No other species resembles the human species more than the Pan troglodyte. Over 98.4% of chimpanzee DNA is compatible with human DNA. This project
examines the heritable source of chimpanzee personality traits used in human personality testing: Extraversion, Dependability Agreeableness, Emotional
Stability, and Openness, and factors of Dominance, Antisocialness and Subjective Well-Being. This study examined the data from 117 chimpanzee
subjects in a world-wide Chimpanzee program. Traits were measured by a seven-point Likert scale completed by volunteers or zookeepers. Pearson Product
Moment correlations between the personality traits of the parents and the personality traits of the offspring were calculated. The data was analyzed by sex of
the parents and offspring, siblings, and same zoo versus different zoo location. Correlations were tested at the .05 level of significance. The results
revealed that 100% of the personality traits were more highly correlated with the mother as compared to the father. 87.5% of the personality traits were more
highly correlated between the mother and the female offspring versus 12.5% correlated with the father. Specifically, 62.5% of the traits were more highly
correlated with the mother and the male offspring versus 37.5% with the father. The differences between zoo location were not significant overall. 
 Based on the results, it can be concluded that personality traits of the Pan troglodytes are more heritable from the mother chimpanzee. The female
offspring inherit a higher number of personality traits from the female parent. The results have implications for the prediction of human problems and
prevention.
2003 - BE315
WHAT IS YOUR PROFILE?
Tiffany Danielle Barrett, Brandon Nicholas Keefer
Lakewood High School, 350 Old Manning Rd. Sumter, SC 29150
The intent of this study was to determine the characteristics of ten subjects by finding each subject’s hemispheric preference and learner type. It was believed
that female subjects would have a left hemispheric preference and would be a learner type two or four and male subjects were thought to have a right
hemispheric preference and would be a learner type one or three. The dominant ear, eye, hand, and foot were found by completing the subject’s
DomiKnow. The hemispheric preference was determined by using a muscle test and a standardized test was used to determine the learner type. Three of the
male subjects were found to have right hemispheric preference. Five females and two males were found to have left hemispheric preference. One female was
found to be learner type one. Two females and a male were found to be learner type two. One male and one female were both found to be learner type three.
Two males were found to be learner type four. A female was found to exhibit characteristics of learner type one and two. One male was found to be learner
type two and four. The ages of the subjects ranged from eleven to seventeen. The results showed that a person’s dominance profile, hemispheric
preference, and learner type depends on the person and not their gender or age. Generalizations cannot be made when determining hemispheric preference,
learner type or dominance profile of a person; therefore, the hypothesis for this study is rejected based on the data.
2003 - BE011
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
Carson Alan Baughman
White Pine High School, Ely, Nevada, USA
The Shooting Gallery Archeological Site exists within a small basin west of the town of Alamo, Nevada, along highway 93. The site consists of petroglyphs,
stone tools, hunting blinds and most interesting of all, rows of elongated rocks that have been stood on end along several ridge tops. It is not clear as to how
these "pillars" were used. This led me to attempt to explain the site and how it was used through archeological inference. An attempt to determine the
use of the site was made in 5 major steps. First, I thoroughly explored the site on foot. While exploring, I plotted all important artifacts that I found. I then
downloaded all the data that had been collected using the GPS units into a computer program called Arcview. Using this data I generated a large topographic
map indicating all the artifacts I found. I then conducted background research using a number of books, articles and a personal interview. Using a process
known as archeological inference I looked for commonalties between the Shooting Gallery site and sites that had previously been studied. The exact
position of 188 pillars, 21 hunting blinds, 3 sets of metates, 4 lithic scatters (stone flakes, signs of tool making), 3 rock piles and 18 petroglyph panels were
recorded. After analyzing this data in conjunction with my literature search, I deduced that the site had been used for hunting, Pinyon nut harvesting and
seasonal living. I was also able to conclude that the users of the site were most likely indigenous populations of Southern Paiute, Western Shoshone or of a
Fremont contemporary. 
Tuition scholarship of $5,000 per year for 4 years for a total value of $20,000 - Indiana University
2003 - BE053
MUSICAL NUMBERS: A NEW MATH
Alicia Marie Baumgartner
Strasburg Public, Strasburg, North Dakota, United States
The objective of this project was to teach second graders new "numbers" and mulitiplication facts through the use of music. To see if a different portion of the
brain could also be stimulated by the music. The first step was to come up with 10 imaginary "numbers" to accompany ten musical notes.The students
were then divided up into two groups. One group was taught the "numbers" just by looking at them. The other group was given the "numbers" and the music.
The students were taught the numbers and asked to recall them. For the group with music, the note was played while the student tried to recall the number.
The "numbers" were then multiplied together. A total of 23 facts could be made. The students were taught the mulitiplication facts and asked to recall them. For
the group with music, the equation and answer were played while they were being taught. When asked to recall them, just the equation was played. For this
round the students were timed. Finally, all of the mulitiplication facts were written out. The students were asked to complete as many as possible and were
given as much time as needed. There was no music played for this round. All of the students were under the same conditions. Again they were timed and
mistakes were recorded. It is concluded that the different portion of the brain again made that connection to the music. Music bridged the gap between
the memory and mathematical parts of the brain.
2003 - BE042
LUNACY THE AFFECTS OF THE FULL MOON ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Christine Jamie Bedont
Mont Harmon Junior High School, Price, Utah, United States
 The purpose of my science fair project is to prove that human behavior is affected by the full moon's gravitational pull. To complete this project, I first
interviewed public safety personnel to see if there was a common belief that the full moon affected behavior. I then asked each department contacted for
information or data on crime/incidents for the year 2002. I gathered data from the Price City Police Department, Carbon County Sheriff's Office, Price City Fire
Department and the Price Communications Center. Information was also gathered from back issues of The Sun Advocate, our local newspaper. I counted the
incidents from each department, including jail bookings into the Carbon County Jail, for the dates of the full moon in the year 2002. I used from sundown to
sunrise the next day as my frame of reference. This information was then charted. I chose the same period of time on the third and fourth day of each month as
my control date and charted this information. The number of incidents for the full moon and the control date were averaged and these numbers were compared.
The results for all departments show a noticeable increase of incidents on the night of a full moon. All data and averages prove my hypothesis correct. The
majority of individuals interviewed stated that they believed that the full moon affects behavior. My data also indicates that their observations were correct.
2003 - BE005
ARE PEDIATRIC GUIDELINES ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF COST?
Neha Prabhu Bhoomreddy
William Mason High School, Mason, OH, USA
Are Pediatric Guidelines Addressing the Issue of Cost? This observational study was done to determine whether the developers of pediatric guidelines
address the economic aspects of an intervention in the guidelines that they publish. 285 guidelines were obtained from a web site between January 1995 and
December 2001. They were read and evaluated to see if and how much each individual guideline addressed the issue of cost. While reading each
guideline, any word or phrase that dealt with cost was highlighted in red, underlined, and made bold on the computer. Then, that sentence was copied and
recorded in a word document called “Evidence of Cost.” Finally, after counting the number of sentences that addressed cost from each guideline, the data was
recorded in an excel spreadsheet called “New Data Collection Form.” Out of 285 guidelines, 177 of them were found to have addressed the issue of
cost somewhere in the guideline. These 177 guideline were further distributed and classified into different categories that showed the depth that each guideline
went into while addressing cost. This project attests that only 62.1% of the guidelines addressed economic aspects of an intervention in some way, many of
them stating just a phrase or a sentence at the most, showing that the guidelines still needs to create more awareness about health care costs in their
publications. 
2003 - BE010
MARKETING FACTORS RELATING TO CONSUMERS' NATURAL TENDANCIES
Jessica Ann Borgen
Lake Park Audubon High School, Lake Park, Minnesota
This study dealt with the marketing strategies used by grocery stores and supermarkets. I will determine what, if any, strategies are employed by grocery stores
to maximize customer satisfaction and to promote sales. The goal of this project is to create an "ideal" grocery store. It will be formed from a meld of actual
grocery store layouts and survey results. Incorporated will also be factors such as color scheme and music played. To accomplish this, the layouts of actual
grocery stores were obtained and surveys were administered to a select age group of 12-19 year olds and asked them to arrange the ten most common
departments of a store as they chose. The data from both tests were combined on a large piece of tag board to show the trneds and similarities. The section
with the most of a particular department was classified as such. Also, color schemes and music chosen by stores were noted. The combination of this data was
used to create an "ideal" store layout and setting to maximize customer satisfaction and promote sales. The majority of participants arranged the departments
in a similar fashion to the typcial layout of actual grocery stores. The color schemes chosen were warming and/or calming which promotes sales and a
comfortable setting. The observation determined the type, quality, and frequency of certain behaviors in randomly selected consumers.
2003 - BE051
SOCIAL COGNITION AND JURY BIAS TOWARD THE ELDERLY IN THE COURTROOM A FOURTH YEAR STUDY
Michael Duane Buhrmester
Plano Senior High School, Plano, Tx, USA
This research underscores the problem of juror “bias” and unfair juror treatment of elderly adults in the legal system. This study addressed three questions: 1)
are jurors’ explicit (thoughtful, evaluative) and implicit (unconscious, reflexive) attitudes consistent with each other, or are some jurors’ implicit attitudes
contradictory with their explicit beliefs? 2) which type of attitude, explicit vs. implicit, is more important in determining jurors’ verdict-decisions? and 3) does the
importance of explicit vs. implicit attitudes in decision- making vary according to the type of case/decision that jurors are judging? One-hundred mockjurors (ages 16-75; M = 30 yrs.), recruited from high school, college, and family friends, completed Explicit and Implicit Attitude Measures then read and gave
verdict decisions on three summarized mock court cases focused on witness competency, litigant morality, and defendant competency/morality, respectively.
 Analyses revealed that: 1) jurors hold two differentiated sets (positive and negative) of explicit attitudes and a more general, single implicit attitude
(negative) about the elderly; 2) jurors’ verdicts reveal significant bias against the elderly when witness competency is questioned (verdict 45% for elderly
witness vs. 80% for young); however, jurors are also biased in favor of the elderly when witness morality is questioned (verdict 70% for elderly litigant vs. 30%
for young) 3) jurors’ implicit good attitudes predicted their verdicts about witness morality and their explicit competence attitudes predicted their verdicts about
witness accuracy. These findings emphasize the significance of differentiated attitude systems (implicit versus explicit) and the biased attitude processing that
influences basic decision-making. 
First Award of $3,000 - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel Foundation
2003 - BE052
THE EFFECTS OF STATE-DEPENDENT LEARNING ON FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Gabriella Maria Cane
Saint Joseph's Academy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
This experiment tested the theory of state-dependent learning, which predicts that students who study and test in the same environment will recall more learned
information than those who study and test in different environments. The purpose of this experiment was to identify a learning and testing environment that
would produce better test scores for students. This study explores the effects of environmental cues, mood, and visual vs. verbal stimuli on the memory of
female high school students. Eighty high school students who were in the same environment and mood at encoding and retrieval recalled significantly more
information than students in different environments and moods. In addition, students who were shown visual stimuli recalled significantly more material than
students who were shown verbal stimuli. The three factors explored in this experiment(environment, mood, and stimuli) were additive becasue all of the
interactions between the factors were insignificant. This happening created an additive effect, which aided in defining a "best" and "worst" case study/test
environment. The "best" recall was demonstrated when students were exposed to visual stimuli, were in a mood-congurent condition and were in the same
environment while they studied and tested. The "worst" recall was demonstarted when students were exposed to verbal stimuli, were in a mood-incongruent
condition and were in "different" environments while they studeied and tested. Students who were in the "best" condition during this experiment would have
recieved 2 letter grades higher than students in the "worst" condition, had this experiment been an actiual exam or test. The implications of this study can help
students and teachers by providing strategies to improve student recall and test scores.
2003 - BE316
THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PARENTS AND HIS CHILDREN ADOLESCENTES DE THE RURAL ZONE
Nancy Rosa Castanares, Carina Alejandra Farfan
School of Trade No 1 Senator on Sunday T. Perez Pampa Blanca-Jujuy-Argentine
This research refers to the communicative aspect between adolescents and their parents in the country area placed at the south of the Department “El
Carmen”, Jujuy Province (ARGENTINA) in the current historical moments we are passing through. The subject to investigate rises from the
identification the research team has with this situation, as well as partners, friends and other adolescents from the area (specially with the inconveniences they
find in achieve the necessary confidence to deal with a greast range of personal subjects). From this research we were able to see difficulties in the message
interpretation which originates interference in the communication. Our team intends to get answers, which can describe and explain the existence, or
not, or obstacles in the communication that will be shared with the actors: parents and adolescent children, so that we can implement actions to modify this
reality. Our research is based on interpretative, qualitative and quantitative focuses according to the information gathered from observation, structured
oral and written interaction. It is well worth to mention that the development of the current research is a face that can be deepened. 
2003 - BE014
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC ON SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Douglas Joseph Christman, McKinley Junior High School
Saint Albans, WV, United States of America
The purpose of my experiment was to see if any type of music would provide a better studying environment opposed to silence. I also wanted to see which
music type would give the worst results. My procedure was as follows: Take one person to the library or a back room that is quiet. Inform them of the
procedures they will be going through. Next, play the first song while showing the first set of pictures. After one minute, stop the music and hide the pictures
and give the person one minute to right down as many as he/she can remember. Afterwards, have them stare at a blank sheet of paper for one minute to clear
their mind. Repeat all steps using different sets of pictures and different music each time. The data taken during this experiment showed that classical
music was best for middle aged adults and silence was best for teenagers of both genders. After doing this experiment, I have concluded that studying
efficiency would be at its peak if no music or classical was on and the least efficienct would be at its lowest if rap music would be played. A student or teacher
could use the results of this experiment to find the best environment for studying and inproving their grades.
2003 - BE061
THE COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE ON FIRST GRADE STUDENTS
Bridget Sarah Confait
West Lauderdale High School, Collinsville, MS, United States
Current research shows that not only is secondhand smoke a carcinogen,but also it may be associated with learning and discipline problems in young children.
The purpose of this project was to determine the cognitive and behavioral effects of secondhand smoke on First Grade students through testing and completion
of a survey. These hypotheses were made about the purpose. Exposure to secondhand smoke will affect the cognitive ability of First Grade students.
Exposure to secondhand smoke will negatively affect the behavior of First Grade students. Exposure to secondhand smoke will negatively affect the health of
First Grade students. After completion of a survey by the students parents, the procedure consisted of testing each student in the areas of math and
English. The math test consisted of problems in a written format. The English test contained both a written and memory test. Four different tests in each area
were given at different times. The students discipline records were also surveyed and comparisons made. Results showed First Grade students who
were exposed to higher levels of secondhand smoke experienced more learning and discipline problems. These students overall were more prone to health
problems, particularly upper respiratory problems. It can be concluded that parents, educators, pediatricians and child psychologists should take a
closer look at the effect of secondhand smoke on children.
2003 - BE057
THE MCGURK EFFECT: DOES AGE MATTER?
Elisabeth Lee Crabtree
Byng High School, Ada, Oklahoma, USA
Most people assume that they see and hear the world through two distinctly separate sensory channels; however, recent research indicates that some neurons
in the brain respond to aural and visual stimuli simultaneously. Individuals experience the McGurk Effect when viewing a video of a person mouthing a syllable
dubbed with the audio of a different syllable. The objectives of this project were to compare the awareness of aural and visual roles in speech
perception and the occurrence and perceptions of the McGurk Effect among different age groups. Prior to testing, subjects were asked if they thought their
eyes help them hear. Two hundred eighty subjects were tested using three syllable pairs (aural BA-visual GA, aural MA-visual KA, and aural PA-visual FA).
Twenty males and twenty females in each of seven age groups from early childhood through late adulthood individually viewed three videos of the researcher
mouthing a syllable dubbed with a different aural syllable, and responded with what was perceived. Each also listened to the audio only and told what was
heard. A total of 1480 responses were analyzed using a Factorial Analysis of Variance of Proportions. The following conclusions were drawn: 1.)
There are differences between age groups in prior knowledge of aural and visual roles in speech perception; 2.) The occurrence of the McGurk Effect varies
depending on the pairing of syllables, and 3.) Variation exists among age groups in reported perception of a specific aural-visual stimulus.
Honorable Mention Awards - Acoustical Society of America
2003 - BE004
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PRESENTATION MODALITIES ON RECALL OF INFORMATION
Mallory Claire Fairman, Upper Arlington High School
Columbus, OH, USA
This experiment attempted to determine which one of three commonly-used presentation modalities (auditory, textual, or visual) has the greatest influence on
college students’ abilities to recall paired associate concepts. In the most recent published study of 324 university students, the visual modality showed the
highest recall scores for paired associates followed by the textual modality and auditory modality (Velayo, 2000). Following this study, the hypothesis of this
project was that the recall of pairs of concepts in the visual modality would be significantly higher than the recall of pairs of concepts in the textual and auditory
modalities. The null hypothesis was that there would be no difference in the recall of pairs of concepts using the textual or auditory modality. The experimental
procedure required 185 law students to observe paired associate concepts either by observing pictures of the concepts, by observing the words themselves, or
by listening to the concept pairs. The subjects were then tested as to their recall of the paired associate concepts. The results showed that the textual modality
produced the highest recall rates (47.9%), as opposed to the predicted visual modality (46.6%). Additionally, the textual modality produced significantly higher
recall rates than the auditory modality (34.1%). These results indicate that law students recall information best by reading, as opposed to visual or auditory
learning. The best explanation for the difference in results from previous studies is that this experiment used law school students as subjects. It is possible that
law students are better textual learners because of the large volume of material they are required to read and their previous success in undergraduate school.
2003 - BE312
LATERAL RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HUMAN BODY
Cindy Marie Fulton, Athena Leah Hinkle
Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
“Okay, next I would like you to give me a nice wink.” This was only one of nine questions asked of each of the one hundred twenty five people we interviewed in
the pursuit to determine whether there is a relationship between a person’s dominant hand, foot, and eye. Humans naturally hold a preference between which
limbs they use the most, ingrained since birth and influenced through injuries and sports training. To determine a relationship, we interviewed and
tested one hundred twenty five high school students between the ages of thirteen to nineteen. Individually, each test subject was required to first complete a
survey covering information concerning height, weight, ethnicity, and personal history. Each test-taker then finished a series of simple tasks designed to
pinpoint their dominant limbs. These tests are actions within everyday life that an average person accomplishes with little concentration, such as clapping,
crossing their legs, or winking. During analysis, each person’s tests and survey responses were evaluated for relationships in limb usage, including
any patterns involving ethnicity, height, weight, and personal history. Of the one hundred twenty five people surveyed, twelve responses were discarded due to
incomplete surveys or tests. A presence of a lateral relationship for another thirteen could not be determined because of a testing abnormality. Of the
remaining one hundred tests, a definite relationship was present; eighty five percent of these complete responses contained a lateral relationship. Fifteen
responses did not have relationship, due in part to past injuries, sports training, or ambidexterity. 
Fourth Award of $500 - Team Projects - Presented by Science News
2003 - BE058
AUTISM THERAPY: THE EFFECTS OF SELF-STIMULATORS ON THE ABILITIES OF AUTISTIC PREADOLESCENTS
Shivani Ghoshal
Mira Loma High School, Sacramento, CA, USA
This project, a result of teaching eleven autistic preadolescents of varying degrees of autism the piano for one year, demonstrates autism therapy
experimentation to amplify the abilities of autistic preadolescents. Conscious of past childrens’ stagnation from limitations of conventional therapy’s dogma of
removal of self-stimulatory behavior, I devised a therapy program that manipulated rather than disposed the student’s behavioral problems. Rather
than utilizing the template format of conventional autistic therapy, each student’s therapy integrated his or her own self-stimulators to learn a piece, First,
overselectivities were strongly integrated to impart the autistic student familiarity and motivation. Overselectivities were then emphasized to increasingly lesser
extents, until the student was able to play the piano piece independently. Results from my therapy showed unexpected, remarkable growth of ability
for the preadolescent children; psychological growth is not expected in autistic children over seven. The increased efficiency of my therapy program was
displayed when viewing the past three years of conventional therapeutical data for each student. Prior to my therapy, each had been involved in a unit of piano
playing; all had failed to learn the piano under conventional therapy. Under my therapy, all students showed growth, some even achieving early intermediate
levels. The contributions of this project are immeasurable. The fusion of self-stimulators in autistic therapy may strongly augment autistic childrens’
abilities to perform increasingly complex tasks. More importantly, many autistic preadolescents, all deemed “gone cases” after the age of seven, may indeed
harbor room for growth and performance of new, highly complex tasks. 
2003 - BE019
THE CREMATION PROCESS
Pedro David Gil de Rubio
Colegio San José, Río Piedras, P.R.
The objective of this investigation is to inquire into people's knowledge about cremation, so people can make the right decisions. It was taken into consideration
that cremation can substitute the burial. There is ignorance among persons about cremation. To orientate the people, a crematory was visited to observe the
process. A sample of 100 persons (over 18 years) in Puerto Rico was taken. A questionnaire was given to inquire how much people knew about cremation.
Resulting in a 0% of perfect knowledge, 26% of average knowledge, 63% of little knowledge, and 11% no knowledge. People did not know what happened in a
crematory. They were also instructed on the process to increase their knowledge.
2003 - BE313
GRADING DISORDER A
Chelsea Bahar Gokcay, Julia Ruby Baldwin
Oregon Episcopal School, Portland, OR, USA
This year’s project collected grades in order to directly compare student perceptions to student grades and then verify the existence of Grading Disorder A.
Grading Disorder A is defined as a syndrome, the characteristics of which include working extremely hard in school and earning above average grades but
having a misconception of his/her performance. Last year, characteristics of Grading Disorder A were found to exist most prominently in female, high
school freshman. However, the disorder had not yet been proved to exist. This year, over 1,000 surveys were administered using a number system to
insure anonymity. The surveys were redesigned so that they did elicit actual letter grades from both the student and the teacher. Each teacher completed a
survey that includes grades for the students; the students completed surveys that revealed what grades they thought they would receive. Once the
surveys were administered, completed and returned to the researchers, the student surveys were matched up to their corresponding teacher survey. The
surveys were then entered as data into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. A codebook was designed to represent the data numerically then SPSS (The Statistical
Package for Social Sciences) was used for statistical analysis. The data is being analyzed and early results show that Grading Disorder A does indeed exist
and is more prominent among female, high school freshman. Further conclusions will identify the causes of the disorder and methods by which to reduce them.
 
Second Award of $1,500 - Team Projects - Presented by Science News
2003 - BE020
THE INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL AND NEUROLOGICAL TRAUMA ON PERSONALITY
Zarabeth Lehr Golden
Blanche Ely, Pompano Beach, Fl, USA
Personality characteristics after trauma plays a major role in determining how an individual recovers from a traumatic event. Personality may be affected by a
person’s emotional reaction to trauma, reactions to problems caused by trauma, or neurological alterations that change personality. The current study
attempted to identify the effects of physical and neurological changes on personality in a 2 x 2 multivariate design, controlling for emotional trauma. The study
employed 419 subjects selected from clinical and research archives. The dependent variables were 13 scales from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Inventory- 2 (MMPI-2). The results of a 2 (Physical) by 2 (Neurological) MANCOVA revealed significant effects for Physical, Neurological, and their interaction.
As a consequence, post-hoc univariate ANCOVAs were conducted for each factor and their interaction across each MMPI-2 scale. The results of post-hoc
ANCOVAs for the Physical variable indicated that 7 of the 13 variables showed significant differences (p<. 01), while there were only 2 significant differences
for the Neurological variable and 3 significant interactions. Although both main variables were significant, the physical variable had a much stronger impact on
personality than the neurological variable. The mean scores of the neurological group fell into the same abnormal range found in other studies, however those
studies did not control for the effects of emotional and physical trauma. The results support the conclusion that it is not the neurological injury itself that affects
personality but the individual’s ability to adapt to the symptoms and problems caused by a traumatic event.
Second Award of $500 and a certificate - American Psychological Association
$10,000 per year scholarships, renewable annually - Florida Institute of Technology
Second Awards of $1,500 - U.S. Air Force
2003 - BE024
DO SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES AFFECT TEENS' DECISIONS?
Ashley Ann Gowgiel
Lakewood Ranch High School, Bradenton FL, United States of America
A reason for this project is to discover if teenagers are affected by audio and/or visual subliminal messages. After returning the signed permission forms, the
subjects listened to a clip of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major with a subliminal message of a shape, color, and number. The test subjects then chose
a shape, color, and number from a list of three choices for each variable that I gave to them. They then watched a video clip in which the same variables
applied for the subliminal message, and were once again asked to chose a shape, color, and number. The individual test subject data was tabulated and
analyzed for percent of correct answers for each variable and percent of correct answers overall. The manipulated variables in this experiment were
the subliminal messages (Shape, color, and number). The responding variable was the choice of the test subject. After completion of these tests 57%
of the subjects tested correctly identified that there was a color in the first audio test, 42% identified that there was a shape in the second audio test, 25% of
people identified that there was a number in the third audio test, and 15% identified that there was no subliminal message (control) in the last audio test. In the
visual category, 45% identified color correctly, 37% answered shape correctly, 31% answered number correctly, and 22% answered the control clip correctly.
 
2003 - BE021
THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF LEXICAL PROCESSING: AN EXAMINATION OF A MODEL OF THE COMPARISON PROCESS
Megan Chaya Gross
Hunter College High School, New York, NY, USA
This study examined the neurobiology of lexical processing in working memory. Adult participants were presented with a series of word pairs and asked to
determine whether the words in each pair were the same or different. There were six types of word pairs: identical real words, identical non-words, real words
differing in onset, non-words differing in onset, real words differing in coda, and non-words differing in coda. This study of the working memory comparison
process provided a model of what may happen in lexical access during comprehension. The latencies and shape of waveforms in event-related brain potentials
permitted a detailed examination of the timing of the process. The phonological negativity, a portion of the waveform that indicates the point at which the brain
detects a difference between words, was present in all differing pair classes. There were no significant differences in amplitude. No significant differences were
found between the peak latencies of the phonological negativity for real word pairs and non-word pairs. The phonological negativity occurred nearly 200 ms
earlier for word pairs differing in the first sound than for word pairs differing in the final sound, which suggested that the comparison is performed linearly across
the word representations and is concluded once words begin to differ phonologically.
First Award of $1,000 - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Third Award of $1,000 - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel Foundation
2003 - BE023
EASTERN SHORE BIRD MONITORING TOOL DEVELOPMENT
Justin Alexander Hanacek
Thomas S. Wootton High School, Rockville, Maryland
At the height of the eastern shore migrations hundreds of thousands of birds use the National refuges for shelter and food. Assateague and Chincoteaque
Islands are among the largest and most heavily used resting points for migrating fowl. These Islands are important for research with bird populations. The
purpose of this experiment is to determine if a bird population to bird call ratio can be developed for terns by gathering both acoustic and visual data over a
controlled area. This ratio would be useful because it could then be applied as a bird population assessment tool in the absence of visual verification. This is
especially useful during night time monitoring. The hypothesis is that in the species of terns tested, every bird in a feeding area will produce an average of 10
calls over a 30 minute interval and a bird/call ratio of 1:10. This is because terns produce calls when feeding to communicate with other birds about where the
food is. The experiment uses a unique feature available in the Inlet separating Assateague National Seashore and Ocean City, Maryland. This site
allows visual data to be collected at night due to parking lot lights near the feeding area. Bird calls were captured using an acoustic parabolic microphone. Data
was gathered on five different nights of the season migration. In this experiment, the collection of data from feeding terns and the establishment of a
ratio was successful. However the hypothesis was wrong. The bird/call ratio was about 6:1. No statistical difference was found between actual bird counts and
population predictions using this 6:1 call ratio. The data showed this ratio would accuratly estimate the total population of feeding terns in that area. With more
research, this call ratio method may prove to be a useful tool for estimating tern populations. 
2003 - BE003
HSDQ- A DECADE ADDED TO LIFE
Elizabeth Fairchild Harding
Lake Highland Preparatory School, Orlando, FL 32803 USA
Currently in the USA, two-million people are diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) yearly. However, 30-million individuals (estimated) are
undiagnosed with SDB yearly. Failure to diagnose leads to significant conditions, such as heart-failure, lung-damage, hypertension, strokes, and heart-rhythm
disorders. Also, SDB lowers life expectancy by ten years (estimated). Additionally, the US National Commissions determined that SDB was a factor in half of all
traffic-accidents and 36% of all fatal traffic-accidents yearly. Doctors desperately need an efficient yet accurate way of identifying SDB. For diagnosis,
“The Berlin Questionnaire” (BLQ) was created. The test demonstrated 85% of patients tested had SDB. However, BLQ is cumbersome for the practitioner to
give, thus causing many not to administer it. The researcher believed that BLQ could be simplified, hence promoting the researcher’s goal of having all patients
screened for SDB. This study demonstrated the comparable reliability of a four-question survey, “The Harding Sleep Disordered Questionnaire”
(HSDQ), developed by the researcher. The physicians at Sand Lake administered BLQ and HSDQ to patients, who subsequently received overnight sleepstudies. Correlations between the study/questionnaires were compared. BLQ and HSDQ were equal in effectiveness, but HSDQ was significantly
more efficient. After the researcher screened 250 patients with BLQ and HSDQ, both tests proved 99% accurate. However, BLQ averaged 10.64 minutes to
complete, whereas HSDQ averaged 32 seconds. Because HSDQ is accurate/efficient, it will hopefully gain widespread acceptance in the medical community,
thus allowing every patient to be screened for SBD. HSDQ acceptance would therefore decrease mortality and morbidity. 
Third Award of $125 and a certificate - American Psychological Association
Scholarship award of $5000 per year for four years - University of Akron
2003 - BE006
HUMAN PERCEPTION OF IMAGE MANIPULATION--ORIGINAL VS. REAL
John David Hays, Wilcox- Hildreth Public schools 404 E. Sapp St. Wilcox, NE, 68982
USA
The purpose of this project was to determine if human perception could detect the difference between a computer manipulated image and the original image.
 I selected 15 digital photos and put them into an Adobe Photoshop program. With each of the selected 15 photos, I subtracted images or I added
images using images that I obtained from additional photos. This can be done with a working knowledge of digital equipment and image manipulation software,
such as Adobe Photoshop. I ended up with 30 photos total. 15 photos had the original image and 15 photos were computer manipulated images. The
photos were paired up so that they could be compared. Volunteers were told the purpose of the project and were asked to complete a survey. They
were told that they would be shown 15 sets of pictures, one that was the original and one that had been manipulated in some way. The volunteers were asked
to complete the survey by telling which photo was the original picture and what was different in the photos. After the surveying was done, the data was
collected and analyzed. The results do not support my original hypothesis that more than 50% of people will not be able to tell if a photo has been
computer manipulated and will therefore state that the manipulated image is the original image. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that
ordinary people can perceive the difference between the computer manipulated image and the original. 
Second Award of $500 - Eastman Kodak Company
2003 - BE032
THE SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF CONTINUAL AND PARTIAL REINFORCEMENT ON GIRLS
Casey King Hogle
Elko High School, Elko, NV, USA
Does positive reinforcement have short term effects? Does the time that 5th and 6th grade girls run 70 feet decrease at a faster rate when partial or continual
reinforcement is administered? I assumed, as my background information affirmed, that those who were reinforced continually would be affected the most, and
the partially reinforced group would be affected more than the control group. Six basketball teams (divided into 3 groups of two teams each) were
tested. Right before every practice, the girls ran individually. The subjects were reinforced by receiving a Hershey?s Kiss if their time was faster than their time
in the practice directly preceding it. Subjects in one group were continually reinforced (every practice), subjects in another group were partially reinforced (every
other practice), and the subjects in the control were not reinforced. The data was analyzed with two-tailed hypothesis testing for both independent
and dependent samples. The times of those in the control worsened, probably because of the lack of incentive. For both the continually reinforced and partially
reinforced groups, times improved and then worsened. The decreased times support the effectiveness of both types of reinforcement. The increased times may
have occurred because of a loss of interest, an insufficient reinforcer, or physical limitations. A significant difference was also discovered between the control
and both reinforced groups. This difference gave evidence for the benefits of reinforcement over no reinforcement. The comparison of the effectiveness of
partial versus continual reinforcement is inconclusive. 
2003 - BE034
ARE WE DESTINED TO FORGET?
Cheryl Roxanne Howell
Roy Junior High, Roy, Utah, USA
The subject studied was short-term memory. It was studied in order to determine what happens with gender and age. The idea came from personal experience.
Knowledge was wanted on whether or not memory gets better or worse with age and gender. In order to get the answer items were gathered for a
short-term memory test. The hypothesis was that the peak of short-term memory for both genders would be between 21 and 40 years old. Items were chosen
that most subjects would recognize. The items were placed on a tray and shown for one minute to subjects of different age groups and genders. Then a cover
was placed over the items. The subjects were given 5 minutes to write down everything that they recalled. After testing as many subjects as possible,
the information was entered into a spreadsheet. From that spreadsheet a percentage table was made in order to see what percent of the items were recalled.
These two data tables helped to make graphs that enhanced the understanding of the information gathered. The percentage graph was especially helpful. It
facilitated making a graph with trend lines to be able to determine the age group that recalled the most for each gender. The trend lines supported the
hypothesis. The males recalled more between the ages of 21 and 30. The females recalled more between the ages of 31 to 40. 
2003 - BE009
THE STIMULI EFFECT: HEARING AND REACTION TIMES
Chetan Bhasker Jhaveri
La Plata High School, La Plata, MD, USA
The purpose of my experiment was to determine whether the ear(s) in which a stimulus is administered effects reaction times to that stimulus. Previous studies
using dichotic-testing methods have suggested that there is a strong Right-Ear-Advantage for right-handed subjects, but this has been refuted by recent studies
that show a decreased Crossed-Uncrossed-Difference for auditory stimuli. My project was meant to verify whether the Right-Ear-Advantage in reaction times
could be verified using a simple reaction time method. I carried out my project by gathering 50 healthy, consenting, right handed test-subjects for
experimentation. All reaction times were measured using a yardstick dropped simultaneously with the administration of a stimulus, with the number of
milliseconds passing between the time the ruler was dropped to its being caught serving as a measure of reaction times. After obtaining a control, I entered a
pre-prepared tape into a tape player with independent volume control headphones. On this tape, I recorded the stimulus "go" 9 times, with the stimulus being
administered 3 times each into the left, right and both ears. After experimentation, the data showed that there was a distinct average 24 millisecond Left-EarAdvantage (4.75%) among my subjects in simple reaction times. Paired sample T-tests and regression analysis corroborated these findings. The LEA that I
found was unexpected but is consistent with the belief that the auditory pathway has strong bilateral access to the cerebral hemispheres. This finding may
prove important for future devices, such as earphones for pilots, which seek to prompt optimal reaction times.
Third Award of $1,000 - U.S. Coast Guard
2003 - BE309
AGRESSIVENESS OF STRESSED CRAYFISH (PROCAMBARUS CLARKLL): EFFECTS OF PHOTOPERIOD AND POLYCHROMATIC SENSITIVITY IN
THE MAINTENANCE OF DOMINANCE HIERARCHIES
Felix J. Jorge-Garcia, Rafael A. Torrech-Antonetty, Lynn M. Torrech-Antonetty
Isidro A. Sánchez High School, P.O. Box 1588, Luquillo PR 00773
The significance of dominance hierarchies is well established for crustacean species (Atema, 1986; Atema and Voight, 1995; Karavanich and Atema, 1993,
1998), but few studies have investigated the influence of light in the formation and maintenance of dominance hierarchies. The present investigation pretended
to test the effects of crayfish polychromatic sensitivity in the formation and maintenance of dominance hierarchies, aggressiveness and urine production. 
 After establishing dominance hierarchies between crayfishes, subordinate and dominant specimens (males and females) were exposed to stressing
photoperiods (20hr L:D), during different time intervals using different light color (white, red, blue, yellow, green and black). After this period fight trials were
repeated and dominance hierarchies reviewed. The total number of interactions was annotated and the aggressiveness level at the pinnacle interaction point
was also recorded. Preliminary chemical urine analyses were conducted. Urine was collected from crayfishes submitted to different stimuli (color
stimuli, variable photoperiod, predator threats, etc.). The results showed that after exposed to stressing photoperiods subordinate males will continue
to challenge dominant co specifics, and that crayfish are sensitive to different color lights. The aggressiveness of these organisms was also considerably
increased. Further extensive urine chemical analyses are proposed, including protein and pheromones composition. 
Third Award of $1,000 - Team Projects - Presented by Science News
2003 - BE031
THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS LIST PATTERNS ON SHORT-TERM SERIAL MEMORY
Michael Andrew Juang
D. W. Daniel High School, Central SC, U. S. A.
This study investigates the effects of various list patterns on short-term serial memory tests taken immediately after memorizing the list. Originally, the study
was going to test if both time after memorizing and talking the test, as well as the pattern of the list had an effect on the data. Later, the study was narrowed to
only focus on the pattern of the given list. Typically, when the words are given in a serial recall test, they are listed vertically, with the first item at the top. This
study tests if changing the position of the words but keeping the serial position number (one for the first word, five for the fifth word, etc.) and the words
themselves the same has an impact on the test results. Sixty test subjects were divided equally into three groups. Each group was given a list and its
corresponding test sheet with blanks for them to write the words they could recall. The subjects were then timed for a minute to memorize the words, in order
(they were notified of this study’s procedure). After a minute was up, they turned back over the list, and then wrote down the answers on the test sheet for the
next minute. When the frequency was plotted against the serial position for each pattern of the list, three distinct graphs were produced. Each seems to follow
its own pattern as it progresses up the x-axis. 
2003 - BE026
HOW DO PAY RAISES AFFECT MEASURED PERFORMANCE AND INFERRED MOTIVATION IN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYERS?
Alex Oliver Kardon
South Side High School, Rockville Centre, New York, USA
Sports fans and members of the media constantly accuse players of becoming lazy and complacent after they have signed more lucrative contracts. The
purpose of this study was to determine if there is an actual correlation between signing a contract with a higher annual salary and declining performance in
professional baseball. A possible effect of team success on individual performance was also examined. Adjusted OPS+ was used to measure performance and
it was assumed that any decrease in intrinsic motivation would cause a decline in performance. Most previous studies have concluded that external rewards
cause decreased intrinsic motivation, while others suggest the opposite. A third group of researchers have suggested that rewards have no significant effect on
intrinsic motivation. Instead, they claim that the success or failure that prompts the presence or absence of the rewards causes any change in intrinsic
motivation. This study showed that neither rewards nor team success has a significant direct effect on intrinsic motivation.
2003 - BE001
BEHAVIORAL STUDY: THE NEGATIVE CONDITIONING OF ENABLED CURLY-O DROSOPHILA
Laura Kathryn Lamar
Pensacola High School, Pensacola, Florida, USA
This project is the result of several behavioral tests on Enabled Curly-O Drosophila. These tests were conducted to determine if negative conditioning could
influence a fruit fly's choice of a substance. For these experiments several clear vials were attached together to form a "T" model. The fly was placed in
the base of the "T" and walked up to the top and chose side A, which had one substance, or side B, which had a different substance. The model design made it
possible to clearly see which side the fly chose. The fruit fly's choice was observed by three sets of substance tests. The test substances were the fly's
food, mustard, banana, and Caesar dressing. The favorite substances were found by the average number of times that the fly chose one substance over
another. The fly's food ended up being the favorite substance. Negative conditioning was then tested after the two final substances were found. When
the fly approached its food, a series of taps would knock the fly around until it turned to the opposite direction and went to the banana. This was repeated until
the fly finally went straight to the banana ignoring the food. These tests have suggested that a fruit fly will focus on a new substance as a reaction to
very mild negative conditioning in addition to harsh treatments. It also suggests that scientists studying fruit flies should be cautious when handling flies since
this experiment shows that negative conditioning can influence fly behavior. 
2003 - BE054
"NOVEL TEACHERS BEFORE THE SCHOOL TORMOIL"
Maria Valeria Leyes
Instituto Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina.
The objective of this research is to know what the role of initial training is in novel teacher’s flexibility of adaptation to the present situation of social turmoil 
 The hypothesis of this work proposes that novel teachers are not prepared to adapt to the present social turmoil, since nowadays, techers perform their
work in deplorable conditions: Low salaries, environments of meager school infrastructure, scarce material resources, violence in schools, teachers’ exhaustion
and accumulation of demands made onto them, changes in the teacher’s role. The theoretical framework provides the categories of analysis on which
the methodological perspective and the choice of qualitative and quantitative techniques are based. The data gathering instruments of these techniques are
opinion polls and school biographies requested to highschoo teachers of the city of Concordia. However, the alternative is that the sampling be SIGNIFICANT,
in other words, that it be carried out through the selection and intensive study of a few rich cases to generate hypothesis and theories. The analysis
performed makes it possible to prove that the economic uncertainty teachers perceive brings about the lack of motivation, the lack of facilities needed to find a
modus vivendi in schools, the lack of basic materials for teachers, the violence in schools, the teachers’ feeling of being under a stronger pressure, and their
need of facing up with new challenges for which they have not been prepared. 
2003 - BE007
A LOOK AT YOUTH IN TROUBLE: USING SIMPLE ETHICS TO DETECT POTENTIALLY TROUBLED TEENS
Alicia Lynn McDermott
Grace Fellowship Christian School, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, USA
This project investigates the ethical decisions of teenagers attending high school and compares them with incarcerated teens. Using simple moral dilemmas,
the test created by the student researcher could be used for early detection of potentially troubled teens. Other variables such as age, race, gender, influences,
and number of parents were also included to evaluate how these factors affect the moral attitudes of youth. Subjects were given a validated survey of twenty
moral dilemmas, with three possible solutions- “Subjective”, “Judgmental”, or “Caring”. The subjects chose one way to solve each. “Caring” answers were more
“moralistic”, the opposite of “Subjective”. It was hypothesized high school teens would answer with a highly “Caring” perspective, while incarcerated teens
would have a “Subjective” perspective. Also predicted was that subjects who lived with two parents and who were greatly influenced by their mother, father, or
both parents would have a more “Caring” viewpoint than those who considered their friends or siblings as their greatest influence. The completed tests were
divided into “High School Students” and “Juvenile Delinquents”. The answers were then collated by subject and subdivided into the three possible categories.
Discriminate analysis showed that this instrument could provide an accurate prediction of “troubled” teens a majority of the time. Oneway ANOVA showed
significant variation between "Caring" and "Subjective" answers for those teens whose greatest influence was either the Mother or Both parents, as opposed to
Friends. Results indicate an instrument like this, after refinement, might be used to provide early identification of troubled youth.
2003 - BE040
FACIAL SYMMETRY AND PHEROMONE PREFERENCE IN HUMAN SEX SELECTION
Mallory Jayne McGowin
School of the Osage High School, Kaiser, MO, USA
All animals, including humans, produce pheromones, or chemical substances that are produced to stimulate a behavioral response in other individuals of the
same species. Studies have shown that the more symmetrical a person’s face is, the more attractive the individual appears (Grammer and Thornhill, 1994).
However, to this date a study linking pheromones and symmetry has not been performed. The purpose of this project was to attempt to determine the presence
of a correlation between pheromone preference and facial symmetry. Eight males were randomly selected from a distant high school and were asked to wear
three t-shirts, each for two consecutive nights. After the two-night odor collection period, shirts were collected and frozen in separate containers at a
temperature of approximately –75 degrees Celsius until the day of the olfactory session. A list of fifty-eight females ranging from high school sophomores to
seniors from School of the Osage was compiled to use as olfactory subjects. Each female olfactory subject was asked to rate male donor t-shirts on
pleasantness, sexiness, and familiarity. Photos of the male odor donors were subsequently rated on attractiveness. Results of this study indicate a
significant (P< 0.05) correlation between the responses of female subjects to the three questions posed and each donor’s corresponding photo which suggests
a correlation between pheromone detection and attractiveness. Results also demonstrate a significant (P< 0.05) correlation when symmetry is compared to
photos, pleasantness, and sexiness. There was no correlation found between slope and photos or slope and olfactory questions. 
2003 - BE018
EPILEPSY IMPACT: SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY OF SELF-PERCEPTION, PSYCHOSOCIAL CHA- RACTERISTICS, AND LIMITATIONS OF
PATIENTS WITH INTRACTABLE EPILEPSY (PURE HISPAN
Alfredo Andrés Medina, Academia del Perpetuo Socorro
704 Martí St. San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907
The purpose of this investigation is to contribute knowledge to provide further understanding of the psychosocial characteristics of the patients with intractable
epilepsy and to improve their social integration. In Latin America, particularly in Puerto Rico, no studies have been conducted regarding the impact of selfperception, psychosocial characteristics and individual limitations on patients with intractable epilepsy. In the socio-demographic aspect, it was hypothesized
that epilepsy patients will predominantly male, university attendees, of high unemployment, and a tendency to remain single. It was hypothesized that epilepsy
will affect the patient in their daily activities, social relations, psychological profile, behavior, and functional limitations. A template was designed using the
medical pre-evaluation document and the medical questionnaire. Data was collected by designated supervisor and recorded by investigator. The variables
were measured and analyzed. Chi-square analysis was used to study an association between variables of interest. Socio-demographically, female
predominated in a ratio of M:F 1:1.5, high school was the predominant educational level, and the majority of patients were single and student. Patients reported
an average social satisfaction and intellectual capacity. Most patients do not disclose their condition. Additionally, they reported psychological constraints,
difficulties in memory, and sleep disturbances. Patients have limitations that they do not perceive: overprotective families, limited educational, financial, and
recreational opportunities. Patients reported they are unsatisfied with their crisis control. Epilepsy is a medical diagnosis but also a social label. This leads
people with epilepsy to perceive a lack of social support, thus causing a more unfavorable quality of life.
2003 - BE012
MEDIA MAYHEM: THE NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL REACTION AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF TELEVISION ON CHILDREN
Natalie Rose Mergler
Chaminade-Julienne Catholic High School, Dayton OH, United States of America
The overall goal of this year's project is to provide insight into the physiological response to television and to determine whether all forms of TV affect children
equally or whether it is only violent forms of TV that effect them. The hypotheses are: 1. Children will experience raised cortisol levels after viewing TV and
these level will remain raised longer than the normal duration of cortisol. 2. The data after one month of controlled television diets will suggest that a reduction
in total TV hours is more effective than a reduction in violent programming. The students were initially shown a TV sample and saliva samples were obtained
before, immediately following and 90 minutes after the test to analyze the curve at which the cortisol diminishes. The students were monitored for one month in
which some were instructed to have the same TV habits, others limited total TV time and others limited violent TV shows but maintained the same total
television hours. The test was repeated and saliva samples were obtained as described above. An immunoblot assay was used to trace cortisol. A program
was compiled to analyze pixels of digital pictures of samples. This data suggested an abnormal curve in cortisol caused by television based on t-tests and
logarithmic regression analysis. Cortisol levels elevated for abnormal periods lead to functional lesions in the brain, which first affect the frontal lobes of the
brain which control aggressive and impulsive behavior. Data also suggests that a reduction in total television hours (logarithmic regression results in r2=0.8 to
the theoretical) not simply a reduction in violent programming (logarithmic regression results in r2=0.2 to the theoretical) is more effective. Thus is can be
suggested that all forms of television potentially result in abnormal cortical curves.
First Award of $1,000 and a certificate - American Psychological Association
2003 - BE056
SOLIDARY ACTION FOOD STRATEGY IN ADELIA MARIA, CORDOBA, ARGENTINA
Maria Laura Mola
I. P. E. M. N0 292, Adelia Maria, Cordoba, Argentina.
This applied investigation arose in view of the problem of lack of food in indigent families from Adelia Maria, Cordoba, Argentina. It approached a strategy
based on a solidary sustainable action during 2002, as an alternative of solution to the problem. The solidary action consisted in a nutritional plan
based on soy beans, a resource of the region. The designated people were 40 indigent families from an urban marginal neighbourhood of the town. The plan
was based on the making and distribution of food an the later training of the people. The objective of this was that people could learn to maket their own food
with soy beans and adopt the habit of eating them. During the exploratory phase of this descriptive study a non- participant and non- structured
observation was used. A documentary compilation was also used. The employed data collecting instruments were observation and interviews. 
 The investigation allowed to prove that a plan of solidary action is posible to make. It had a high level of support by farmers who donated soy beans. The
I.P.E.M. N0 292 school gave the place for the completion of the plan. People from other institutions supporter this action. These solidary actions together with
nutritional alimentary education provided a strategy that reduces the lack of food in indigent families. So it is thought to extend the scope of this plan to
all the indigent families of the town and make the benefits of it application known.
2003 - BE314
PERCEPTION IS REALITY THE EFFECTS OF IMPAIRED VISION
Kristian Robert Montano, Rikesh Chohan
Hillfield-Strathallan College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
The purpose of this project was to study the effects of the impaired vision produced by DRUNK BUSTERS Impairment Goggles™ on one’s ability to perform
basic tasks. The goggles used are designed to simulate the effects alcohol has on vision, but can be correlated to the visual effects of drugs and fatigue. 
 The experiment involved three tests on human subjects. Each test was done first with normal vision, and then with the goggles to simulate impaired vision.
For the first test, tables were positioned to form a maze. The tests were timed, adding three seconds every time something was touched. In the second test ten
small items (quarters, paperclips, etc.) were dropped from 1.5 m off the ground. Subjects were timed as they picked up the items and placed them in a
container. The third and final test was to catch a tennis ball ten times, thrown underhand from 2 m. The results obtained in the experiment showed that
the subjects’ abilities were greatly affected by the impairment goggles. In the first test the times to complete the maze more than doubled (from an average 24
seconds to 56 seconds). In the second test the times also doubled going from an average 14 to 29 seconds. For the final test, the success rate of catching the
ball went down from 100% to 53%. After the data was collected it was found that if vision is impaired, using the impairment goggles, then the ability to
perform basics tasks was greatly reduced.
2003 - BE039
HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE ORIENTATED AND PREPARED TO FACE A FIRE?
Francisco Javier Nazario
Jose S. Alegria, Dorado, Puerto Rico
The problem studied in this research was to determine how many families have the knowledge and the preparation to react to a fire in their house. The
hypothesis was that if the families have no knowledge and no preparation to face a fire in their house, they won't be able to act appropriately in case of a fire
emergency. The questionnaire consisted of two parts. Part I, had questions about the preparation and knowledge that people should have in case of an
emergency. Part II, has to do with the ability that people should have to manage a fire in the house. The questionnaire was administered to one hundred
families from Barrio Higuillar of Dorado. These were selected at random. The most outstanding discoveries were the lack of orientation and preparation among
these families to face a fire in their homes. These families would be vulnerable if a fire occurred because of their difficulty for leaving their homes safely. It was
also found that they are not prepared to confront a fire because of their lack of orientation and their lack of ability to use fire equipment.
2003 - BE304
DO LEARNING STYLES AND THIRD GRADE GPA PREDICT ACADEMIC SUCCESS?
Melissa Marie Neuwirth, Sonny Raye Massar
Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles MO, United States of America
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if learning styles and third grade GPA were predictors of academic success. There were 119 participants from
ninth to twelfth grade in this experiment. Fifty participants were part of the honors group which consisted of students in honors classes. These classes are
based on a 5.0 GPA scale. Fifty three participants were part of the control group, which consisted of non-honor level classes based on a 4.0 GPA scale.
Sixteen participants were at risk students, whose individual nature made it difficult to learn. All subjects were given a survey, Inventory of Learning Styles Test,
and a consent form to fill out. Null hypothesis one, stating that Learning Styles had no effect on academic success, was accepted. The dominant teaching
styles of high school are visual and sequential. When the GPA’s of the students with those dominant styles were compared between the three groups, honors
had higher GPA’s than other two groups. When the statistical analysis was done, this was proven insignificant. Null hypothesis two, stating that third grade GPA
had no effect on academic success, was rejected. When the change in GPA from third to ninth grade was compared, honors had less of a change than the
non-honors and at risk groups. This part of the experiment proved to be significant. Other factors were looked at from the survey such as family dynamics,
independent reading ages, and how information was taught in their classroom. The independent reading ages of the honors group were lower than those of the
non-honors and at risk groups. There was a higher divorce rate among those in the non-honors and the at risk groups. Change in GPA was compared between
the students who have a two-parent biological household, divorced parents, and other family circumstances.
2003 - BE055
HIDDEN INSTINCT
Ben Jacob Novak
Alexander High School, Alexander, ND USA
There are many questions about the way evolution works. Does natural selection strive for the most suitable physical characteristics? Or does it strive for the
most efficient behavioral characteristics? If it does, are these behavioral characteristics passed on genetically generation after generation like physical
characteristics? There is a theory to explain the answer to these questions. It is the theory of hidden instinct. It proposes that behaviors are passed on
genetically, and if the behaviors of the ancestral species are not needed in a particular descendent species, the behaviors stay hidden in the genetics and can,
in later evolved species that have use of the behaviors, become expressed once again. This suggests that evolution and natural selection are pushing for the
best suitable psychological traits for species survival, not only the physical traits that accompany the psychological characteristics. To test this theory, an
experiment has been designed to observe the behavior of planarians, animals with very simple and primitive brains. This is important because planarians would
make the base of the behaviors for most of the animal kingdom. The planarians are tested in wild and domestic habitats to observe if there is a hidden set of
behaviors not expressed by the worms in a the wild. These behaviors are examples of ³hidden instincts². The planarians are also observed for behaviors of
more advanced animals, offering proof for behaviors being genetically passed on from primitive species to more advanced species. This evidence would
provide the substantial proof for this intriguing new idea on the working of evolution. 
2003 - BE015
ABSOLUTE VS. RELATIVE PITCH: IT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS! OR IS IT TO MY MIND?
Sita Chandrika Palepu
James Madison High School, Vienna, VA, United States of America
Possessors of Absolute Pitch, “APers,” and Relative Pitch, “RPers,” differ in how they perceive music. This project’s purpose was to uncover what these
differences were and the cognitive reasoning behind them. The experiment consisted of three computerized tasks, programmed in visual basic (backend) and Matlab (front-end). Two tones were played in each task, and the subject was asked to determine the musical interval. The inter-stimulus-interval, “ISI,”
(time gap between two tones) was varied in the three tasks: 300 ms, 5 seconds, and 100 ms, respectively. Subjects were also asked to identify mistuning. 
 APers did significantly better than RPers in accurately perceiving the musical interval in tasks 1 and 2. Conversely, the RPers were more accurate in task
3. Also, RPers were more sensitive to mistuning. Using the empirical evidence, a theoretical model of the “neural pathway of perception” was
developed. It was concluded that memory attenuation detrimentally affects RPers, but not APers, as they can extract values for each tone from their
linguistically coded AP template in their long-term memory. Short ISIs force APers to switch to their ill-formed RP template, explaining their poor performance in
task 3. AP possessors perform a broad category search rather than a discrimination search, thus diminishing their ability to identify minor mistuning. 
The cohesive theory and model of music perception for AP and RP possessors lays a foundation for further applications in the development of a unified theory
of music and language perception/acquisition, and contributes to the long-term/short-term memory and nature/nurture studies and debates. 
First Award of $500 - Acoustical Society of America
Intel ISEF Best of Category Award of $5,000 for Top First Place Winner - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel Foundation
2003 - BE306
REACTION IN ACTION
Jeremy Keith Palsgrove, Gilbert Gutierrez
Nettleton High School, Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States
The purpose of the experiment was to test three different age groups ranging from twelve to eighteen on how quick their driving reaction time was. The
experiment was also divided by gender and the test subjects listened to three types of music while they were being tested. The experiment was done in order to
determine if there was a connection between reaction time and age, gender, or background music. The testing was also supposed to show if there were any
plausible relationships between the age of a person and the minimum age requirement for getting a driver's license. An apparatus was designed to
measure a driver's breaking time. The results were determined by playing three different types of music while testing and by having one test with complete
silence. Also the initial hope was to have a considerably large sample size of a diverse number of ages and an equal amount of males and females. This was a
partial success because the groups were fairly diverse, but the total sample size was only fifty-six people. The small sample size may have crippled the results
moderately but in the end they were determined to be reasonably fair. The final results of the project turned out better than expected. The different
age groups of males and females were tested and found to have noticeably different reaction times. The hypothesis was also found to be partially correct, since
the male middle age group had the quickest reaction time, but the female middle age group had the second best. The results were also very clear that younger
children and females had a slower reaction time and males over fourteen had the quickest. So all together, the experiment was a success and reliable results
were found. 
2003 - BE046
EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT MOVIE GENRES
Nicholas Jon Papez, Park City High School
Park City, UT, United States
My experiment is to watch four different movie genre's, and to see how people's emotional reactions were affected. During each movie, I recorded their pulses
every 20 minutes. During the movie, I recorded everyone on my camcorder for 15 minutes for their outward reactions. I also recorded how many times they
cried. The four different movie genre's are my independent variable and the people's emotional reactions are my dependent variable. I did this
experiment to find out how people react emotionally to different movie genres. Such as what genre will make people cry most or what genre gets people's pulse
rates beating the fastest. I also did this experiment to find out if by watching these movies creates any long lasting effects. Surprisingly, I concluded
that Horror and Drama are my most similar genres in audience response. Even though the genres are quite different, my data showed that they had many
similarities. Both genres had males and females that created distractions on certain emotional scenes and in both genres people cried, which shows that Horror
nand Drama were my most emotional genres. After I was finished gathering all my data, I compared pulse rates and outward reactions of different
individuals and sexes. I found out that the males are more emotional than the females even though they did not show it through their physical reactions and that
my hypothesis was correct which was that people's reactions do increase emotionally as movie genre's increase in emotional intensity.
2003 - BE022
IS THERE A CORRELATION BETWEEN LEFT HANDED AND READING DISABILITIES?
Jenna Rae Parisien
Turtle Mt. Community High School Box 440 Belcourt, ND 58316
Learning disabilities especially reading disabilities have been around for centuries, but it wasn't until the 1960's that researchers started to identify them. Many
studies have shown that we need to provide alternative methods to help people with disabilities learn to read in order to ensure a more productive population.
Methods currently being used are helping a few, but haven't been proven to be very effective. In my project, I wanted to find out if there was a
correlation between left handed people and having an increase in reading disabilities. If this is the case, finding methods to help people with reading disabilities
may have something to do with left and right brain people. To gather the information for my project, I contacted several schools and asked them for
their numbers of students with reading disabilities and whether they were right or left handed. I also found out the numbers of males and females. I found that
there was no increase amount of left handed people with reading disabilities compared to the normal population, but I did find a significant number of males
with learning disabilities compared to females. In the results I collected, 69% of the individuals with reading disabilities were male. One issue that may need to
be addressed in teaching people with reading disabilities is to use an approach that is more geared toward the differences between the way males and females
learn to read.
2003 - BE038
A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO MULTIPLE-WINNER ELECTIONS: AUGMENTING VOTER IMPACT THROUGH A CLEVER STRATEGY
Brian Jeffrey Pepper
Middletown High School, Middletown, MD, USA
The School Board in Frederick County, Maryland is elected in a multiple-winner election. Voters are allowed, but not required, to cast as many votes as there
are open seats. In a recent election, supporters of one candidate were urged to cast a single vote for that candidate only, discarding their other votes. This is
referred to as "undervoting." It would seem that this should help by limiting the votes cast for rival candidates, but its full impact is unclear. This project
attempts to quantify that impact through the use of mathematical models and computer simulations. A simplified election model divided voters into three groups:
undervoters (who use undervoting in support of a specific candidate), random voters (who vote essentially randomly), and traditional voters (who favor two
incumbents and may or may not oppose the undervoter candidate). Repeated election simulations were conducted to determine the effect of different sets of
assumptions. Overall, this project demonstrates that undervoting is an effective strategy that will increase voter impact by approximately 75%.
Traditional voters, voting against the undervoter-supported candidate, will have a significant negative impact on their candidacy. When the number of traditional
voters exceeds 2.5 times that of undervoters, the undervoter-supported candidate is effectively blocked from winning. Given these assumptions, the effect of
voter turnout is significant. An overall 2% change in support can easily be the difference between success and defeat. This strategy could be used by a
clever candidate to augment the impact of their supporters.
Full-tuition scholarships - Drexel University
Second Award of $1,500 - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel Foundation
2003 - BE017
DEVELOPING A TOOL TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED NEUROBLASTOMA UNDERGOING EXPERIMENTAL
THERAPY
Andrew Russell Pickett
Ossining High School, Ossining, New York, USA
This study developed and validated an assessment tool that can evaluate the quality of life of patients with neuroblastoma undergoing experimental therapy.
Participants consisted of a simple random sample of eighty-one pediatric oncology healthcare providers. Each was given a preliminary instrument and
instructed to answer the questions from the perspective of a patient. Following completion of the survey, a semi-structured interview was scheduled with half of
the participants to gain input from their professional opinion. To validate the tool both a quantitative and qualitative method was used. To test for
necessary item reduction, percent response was calculated for each question and those that did not receive a twenty-five percent or greater consensus were
removed. A Chronbach Alpha Test was performed on the survey to test for internal consistency and reliability. The survey was divided into four subcategories
for correlation analyses.. A standardized item alpha greater than .60 was necessary to label a group a reliable scale. All but one group achieved a high r-value,
therefore confirming internal consistency and reliability of the tool. Item addition was necessary in the group that did not pass the test. The qualitative analysis
confirmed the need for item addition in this group and identified what subjects should be added. After undergoing item reduction/addition and a Chronbach
Alpha Test for internal consistency and reliability the tool is confirmed valid. This tool can be used to provide healthcare professionals and patients
with more information on the effects of experimental therapy on quality of life enabling them to make an informed decision on participation. 
2003 - BE035
SPEED AND CELL PHONES - ARE MALE OR FEMALE BRAINS BETTER SUITED FOR THE TASK?
Elais M. Ponton
Franklin High School, El Paso Texas, USA
Using a simulation task, this project investigated whether hands-free cell phone use interferes with driving ability and if interference effects exist in brain activity.
This study also examined whether differences exist in the brain activity and driving styles between males and females. The null hypothesis was that there would
no significant interference effects on driving or brain activity, nor between males and females. Sixteen 15-17 year old teens were tested. Brain activity was
recorded from 40 EEG scalp electrodes from each subject during four conditions; (1) driving alone, (2) completing a simulated driving course without attending
to words presented through ear phones, (3) attending to words and counting target words without driving, and (4) attending and counting words while driving.
Overall, there was a significant increase in upper speed limit (> 80 MPH) violations while driving and counting words; further analysis showed this was only
statistically significant for males. While driving, subjects were significantly less consistent counting target words. In addition, brain activity associated with
memory processes necessary to detect target words was also significantly reduced while driving. A relationship was also found between levels of beta, 13-30
Hz, brain activity (associated with higher cognitive processes) and word counting, but only for females. Based on these results, the null hypothesis was
rejected. These findings suggest that even hands-free cell phone use negatively affects driving, more for males than for females. Conversely, driving impacts
both brain activity and memory processes required to remember information presented through headphones.
2003 - BE016
IDENTIFICATION OF ABSOLUTE PITCH POSSESSORS WITHOUT THE BIAS OF MUSICAL TRAINING; THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCREENING
PROCEDURE THAT DISCERNS BETWEEN TONES
Priya Ashoke Rajdev
Ossining High School, 29 South Highland Ave, Ossining, NY 10562, USA
The current definition for the specialized skill Absolute Pitch (AP) finds a middle ground between the dispute over the learned versus the innate nature of the
skill: AP is the ability to (1) internalize or remember a tone, and discern differences between two tones, and (2) the ability to apply a label to this internalization.
This two-fold description vastly broadens the population size of those who exhibit AP-qualities. However, the usage of procedures that test for AP via pitch
labeling tasks excludes a portion of the population without substantial musical background. The first test was based on existing musical procedures by
classifying individual notes by name in the western music scale. The other three tests were based on tone internalization and comparison, via self-referencing.
The results for each test were compared. There was a significant difference between test 1 and tests 2, 3, and 4 (p<.001). Based on tests 2, 3, and 4, two
groups were separated from the sample. One group compared self-identified AP and relative pitch possessors (RP) with AP and RP possessors identified by
tests 2, 3, and 4. The other group represented the similar performance of subjects without significant musical experience.
Second Award of $250 and a certificate - American Intellectual Property Law Association
2003 - BE302
SUBLIMINAL STIMULI – DO YOU GET THE MESSAGE?
Sadie Katherine Reinbold, Joo-Hye "Christine" Park
Timber Lake High School, Timber Lake, SD, USA
Our experiment was designed to see if people could receive messages without consciously recognizing what the message is. These messages are called
subliminal messages. We made a video clip to test if subliminal visual word stimuli would affect the test subjects. The video flashed ten subliminal
messages: five controls and five stimuli. The stimuli were actual words, but the controls did not show a word at all. The purpose of the controls was to see if the
correct word choices made by the test subjects were coincidental or not. Each message was flashed for 100 ms. After each message was given, we gave the
subject a set of five words: one synonym of the stimulus, one antonym, one word that begins with the same letter as the stimulus, and two words unrelated to
the stimulus. Then the subject circled one of the five words. In our hypothesis, we believed that the subliminal stimuli would affect the participants, and
they would choose one of the three words related to the corresponding stimulus included in the set of five words. We also hypothesized that the results will be
completely random on the word sets for the controls. After analyzing the data, we concluded that subliminal stimuli in the form of visual words flashed
during video presentations do not have an effect on the viewer. We compared the data for the control sets and the stimuli sets, but found no considerable
difference in the number of related words chosen in the two categories.
2003 - BE044
THE EATING DISORDERS PROJECT: PHASE ONE
Jocelyn Erin Roux
Sacred Heart Preparatory, Atherton, California, USA
The purpose of my project is to explore the impact of variables such as race, gender, or school environment on the rate of occurrence of eating disorders
among adolescents in the United States. To acquire this information I asked over 2700 guidance counselors to distribute surveys in their respective high
schools. I received a 7.5% response rate—about 10,000 surveys. I had help from family and friends in both coding the answers into numerical values for the
statistical analysis program and for data entry. To ensure consistency, each person was given instructions and a "code book" containing my procedures, and
examples. Phase One, which included designing a database for the information and training my family and friends to code and enter data, was completed in
February, 2003, with a total of 2300 surveys. Phase Two, to be completed in November, 2003, will include the rest of the 10,000 surveys. Several
trends emerged from Phase One data. A generally accepted statistic is that 10% of those affected by eating disorders are male. In my study, I found 13% of
those with eating disorders to be male, indicating a possible rise in eating disorders within that population. In addition, an alarming 2% of males and 10% of
females surveyed had or had had an eating disorder. My findings included that early onset of puberty doubled the chance of the participant's having an eating
disorder, that people with a family history of eating disorders do have a higher rate of occurrence, and that the Body Mass Index (a ratio of height to weight) of
those with eating disorders were less than a pound's difference from those without eating disorders (indicating that those with eating disorders are often not
underweight—a common misconception). The data from my project gives new evidence to support several current theories, disproves stereotypes that prevent
those suffering from an eating disorder from seeking help, and provides a uniquely large and varied database of information on eating disorders. 
2003 - BE036
PIPA - PROGRAM OF INCENTIVE TO APPLIED RESEARCH
Aishameriane Venes Schmidt
Fundação Escola Técnica Liberato. Novo Hamburgo. Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil
For thirteen years the Electronics Course of Liberato Foundation (Brazilian Technical High School) has in its scholarship plan a work, called PIPA (Program of
Incentive to Applied Research), where the third and forth grade students have to develop research works over the year. My project has the purpose of
investigates the PIPA, its relevance to involved students and teachers but without intention to solve a target-problem. It aims the analysis and interpretation of
data, configuring a qualitative research, following scientific production methodology. The field research was conducted at Liberato Foundation from
08/29 to 10/08/2002 and the interviewed people are ten third and fourth grade students and six teacher, all of them from the Liberato's Electronics Course. With
the interviews is possible analyze the opinion of the ones who have been through by the process of building scientific researches and compare the truth of
bibliography's data. Concluding, research works are seen by educators as essential elements in educative environment, once they escape from the
simple tranmission and copy of data and they make students search for information, producing their knowledge exchanging ideas with teachers. This increases
the worth of what students has learnt, makes them acquire new skills, grow and have contact with new elements, what rarely can provide. Proposals like PIPA
are greatly important to involves people because they allow that research can be made in high school with success. 
2003 - BE025
HOW RELAXATION AFFECTS THE BODY AND MIND
David Randall Schulze
Tom C. Clark High School, San Antonio, TX USA
This project investigated the effects of relaxation on the body and mind. Relaxation was achieved by having the subjects enter a sensory deprivation tank of
water and remain there for a short period of time. The tank measures 1.2192 X 1.2191 X 2.4384 meters and holds 0.90624 cubic meters of water. It holds
272.15544 kg of magnesium sulfate and it is located in a quiet area of the house. Thirty-six subjects were used for this project. The sensory
deprivation tank completely relaxes the body; consequently this allows for mental relaxation as well. Thirty-six subjects were divided into groups based on age,
gender, and the amount of time spent in the tank. Subjects were administered a battery of tests measuring both physical and mental abilities. The tests were:
SAT Math, SAT Language, Mental Processing Speed, Chimera Test of Mental Maturity, Content With Life, Blood Pressure, and Balance. Changes were noted
and the results were statistically analyzed according to a T test. The results indicated that young males received greater benefits and scored better on
the post-test. These results show a significant statistical difference. The overall mental state of subjects after being in the tank had a T value equal to
2.603723676 whereas, the subjects that did not enter the tank only indicated a T value equal to -0.6883692642 in scores comparing the pretest to the post-test.
This level of significance in the T test indicates that there is a positive difference in mental and physical abilities as a result of spending time in a sensory
deprivation tank.
2003 - BE037
RESEARCH ON SOME BEER COMMERCIALS AIRED ON TELEVISION ANALIZING THE ETHICAL ISSUE
Luis Fernando Prudente Silva, ETE Professor Basilides de Godoy
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The study of advertising allows us to understand many aspects of the image of the system itself and of its ideologies, being this research one mechanism to
help us in the knowledge and commerce of the product advertised through several media. This study had as goals: 1 – Analyze some beer
commercials aired on television, focusing on the ethical issue; 2 – Approach those commercials based on an analysis of the CONAR (National Board for SelfRegulation in Advertising) resolution. We have conducted part of the analysis from January 2002 to January 2003. The notes on what should be
focused on in the commercials were registered on a table with the following assessment criteria: Company; Brand; Product; Setting; Characters; Description of
the Commercial; Language (Discourse); How the commercial ends. In the commercials there are conversations between men and women in settings
of social gathering like bars and beaches, being the woman’s role always more prominent. The discourse is presented in an ambiguous way most of the times,
possibly disrespecting people’s sexuality or nationality. Thus, many times prejudice is presented as something usual in day-by-day media, fostering
discrimination and social problems. In conclusion, we have noticed that most of the analyzed commercials show transgressions of the Code of Ethics
in Advertisement, and therefore should not be aired. We also propose a more detailed study on such kinds of commercials. 
2003 - BE049
CORRELATIONS BETWEEN BRAIN HEMISPHERE DOMINANCE, PRIMARY LEARNING STYLE AND GENDER
Gordon Bradley Simmons
Aldershot School, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
The purpose of this project was to determine if there was a significant correlation between brain hemisphere dominance, preferred learning style and gender.
The reason for studying these variables and any correlations is to determine if there is a better way for people to learn. 84 students were tested using a
questionnaire that included a brain hemisphere dominance inventory and Kolb’s learning style inventory, and subjects were also asked to identify their gender.
14 adults were also tested as a control group for the possibility of an age variable. The results were collected and analysed using tools from the “Statistical
Package for Social Sciences Version 11” such as crosstabulations, and the Pearson product moment correlation with two-tailed significance. Both of these are
commonly used instruments in the field of statistics. The Pearson correlation tool determines the size and direction of a correlation, and crosstabulations assist
in graphing any relationship. It was determined that there were no significant correlations between any of brain hemisphere dominance, preferred
learning style or gender. The data leads us to believe that people cannot easily be classified into particular learning and thinking groups; each student
is different. In showing us that each student learns in unique ways, we can infer that the method we use to teach each student should be different. 
2003 - BE047
ALOJA VS. BEER: SIGNS AND SYMBOLS IN THE DIAGUITA COSMO VISION
Jose Maria Sosa
Club de Ciencias Cochuna - Concepción - Tucuman - Argentina
The Diaguitas, aborigins inhabiting the mountain regions of Tucumán and the carob forrest areas in the plains of Catamarca, La Rioja and Santiago del Estero
(Argentine), in the early periods, elaborated Aloja (white beer) from the ferments of the fruit of a sacred tree, the carob-tree (tacu: in quechua). The
object of the present investigation revolves around the lack of awareness of the traditional values of this people, and the socio, cultural, and religious
relationship regarding the Aloja. Life stories and interviews and survey, describe the ceremonies on the “collection of the fruit" and the "elaboration of
the Aloja". The study of archiologycal findings, leyends and miths help us find signs and symbols in the ceremonies intended to their gods; like “The
Pachamama” (mother land) and Chiqui (rain and earthquakes gods), where the drinking of Aloja provided the means to communicate with their gods. 
 The ceremonies were carried out in natural temples, specially under carob trees, helping them be in harmony with nature. Globalization favored
the substitution of the Aloja by beer, in the Pachamama rituals, the only ancient ceremony surviving still. Aloja survives only in the mind of the ancient
people, therefore the study and spreading of the Diaguita cosmo vision, from a magycal and cultural point of view will contribute to their revalorization.- 
 
2003 - BE002
THE EFFECTS OF CURVED AND SHARPLY ANGLED TURNS ON A MOUSE’S (MUS MUSCULUS) ABILITY TO COMPLETE MAZE.
Jonathan David Stanley
Clay High School, Green Cove Springs, Florida, United States of America
 The purpose of this project is to determine whether mice learn quicker in a maze with smooth curves or in a maze with sharp angles if both mazes
have the same pattern. The procedure for this experiment begins by obtaining the materials and constructing three mazes. Two mazes should have
the same pattern and length. The control maze should have a straight path and be the same length as the direct route of the other two. To begin the
experiment, place the bait at the finish point of the maze. Place one mouse at a time in the maze and allow it to finish before entering the next mouse. Record
the times of each mouse from the time they start to the time they finish the maze. Repeat the above steps until all five mice have completed the maze. Repeat
this process each day, at the same time of day, until each mouse has run each of the three mazes five times. The average run time for the mice to
complete each of the mazes was calculated in seconds as: Angle Maze - 202.32; Control Maze - 20.68; Curve Maze - 115. The average time that the mice
improved in each maze was calculated in seconds as: Angle Maze - 200; Control Maze – 4.2; Curve Maze - 47. The hypothesis was incorrect. The
mice recorded a higher average rate of improvement in the angle maze than they did in the curve maze. The mice recorded average approximate run times of
202 and 115 seconds in the angle maze and curve mazes respectively. Though the mice can run the curve maze quicker, it is easier for them to learn the angle
maze. 
2003 - BE013
THE PREVALENCE OF SLEEP COMPLAINTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Julianne Marie Susman
John Jay High School, Katonah NY, USA
Although the prevalence of sleep disorders is well established in the adult population, fewer studies have been conducted with adolescents. Changes in
circadian rhythms, busy schedules, earlier school start times, increased social and school work demands as well as other factors may predispose adolescents
to poor sleep habits. In addition, there may be underlying symptoms of sleep disorders that may further contribute to poor sleep habits. This study was
designed to determine whether otherwise healthy middle school and high school students report symptoms of common sleep disorders. The study was
conducted through a survey, based on a web-based survey found at www.sleepforscience.org. After IRB approval was obtained, copies of the survey, and
informational letter, and a mental health resource sheet was mailed to the parents of 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th grade students enrolled at a medium-sized
suburban high school. Surveys were returned anonynously, and data was entered into spreadsheets and analyzed using SAS (Chi square tests). The older
children reported less refreshing sleep and complained more often of symptoms of insomnia and snoring. There was a trend more girls to often report more
symptoms of insomnia. The results of the survey are consisten with the literature on short and unrefreshing sleep endorsed by adolescents. In addition, the
survey suggests there may be other factors impacting sleep that may contribute to daytime sleepiness. It may be important for health professionals to probe
into other possible sleep complaints when teens present with sleep delays.
2003 - BE048
SHAMANISTIC ANIMALS OF THE TOBA INDIANS' COSMOVISION: AN ENDANGERED CULTURAL TREASURE?
Lucrecia Cecilia Teran
Colegio Pablo Apostol, Yerba Buena, Tucuman, Argentina
The cultural richness of the “the Great Chaco” Indians, woke the interest of great number of ethnographs. But up to recent years researchers used oral
narrative without considering the complex articulation between the mythic conscience and the damage to the environment. In this project I explore the
Shamanistic Animals and their social and cultural importance, and the survival strategies of the Toba (Laaganasik Group), from Chaco and Sante Fe,
Argentina. Using the participant observation and the non directive interviews, I reconstructed a great treasure of myths, in which certain animals have a
shamanistic role, that make them essential to their nature-culture relationships. I present as contributions to the rescue of the oral literature: a
hierarchical system of theophanies and lords of the animals, in three dimensions of the Universe: heaven, earth and water; the relationships of the different
Toba pantheon animal figures in taxonomical and ecological backgrounds; the animal parliaments between different myth protagonists species; the taboo and
hunt regulations; the identification of messenger birds of Shamans. There is a progressive process of cultural dissolution, determined by the danger of animal
extinction of the focal mythic species. This process is increased by the settling of the Toba Indians in surrounding of big cities. I propose the application
of different community programs to safeguard the culture ethnic richness such as the edition of ethnozoological guides, the rescue of endangered animals and
learning service projects. I conclude that the positive cultural interactions give significance to the plurality of human existence. 
2003 - BE043
COLOR MY WORLD
Adrian Leanne Thomas
North Lamar ISD, Paris, Texas, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to find if the color you are surrounded by affects short-term memory. The test subjects were surrounded on 5 separate
occasions with 5 different solid color curtains that were red, yellow, green, blue, and white. To test audio short-term memory 20 words were called out during
the duration of one minute, and after the minute time period was completed the subject called back as many of the words that they could remember. Then, they
were handed a sheet with 10 pictures to memorize during one minute. When the time period was up, they were handed a blank sheet and a bag with 50
pictures in it. They were asked to find the pictures on the original sheet and put them in their correct position. To analyze data, the percent correct that each test
subject scored in the audio testing portion were averaged for each day, and then the visual scores were averaged in the same way. These percents were then
averaged together to find a total average percent correct for each day. The average percent of the audio and visual results showed Day 1(red) had 58%
correct, Day 2(yellow) had 64% correct, Day 3 (green) had 57.5% correct, Day 4 (blue) had 58% correct, and Day 5 (white) had 57% correct. It can be
concluded from the data that the color yellow stimulates short-term audio and visual memory when compared to the colors of red, green, blue, and white.
2003 - BE305
COMPARISON OF CEPHALIC INDEX AND COGNITIVE ABILITY IN MALE AND FEMALE HOMO SAPIEN
Lauren Olivia Titus, Leah Gaiser
Mustang High School, Mustang Oklahoma, USA
Does a correlation exist between cognitive ability and cephalic index (a ratio of breadth over length of a skull multiplied by 100)? None has yet been recorded,
hence the Hypothesis: If the cephalic index of a male or female in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade is calculated, then it will bear no correlation to the results of his
or her intelligence test. A study has been composed according to the following Procedure: A 72 cm caliper measures skull length from glabella to
opisthocranium and breadth across the zygomatic arches to calculate the cephalic indices of randomly-selected male and female subjects in each grade. An
Intelligence Quotient test, obtained through the World Wide Web, is ussued to each subject, and while it is not a professional test, thus cannot provide a
complete overview of the subject's abilities, it does serve as a means of comparison through data. The subjects are divided into 6 strata separated by both
grade and gender, and a two-sample t-test is executed within each stratum. The Purpose: To determine if the results show a relationship between cephalic
index and intelligence quotient. Results (average): 10th: Male index=77.9, quotient=109.4 Female index=79.4, quotient=113.3 
11th: Male index=77.5, quotient=107.6 Female index=77.9, quotient=112.7 12th: Male index=77.3, quotient=120.5 Female
index=80.2, quotient=124.0 According to the data above and the t-test series performed, we came to the following Conclusion: The data was
inconclusive, but the lack of discovery of a correlaion supports our hypothesis. Further testing is necessary for definite results.
2003 - BE041
RECALL OF VISUALLY PRESENTED MATERIAL
Shannon Quinn Turney
Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills KY, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether different forms of recalling memories, and whether leading questions, have any effect on false
memory creation. A real-time video of a car crash was shown to volunteers. Immediately after viewing the event, some subjects were asked to verbalize it in
written form and others in oral form. A third group did no formal recall. Testing with leading, moderately leading, or neutral questions followed in the same
session. Overall, those who did no verbal recall scored highest on individual items, with percentages ranging from 70% to 96%. Those who orally recounted the
event had the lowest accuracy, with correct responses only 32% to 50% of the time. There was one exception to the "no recall" group performing best. On that
item, those engaged in the written recall scored highest. In the analysis involving leading questions, trends were obvious. With questions that did not have
precisely defined answers, but rather required estimates, the leading questions were more effective in creating false memories. Other questions, that asked for
yes-or-no answers and expressed doubt, led subjects to believe that the answer to the item was "no" when in fact, it was "yes." Curiously though, some leading
questions produced an effect opposite to the intended effect, but further research would be necessary to understand this phenomenon. After one
week and again after two weeks, subjects were again tested with differently worded leading questions. In testing after one and two weeks, differences in
memory were observed; however, these did not reveal a specific trend. All results seem to indicate that verbally recounting events and responding to leading
questions enhance the likelihood of producing false memories. 
First Award of $5,000 - U.S. Coast Guard
2003 - BE027
DEAF, NOT DUMB: DISPELLING THE MYTH OF A MATHEMATICS DEFICIT AMONG DEAF STUDENTS
Casey Ann Vaughn
Lawrence High School, Cedarhurst, NY, USA
Conventional wisdom holds that deaf students do not perform as well as hearing students on tasks involving mathematics. Recent scholars have wondered if
the root problem lies in the percentage of word problems contained on typical standardized tests, but a link has never been empirically demonstrated.
Correlations between hearing condition, reading comprehension and mathematical ability were examined among students in three NYS schools – two nonresidential deaf schools and one public elementary school. The present study investigated the degree to which word problem score was influenced by reading
comprehension score, sorting subjects by condition. Data analysis concluded that deaf children scored significantly lower on tasks involving reading
comprehension and world problems, but scored comparably on tasks involving only simple arithmetic. It was therefore concluded that the so-called
“mathematics deficit” in deaf children lies not in the area of symbolic mathematics, but rather in the reading comprehension difficulties which interfere with full
understanding of word problems.
Third Award of $250 - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Scholarship in the amount of $8,000 - U.S. Navy & Marine Corps
2003 - BE029
THE EFFECT OF STEREOTYPE THREAT ON HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' PERFORMANCE ON A MATH TEST
Sarah Elyse Waldman, 7 Pine Drive South, Roslyn, New York 11576
Roslyn High School, Roslyn, New York, USA
Stereotype threat is thought to occur when the fear of validating a negative stereotype leads members of the targeted group to inadvertently confirm the
stereotype (Aronson, 1999; Spencer, Steele, & Quinn, 1999). Two experiments were performed to investigate the impact of stereotype threat on high school
girls’ math performance. In the first experiment, 102 high school students were asked to take an exam that resembled a shortened SAT I. The experimental
manipulation took place in the first reading passage where participants were randomly exposed to one of four reading comprehension passages. In the three
experimental groups, the passage pertained to gender differences in math performance. Participants were either told girls are better in math, boys are better in
math, or that girls and boys are equal in math ability. The control group read a passage about campaign finance reform in order to avoid subtly triggering
stereotype threat in the participants. An ANOVA did not reveal the anticipated interaction between student gender and condition that would indicate stereotype
threat. The experiment was then replicated using a manipulation check to ensure that the students had noticed the stereotype and to confirm the absence of
stereotype threat in this population. Once again, an ANOVA found no evidence of stereotype threat. A main effect for gender, however, approached
significance (p=.053); the girls outscored the boys regardless of condition. Differences between the high school and college environments as well as the
idiosyncrasies of this school and community are discussed as possible reasons for the surprising results.
2003 - BE050
GENDER AND FACULTY PERCEPTION OF ADOLESCENT ADJUSTMENT
Erin Margaret White
Immaculata High School, Somerville, NJ, USA
The purpose of this research was to determine if the gender of an individual athlete affected the score given by a high school teacher to evaluate an individual's
adjustment to adolescent life. Three identical case studies, which included details of an adolescent's lifestyle, were administered to two central New Jersey high
schools. The case presented differed only by the gender of the individual. The means of the 30 male case responses and the 29 no gender case responses
were not significantly different, but a t test indicated an extremely significant difference between the male case and the 30 female case responses. It was found
that high school teachers view female adolescent athletes as far less adjusted to life based on sex role stereotyping.
2003 - BE059
TWINS WIN?
Ruth Anne Whitfield
Reserve High School, Reserve, NM 87830, USA
After being fascinated with my identical twin nephews and participating in controversial clone/twin debates I decided that I would conduct a Science Fair
experiment with twins as my subject. I focused on non-verbal communication and came up with a project focused on the comparison of twins, siblings, and
same age subjects in terms of playing charades. I organized data on number of guesses and time completion. Twins were most successful throughout this
project. My results show that twins nailed the charade 87.2% of the time, siblings with a lower 76.4%, and same age subjects behind with the least - 69.4%. In
time completion (correctly guessing the charade within the designated limit) twins had a success rate of 80.1%, behind them were the siblings with 71.4%, and
last were the same age subjects with 65.8%. My results support my hypothesis. The twins communicated nonverbally more effectively than the other test
subjects (siblings and same age subjects). If I were allowed to continue my project I would make an effort to increase my sample size.
2003 - BE008
MATH MADE FUN!
Kellyn Jo Wilkinson
Monte Vista High School, Monte Vista, CO, United States
The purpose of this project was to evaluate small group activities for problem solving as a method to improve individual problem solving skills. It is
believed that the more language children use in problem solving, the more methods they will use. The more methods the student uses the better his/her
understanding. By allowing students to work together and learn from each other, they will be better prepared to work the problems on their own. Two
separate classes were used, one with twelve students and one with sixteen. Each of these students were given an individual assessment. Half of the students
from each class were involved in group activities. After meeting with the groups six times, students were given another individual assessment to determine any
progress. This process was repeated until the students had taken five assessments. The group activities as well as the assessments were coordinated with
what they were learning in class at that time and were approved by the teachers involved. The results show that group activities do improve the
individual problem solving skills of first grade students. The variable groups were able to explain their methods, use more mathematical language, and solve the
problems in various ways. A t-test showed that Class 1 was statistically valid at a level of alpha .05. Class 2 showed significance at alpha .001. When the
groups were combined, the results were reaffirmed by significance shown at alpha .001.
2003 - BE060
THE EFFECTS OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SPACE REVERSAL ON VISUAL PERCEPTION IN CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT DYSLEXIA: PHASE III
Stephanie Alexandra Williams
Pacific Collegiate School, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
The Purpose of this study was to determine if children between the ages of nine and twelve with dyslexia are able to read and understand with more accuracy
passages presented when the positive and negative space is reversed (black background with white letters). It was hypothesized that the reading accuracy and
comprehension of the dyslexic students would be improved with this reversal of positive and negative space. A test was created consisting of four paragraphs
(two presented normally and two reversed) and two reading comprehension questions per passage. A total of 37 dyslexic students and 34 non-dyslexic
students were tested. The students were given 90 seconds to read each passage, the reading comprehension questions were given and answered orally. 
 It was found that the dyslexic students made less errors when reading the passages presented on the black background. The reading comprehension of
the dyslexic students was slightly improved by the reversal of positive and negative space.The reversal of the positive and negative space had no effect on the
non-dyslexic students reading accuracy or comprehension. A chi-square test was completed comparing the black and white background reading accuracy for
the dyslexic students. This test yielded a P-value of 3.46E-20 (a highly significant value). In addition a Comparison of Two Means test was also completed
comparing background color which also yielded significant results. Finally a 99% Confidence Interval was established, from which it can be said with a 99%
confidence that the mean reading errors of the dyslexic students will be 1.65 less when reading reversed passages. Thus, it can be concluded that it is
beneficial for dyslexic students to read passages presented when the positive and negative space is reversed.
Second Award of $500 - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2003 - BE311
HOW FAST IS YOUR BEAT?
Nitra Cassedy Woods, Felecia Jones
Andrews High School, Andrews, TX
We decided to determine how types of music affect people while driving using reaction times and blood pressure. We selected 60 high school students, 30
male/30 female, who could legally drive. We used songs of different music types, such as rap (Eminem "Lose Yourself"), rock (Disturbed "Stupified"), and
classical (Instrumental by Beethoven). Testing consisted of two parts: driving a car and using a reaction time box we constructed. We measured blood pressure
before/after each song for the driving and box tests. Drivers were instructed to drive around cones placed in the stadium parking lot while listening to music
types, whereas the reaction box used different colored flashing light. Upon completion of testing, overall average blood pressures, in ascending order by
diastolic, were: Boys -- classical 127/66, control 129/68, rap 128/73, rock 129/73; Girls -- control 122/62, rap 126/71, rock 127/71, classical 125/72. Results for
the overall average of the participants' reaction box times, in order by second length, were: Boys -- control 1:43 seconds, classical 1:54 sec, rock 1:97 sec, rap
2:06 sec; Girls -- control 1:60 sec, classical 1:80 sec, rap 2:14 sec, rock 2:58 sec. Rock and rap affect reaction times as all participants became slower than
their control or classical, yet blood pressure increased with all music forms, except classical. Based upon these results, employees in jobs requiring quick
reaction times do not need to listen to music while working.
2003 - BE301
BRAIN VS BRAWN: DOES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AFFECT PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION?
LaShanna Antoinette Young, Dionne LaBrada Solomon, Kyle Landon Young
WildWood High School, Wildwood, Florida, USA
When starting this project, the researchers involved were curious to determine whether a relationship exists between physical health and psychological
function. From their inquiries, the researchers discovered that physical activity increases blood and oxygen flow to the brain and creates new brain cells as well
as dendrites. In order to test their hypothesis, the researchers presented a questionnaire containing two memorization tests to ten of the athletes on
both the girls' and boys' basketball teams at their school. They also distributed the tests to ten non-athletic students who attended their school. Each of the
three groups were given the tests at three times during the course of nine weeks, leaving three-week intervals in between each testing session. Distrubuting the
tests at these particular times would ensure that the athletes' progress in relation to the advancement of physical activity in their daily regimen could be
recorded and compared to the scores of the non-athletes. After the testing, the three researchers collected and compared the questionnaires to be used as
data in their project. Via their research, the researchers discovered that a link does exist between physical activity and cognitive function. The
experiment also proved true the original hypthesis, showing higher test averages for the athletes in comparison with the non-athletes, as well as a rise in the
athletes' scores as the season progressed and physical activity increased. Therefore, through their experimentation and research, these researchers have
come to the conclusion that physical activity should result in elevation in the psychological function of humans. 
2003 - BE303
IS PESTLE-SHAPED THUMB GENETICALLY CONTROLLED?
Songyue Zheng, Jie Geng , Ping Yang
Zhengzhou Normal School ,Zhengzhou,Henan Province,China
Pestle-shaped thumb, which is characterized by a high ratio (about two) of the width to the length of thumbnail, is frequently observed in Chinese population.
However, it is still unknown whether this phenomenon is genetically controlled. The objective of the present study was to investigate the genetics of pestleshaped thumb. The physical survey was performed on 12180 students in 15 elementary and middle schools around Zhengzhou area, Henan province, China.
Data analysis demonstrated that pestle-shaped thumb is genetically controlled with a relatively constant occurrence at approximately 2% in the population
studied. The results also indicated that pestle-shaped thumb is not sex-linked. Furthermore, some families have a high occurrence frequency of pestle-shaped
thumb. Forty pedigree families with high occurrence of pestle-shaped thumb were further analyzed. Pedigree analysis also suggested that pestle-shaped thumb
is unlikely controlled by one pair of allele genes. Instead, multiple genes may be involved in the genetic control of this inherited phenomenon. In conclusion,
pestle-shaped thumb is an inherited character, which is controlled by multiple genes.The further genetic analysis about pestle-shaped thumb, its distribution,the
ratio among different nationalities and possible linked markers will be carried out and characterized in the near future.
2003 - BE045
DO PUPIL SIZE CHANGES CORRELATE WITH OTHER BIOPHYSICAL RESPONSES? (BIG EYES, BIG LIES?)
Christina Marie Mariolana Zoccoli
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States
The threat of terrorism to America’s public transportation increases the need to adequately screen all passengers. Unfortunately, security resources are very
limited, and current procedures are highly subjective and largely based on ethnic profiling. Ideally, the threat that each passenger poses could be
assessed by using traditional lie detectors that monitor bodily responses while asking questions such as, "Are you carrying any weapons?" However, this is
neither unobtrusive nor practical. Since bodily responses measured during lie detector tests (heart rate, respiration rate, galvanic skin response, and
blood pressure) correlate with one another, it is possible that they also correlate with pupillary size, another more unobtrusively observable response. A
"veracity score" could be given to each passenger based on this observed response during routine questioning. A "score threshold" could then identify
passengers whose threat potential warrants additional screening. This experiment investigates the correlation between the traditional lie detector
measurements of galvanic skin response, respiration rate, and pulse rate, and the unobtrusively measured investigational response, pupillary size.
Measurements of these biophysical responses are taken during questioning with a series of emotionally neutral questions, and a series of non-offensive, nonpersonal questions designed to evoke an emotional response. Statistical analysis of the results indicates the degree to which the new measure of pupillary size
correlates with the traditional lie detector biophysical responses. The results of this project suggest an easy and unobtrusive way for Homeland
Security to asses each passenger’s likelihood of posing a threat, by evaluating their pupillary responses to relevant questioning.
Award of $3000 in savings bonds, a Certificate of Achievement and a gold medallion. - U.S. Army
First Awards of $3,000 - U.S. Air Force
2004 - BE038
GPS NAVIGATION MEANS OF TRAVEL FOR THE BLIND
Ameen Abdulrasool
Lane Technical High School, Chicago, IL., U.S.A.
In modern society independent travel is a prerequisite for both success in education and employment. Navigation for the visually impaired not only involves
finding a safe route for travel but landmarks for orientation as well. This experiment examined the effectiveness of a satellite navigation system when used to
help the blind navigate. A satellite navigational tool was adapted for the blind using a Global Positioning System (GPS) along with a compact flash
adapter and a personal digital assistant (PDA). An obstacle course was created and a comparison was made between the use of memorized directions and the
use of directions given by the navigation system, in which the errors made and the course completion time of 18 individuals subjected through the course was
measured and analyzed. It was concluded that the GPS navigational tool adapted for the blind helped the blind navigate more efficiently in
comparison to their conventional techniques. The mean errors committed with the navigational tool were 1.67 with a mean completion time of 23.42 minutes; as
compared to the 3.44 mean errors committed with a mean completion time of 33.07 minutes without the navigational tool, thus saving 1.77 errors and 9.65
minutes on the course. 
2004 - BE036
COUNTING FEATURES: QUANTIFYING DISCRETE PARTS IN VISUAL OBJECT IDENTIFICATION
Henny Admoni
J. L. Miller Great Neck North High School, Great Neck, NY, USA
People visually detect simple gratings, made of alternating bars of black and white, by detecting the bars independently. More generally, it seems that the visual
identification of ordinary objects is based upon the independent detection of several features: discrete components of the image that are detected
independently of each other (Robson and Graham, 1981; Pelli, Farell, and Moore, 2003). However, the number of features we use to identify a complex image
remains unknown. Assuming that identification requires the detection of a certain number of features, and that features are detected independently over time,
the probability of identification will grow as a binomial function at a rate determined solely by the number of features required. Thus, measuring the proportion of
correct identifications as a function of duration should reveal the number of features used by the observer. The accuracy of this method was confirmed in
specific cases where the number of features used was already known, and successfully applied to key examples of the general case.
Scholarship award of $20,000 - Department of Homeland Security
The SIYSS is a multi-disciplinary seminar highlighting some of the most remarkable achievements by young scientists from around the world. The students
have the opportunity to visit scientific institutes, attend the Nobel lectures and press conferences, learn more about Sweden and experience the extravagance
of the Nobel festivities. - Seaborg SIYSS Award
First Award of $3,000 - U.S. Air Force
2004 - BE051
ATTENTION SPAN AND ITS CORRELATION TO DRIVING IN ADOLESCENTS AND SENIOR CITIZENS (THROUGH COMPUTOR PROGRAMMING AND
ANALYSIS)
Jordan Andrew Arvan
Wellington Community High School, Wellington, Florida, United States of America
The purpose of this project was both to design an attention span test, and to use this test to see whether senior citizens or adolescents of driving age have
greater attention spans and how it relates to driving. The researcher hypothesized that the seniors would have a greater attention span than that of the
adolescents; however the researcher failed to consider that the reaction times of the two groups greatly differed, or that the seniors might have problems with
peripheral vision. The researcher developed a power point presentation modeled loosely off the Conner’s Continuous Performance Test. Twenty-five
test subjects from both groups were exposed to two six minute displays, each of which contained the same fifty-seven letter arrangement. The latter included
both audio and video clips as a means of distraction. The test data revealed little difference between the groups in the first test. However, the second test
showed a great difference between the two, were as the adolescents had a degradation of 4% from the first test the senior citizens had a degradation of 16%.
The test results proved the researcher’s hypothesis incorrect. One plausible cause could be that the senior citizens did not have attention span problems but
had problems with their reaction times or peripheral vision. 
2004 - BE029
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
Tracy M. Autenrieth
Boone Grove High School, Valparaiso, IN
The purpose of this project was to determine which gender, male or female, would more quickly and accurately perceive emotions as shown on the human
face. It was hypothesized that females would be able to recognize emotions in a shorter time and have a higher accuracy rate when compared to males. 
 Fifty males and fifty females were randomly selected to participate in this study. Each subject viewed a series of twenty photographs of human faces
exhibiting different emotions. Participants selected the appropriate emotion from a list of five choices. The total time for completion of each test was recorded.
Averages were calculated for both accuracy and for the time required to complete the test for each group. Analysis of the data indicated that females
and males were about equal in their ability to identify the emotions (females 89%, males 87.8%). Although females on average were able to complete the test in
a shorter period of time (female average 47 seconds, male average 51 seconds), statistical analysis using a t-test failed to show a significant difference at the
95% confidence level. Thus, the results of this research failed to support the hypothesis. 
2004 - BE305
URBAN-RURAL COMPOST PREPARATION ACCEPTANCE DESCRIPTIVE COMPARASION
Ishwara Margarita Ayala, Frances Saez Diaz
S.U. Maria C. Santiago, Comerio, Puerto Rico
The purpose of this study is to determine the acceptance that the residents of the urban and rural zone of the Municipality of Comerío have to produce
compost. This arises as a result of the lack of efficient mechanisms that the recycling program of Comerío has for the recycling of organic materials. To gather
information an 11 questions questionnaire was developed. The questions were divided into four categories (general information of the interviewed person,
types of wastes in the home, participation in recycling campaigns and knowledge about the composting). This questionnaire was administered to 20% of the
residents of Sabana del Palmar Urbanization (urban) and to the residents of Parcels of Palomas (rural). In order to select the houses where interviews were
going to be held, a systematic sampling was made. The starting point was selected at random and from there the interviews were made at each fifth house until
completing the sample. The results demonstrated that the urban zone produced more solid wastes than the rural zone. It was found that the residents of the
rural zone had greater knowledge of the term composting. Both sectors considered that the composting is a natural mechanism of recycling. 50% of the
persons surveyed in the rural zone were very interested in producing compost in their homes and 41.75% from the urban zone were very interested. With the
data collected in this investigation the Recycling Project of Comerío is due to establish a pilot plan to produce compost in this Municipality. 
2004 - BE025
THE CHIMPANZEE (PAN TROGLODYTES) VOCALIZATION PROJECT REDISCOVERING A LOST FORM OF COMMUNICATION
Elizabeth (Liz) Anne Baker
University High School, 422 N. Arcadia Blvd, Tucson, AZ USA 85711
Over a four-month period of time, the vocalizations of sixteen captive chimpanzees were observed. Reliability in the identification of the types of vocalization
was ensured through a two-year registered training program. Using the only established chimpanzee data collection instrument resulted in a total of 960 data
points.. Because there were limitations in the established instrument, a more descriptive qualitative system for documenting vocalizations was adapted. Both
the quantitative and qualitative data were compared to a worldwide database of 44,762 chimpanzee data points. An analysis of the data revealed
that chimpanzees in the selected population vocalize in ways that were never before recognized. The vocalizations were significant at the 0.000000003 level.
Out of the 581 vocalizations, Pant Hoots and Bronx Cheers were significant at the .05 level. In addition, five previously unidentified vocalizations were detected.
Chimpanzees that vocalized the longest per hour were the oldest and only wild-caught chimpanzees (Bonnie 11.67% and Toto 9.33%), and, interestingly, the
one who vocalized the shortest was the nationally famous, Gracie (0.35%), who continuously escapes. There were 69 absent vocalizations in emotional
situations refuting the common belief that chimpanzee vocalizations stem only from their limbic system, not the language center, on the brain. It
is clear that chimpanzees vocalize far more than previously imagined. Two vocalizations are particularly significant to their communication. Researchers can no
longer assume that all vocalizations have been identified since a new type of vocalizations was discovered. This study established a baseline for current
research and a mandate for future studies. 
Second Award of $700 - American Veterinary Medical Association
2004 - BE039
MUSIC: CONNECTING TWO WORLDS TOGETHER
Alicia Marie Baumgartner
Strasburg Public High, Strasburg, North Dakota, United States
The objective of this project was to teach kindergartners how to count from 1-10 in Spanish and 5 other simple Spanish words through the use of music. Also,
to see if the children will respond to the music allowing them to use another sense (other then visual) while learning. Each Spanish number (1-10) and each
new word was then given a note on the keyboard to match. Half of the class was exposed to the music while the other half was not. The students were
introduced to the Spanish in the same day and immediately quizzed on how many they could recall. For the music students, the matching note was played
when exposed to the visual and while trying to recall them. All numbers and words were then reviewed with the students once and they were asked to
recall as many as possible. The students were then asked to recall the numbers and words without any review. Again the music was played for the music
group. Then without any review or music, the Spanish words and numbers were recited in Spanish and the students were asked to act as translators and
respond correctly in English. Finally, all the students were together and given a written/oral test. The Spanish numbers were called off in a random order and
students were asked to write down the correct number. Each student also received 5 cards with the pictures drawn on them. The words were called off one at a
time and the students were suppose to put the card containing that picture face down on their desk and the next card on top and continue with the pattern. In all
tests that were conducted individually with each student, the music students were able to recall more numbers and words. In the final number test without any
music, those previously exposed to it still averaged higher scores then the students without the music. All students received a perfect score when tested on the
Spanish words using the 5 flash cards. 
2004 - BE033
CONTINUED LUNACY 2003-2004 THE AFFECTS OF THE FULL MOON ON HUMAN (CRIMINAL) BEHAVIOR
Christine Jamie Bedont
Carbon High School, Price, Utah USA
The purpose of my science fair project is to continue the research started last year which proves a change in human behavior with the full moon. To complete
this project, I expanded my research to include rural Carbon County and urban Salt Lake County and cities located in each county. I collected data on criminal
activity on my control date and the date of the full moon each month during the year 2003 from several public safety agencies within these areas. The agencies
involved were Price City Police Department, Helper City Police Department, Price City Fire Department, Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, Salt Lake City Police
Department, South Salt Lake City Police Department, Salt Lake County Fire Department and Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. I counted each call/report from
each agency for each date and calculated the percent of change from the control date to the full moon date. The results from each department showed a rise in
criminal activity on the date of the full moon. This data again proved my hypothesis correct both in rural and urban areas. Each agency also
participated in a survey to obtain their personal opinions of whether or not the full moon theory of behavioral change was believed. From these surveys, I
ascertained that most believed in the phenomenon but no agency planned on any extra personnel to be working on those nights. The percent of change found
with the data would support this decision. 
2004 - BE316
STOPPED BY THE LIGHT
Tyler Reynolds Belcher, Tyler Johnston
South Oldham High School, Crestwood Kentucky, United States
The purpose or problem of this experiment is to find out if making stop signs more visible will affect the percentage of people that stop at the stop sign
(hopefully increase the percentage). The way in which we (my associate and I) conducted this experiment is by placing a regular flashing light on the stop sign.
Our hypothesis is that when a flashing light is placed on the stop sign, making it more visible, more people will stop at the stop sign. First my
associate and I collected data by recording how many vehicles stop at a specific stop sign when there is no enhanced visibility. This took several trials to get
sufficient data (200 cars). Once we completed this portion of our experiment, we placed a flashing light on the stop sign and then recorded how many vehicles
stopped at the stop sign. After this portion of the experiment was completed, all necessary data had been collected and we compared the two sets of data. 
 Our results show that the flashing light had a large effect on how many drivers stopped at the stop sign. The effect was that more people stopped when the
flashing light was on the stop sign. Although, we cannot conclude if the light caused the people to stop because they could see the stop sign better and actually
care about the law, or if they where just wondering why it was there in the first place. 
2004 - BE319
ISOLATION AND EVALUATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
Brice Alfred Bongiovanni, Sameer Gorav Gupta
Central High School, Macon, Georgia, USA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) traces maternal heritage, placing an individual in a lineage group, called a haplogroup. Four haplogroups were known in the
Americas, but a fifth, previously found only in Europe, was discovered in pre-Columbian remains in Illinois (1200 AD). The Libben site (800 AD) in Ohio is one
of the largest burials found in North America. No genetic typing had been done on American remains prior to 1200 AD. The purpose of the experiment
was to isolate and haplogroup-type mtDNA from the Libben remains. The hypothesis was mtDNA could be isolated from Libben site teeth samples and that
Native American haplogroups could be demonstrated with molecular techniques. Teeth from five individuals were obtained from the owner of the
remains. The root of each tooth was separated from the enamel and ground into a powder. DNA was extracted with phenol/chloroform. The DNA was
precipitated with sodium acetate and ethanol. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment analysis were used to amplify DNA in specific regions
of the mitochondria to detect haplogroups A, B, C, and D. Results showed mitochondrial DNA was isolated from all individuals and Native American
DNA was demonstrated in one individual. Degradation and lack of sufficient DNAs prevented determination of haplogroups in the remaining individuals. This
project extends the current finding of Native American haplogroups approximately 300 years prior to the previous oldest report in the literature. 
Award of $3,000 in savings bonds to be shared equally by team members, certificates of achievement and gold medallions - U.S. Army
2004 - BE030
THE PEER PRESSURE EFFECT
Cristina Maria Costantini
University School of Milwaukee, Milwaukee WI, USA
The purpose of this experiment is to measure the degree to which peer pressure affects eighth grade students. In order to assess the effects of peer
pressure on eighth graders, the true intent of the project was not revealed to the test subjects, and was presented in the form of a math test. The individual test
subjects were verbally presented with fifteen basic math problems to solve mentally. Each test subject was then told that he or she would take an identical test
with a group of three other test subjects. In reality, these three other subjects were "plants", instructed to intentionally give the wrong answers. The "plants"
always gave their answers first, and afterwards the test subject was asked for the answer. The purpose of this test was to evaluate the percentage of times that
the test subjects would give the wrong answers to conform with the wrong answers given by the group. Peer pressure was found to be a very strong
force in these subjects. The range of data was great, spanning from those test subjects who never gave in to peer pressure, to those who gave in to peer
pressure ninety percent of the time. This test could be used in practical life situations to assess one's suseptibility to peer pressure. If a person could
be so influenced by peer pressure in a subject as concrete as math, imagine how they could be affected in the more subjective situations that they confront in
their every day life. 
2004 - BE028
INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE EYEWITNESS FACIAL IDENTIFICATION
Elisabeth Lee Crabtree
Byng High School, Ada Oklahoma, USA
Eyewitness identification of a suspect is an influential factor in criminal investigations. The purpose of this project was to determine if eyewitness age, gender,
race, or written descriptions after seeing a face affect identification of the face in sequential and lineup viewing. Twelve male faces--six Caucasian and six
African American--were created using a computer program. One hundred twenty subjects in each of three age groups (9-12, 14-18, and 21 years and older)
with equal numbers of males and females viewed the target face, followed by half the subjects writing a description of the face. The target face was ordered
differently in three groups of six faces--two sequential and one lineup--for identification. The largest numbers of incorrect responses were from the
youngest subjects, especially those who did not write descriptions, which does not support the theory of verbal overshadowing of visual memory. Both younger
age groups made more mistakes identifying the African American face. A split-split-plot factorial ANOVA showed significant effects based on subject age
(p<.005), whether they wrote descriptions (.01<p<.025), the target face race (p<.005), and the interaction between subject age and target face race (p<.025).
These factors should be considered during forensic investigations.
2004 - BE303
PROBLEM SOLVING
Ren Austin Curry, Heather Capps
Fernley High School, Fernley, NV, USA
We investigated problem solving strategies and differences in completion time in subjects of both genders ranging from 5 to 75 years of age. Each subject was
asked to assemble a simple (24 piece) jigsaw puzzle. We recorded the strategies they used, completion time, gender and age. Strategies were identified as
follows: starting with the picture starting with the border no apparent pattern (random) Completion time was taken from the
time the puzzle box was opened until the last piece was placed into the puzzle. We have found a statistically significant difference in completion times
between genders and are continuing to research this question. Other data are thus far inconclusive, but we hope that information from additional subjects will
give us better results. 
2004 - BE031
LIVING MEMORY
Elias Queiroz de Oliveira Junior
EMEF José maria Lisboa, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
This research concerns recovering Jardim da Saúde’s neighborhood and Escola Municipal José Maria Lisboa’s history from the memory of the people who live
there. Studying the reality that is close to the student, it’s the starting point for an investigation about the world that surrounds us and will serve as a
fundamental point to develop history concepts, essential to the comprehension of our reality. The student is an active player in the learning process, building his
own knowledge, and noticing that they are actors in history; they are active citizens in the social process. Therefore, retelling Jardim da Saúde’s
neighborhood’s history, started by studying the population movements (the first residents, immigration, emigration). From this point, the research got more
meaningful, by analyzing other aspects following the subsequent steps: 1st– Gathering data from Official Sources (number of habitants, number of
houses, buildings and other establishments built, etc.); 2nd–Reading and examining possible sources about the neighborhood’s history (newspapers,
magazines, websites); 3rd– Compilation and Examination of visual documents, such as photographs, maps, blueprints, etc; 4th– Checking
and Examining actual cultural legacy: Church, houses and also the school; 5th– Reading Historical Texts; 6th– Composing a text about the
neighborhood’s history; 7th– Developing a Power Point presentation with all the data collected. 
2004 - BE005
"WHERE DID THEY GO"
Steven Michael Dodson
Drew Central Schools, Monticello, AR, USA
In the past farmers were continually spraying for boll weevils and worms. The spraying of chemicals in the crop fields helped to maintain control of the stinkbug.
After the BG Cotton and Boll Weevil Ratification programs there has been less need for spraying of crop fields. This has allowed the stink to dramatically
multiply. This in turn has reduced the crop yield and to farmers this has reduced income. The purpose of this project was to monitor the feeding and
movement patterns of the stinkbug. The hypothesis was the stink bug does not have a particular movement pattern and their food preference is the cotton boll.
 One hundred and thirty-five stinksbugs were selected, noted by gender and numbered on the underside of their abdomen. Each stinkbug was
equipped with a diode which was glued with rubber cement on their back. The stink bugs were released into a fifty-acre field planted in milo, corn,
cotton, soybean and sorghum. A recco tracing device was used to monitor the movement of the stinkbugs from one field to another. They bugs preferred the
soybean fields over the cotton field. In conclusion there was no particular movement pattern. The stinkbugs will feed at the most available food source,
but when the bugs have a choice of food, they prefer soybean.
2004 - BE052
PLURINEMOCIENCIA
Guillermo Evangelista
C.M.G. "Ramon Castilla", Trujillo, PERU
The present work of investigation of denomindated influence of plurimenemciencia in the learning of the area the science technology and environment of the
fourth degree of secondary education. It proposes a new educational option, in which will allow the student to learn playing making of this an active entity, and
main character of their learning in form singular and social. The problem the prsent work of investigation is in the degree influences the employment of
the plurimnemociencia in the learning of the area science secondary education. The hypothesis is in the learning of the area science technology and
environment for the students that are exposed to the game in the plurimnemocience, is increaed in more degree that in those that dont' make of the
plurimnemociencia. The conclusions is to measure the degree learning of learning of the area science technology and environment in the students of
the fourth degree. Degree of secondary education of menores, mediate the use of the statistical ones of the text for two socking shows them, decide one could
compare the positive influence that has the plurimenciencia in this learning. The use of the Plurimenemociencia has an influence degree modernly fuerte in the
learning of the area science technology and environment, per the students of the third degree of secondary education.
2004 - BE010
ANIMAL COMPANIONSHIP AS A FACTOR IN ADOLESCENT SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
Laura Joy Fitzpatrick
Ossining High School, Ossining, New York, USA
Attachment to a companion animal and school performance were measured among a sample of 107 adolescents, aged 14 to 17 years, from a diverse high
school in suburban New York. Respondents completed a questionnaire composed of the Companion Animal Bonding Scale as well as eleven questions about
aspects of adolescent life, including involvement in extracurricular activities (ECI) and twelve questions regarding demographics. Participants’ responses to
Kohlberg’s “Heinz and the Druggist” dilemma were analyzed using a Moral Reasoning Grammar. Each subject's cumulative grade point average (GPA) for the
year in which the testing took place was also obtained. In Non-Owners, time spent home alone after school was inversely related to GPA; this was not true of
Owners. In all Owners, time per day spent in a room with a companion animal was significantly positively related to ECI. In females only, attachment to pets
was positively related to ECI. In African-Americans only, number of pets could be used to predict GPA. Other significant results were found in the general
population, in females, and in nonwhites of both genders. There was no significant relationship between animal companionship and strategies of moral
reasoning. These findings indicate strong associations between animal companionship and school performance, especially for females and racial minorities.
2004 - BE309
THE EFFECT OF TEACHER AND STUDENT LEARNING STYLES ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Brooke Ashley Forbes, Nick Stewart
Delavan Comm. High School Delavan, Illinois US
There are three main learning styles. A learning style is the method by which a person learns and comprehends new ideas or theories. Visual learning is
learning through the sense of sight. Visual learners learn best by listening to lectures and rewriting words. Auditory learning is accomplished best through the
use of hearing and sound. Auditory learners learn best by listening to lectures and verbal expressions. The third learning style is kinesthetic/tactile, which is
accomplished through the use of larger muscles and the sense of touch. These learners learn best by walking around while studying, or drawing graphs. 
 By surveying the students and teachers in their high school, the researchers attempted to determine whether there was a correlation between student and
teacher learning styles, and students' grades in three randomly selected classes. Before conducting the study, researchers selected 3 out of 56 classes taught
in the high school. Then, 150 copies of a non-copyright protected learning style survey were made and numbered. The surveys were distributed to all the
teachers and students. An announcement was made that all were invited to take the survey and become part of the study. It was made clear that the survey
was not mandatory and names would not be used or known by researchers. Once the surveys were completed, the Counselor then collected them and placed
the grades on the appropriate surveys and removed any names. Surveys were then returned to the researchers, who tallied and analyzed the results of the
surveys, and drew conclusions. Fifty five percent of the teachers were visual learners, 39% were kinesthetic, and 6% were auditory, while 16% of the
students were visual, 78% were kinesthetic, and 6% were auditory. This was very different than the national norm. When class grade, teacher and student
learning style was compared, no relationship was found.
2004 - BE046
3 DEPRESSED MICE (PHASE 2)
Sarah Marie Founds
La Cueva, ALB and NM, United States
Parental care patterns influence their children's behavioral and endocrine responses to stress by altering neural development. Neurobiological changes
associated with adverse early experiences can signal vulnerability for the development of depressive or other psychaitric disorders (Timpletal 1998). Also,
stress promotes structural and functional alterations in brain regions similar to those seen in adults with depression (Kaufman 2000). A crippling disorder,
depression affects 18.8 million Americans. Symptoms include persistent feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, irritability, and anxious mood, and difficulty
concentrating or making decisions. Often people with extreme anxiety find that their minds race with the same thoughts over and over, but to no purpose. If this
symptom becomes severe, people become mentally incapable of finding their way out of a box. The animal model of learned helplessness mirrors this
symptom. Following inescapable and unpredictable shock, mice showed a variety of behavioral deficits, including fialure to excape, known as learned
helplessness. In my experiment, both transgenic and wild type mice will be exposed to prenatal stress, and during adolescence, they will be put through the
stress-induced model of learned helplessness. In my previous studies on neurogenesis, the transgenic mice exhibited decreased anxiety, increased learning,
and increased survival of new neurons. In light of their resistance to stress-induced models of depression, I anticipate that the transgenic mice will exhibit lower
levels of learned helpless behaviors in comparison to the wild type mice.
2004 - BE317
A NOVEL USE OF THE GSR2 BIOFEEDBACK METER TO MEASURE HUMAN RESPONSE TO AURAL AND VISUAL STIMULI ABSTRACT
Charvi Ganatra, Irene Lee, Jessica Sun
The Charter School of Wilmington, Wilmington, DE, USA
The experiment conducted represents a first-time study of aural and visual shock reactions in human subjects using the Galvanic Skin Response 2 (GSR2)
biofeedback meter and the corresponding Calmlink software. The study exposed each of the sixty-three participating individuals to three separate shocking
stimuli: an audio stimulus, a video stimulus, and a combination of the two. The GSR2 measured the body’s electrical conductance with two electrodes, i.e. two
fingers which were placed on the meter’s metal plates. By way of the microphone jack, the GSR2 transmitted these readings in sound frequency, and the
Calmlink software converted this into graphical form. The data thus collected was a graph of relative conductance (RC) versus time (in seconds); the higher the
RC, the stronger the subject’s reaction to the stimulus. From the Calmlink software, the data was transposed into a Microsoft EXCEL table, where it was
subjected to rigorous statistical validation tests. The statistical analysis revealed that on average, an individual’s change in RC was larger for audio stimuli than
for video stimuli. 
2004 - BE007
SECOND LANGUAGE PROCESSING BY ADULT NATIVE SPANISH-SPEAKERS: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE DECLARATIVE/PROCEDURAL
MODEL OF LEXICON AND GRAMMAR
Olivia Andrews Gilliatt
Sleepy Hollow High School, Sleepy Hollow, NY, USA
Grammatical rules are stored in procedural memory; irregularities are memorized in a lexicon in declarative memory. Women rely on the lexicon for some
grammatical computations; adult bilinguals do the same in second language. Native Spanish-speakers (13 female, 11 male) were tested on their ability to
produce English verbs in past tense. Accuracy was analyzed by gender and biographical factors including Age of Arrival, Length of Exposure, and Years of
Education. No significant difference in accuracy existed between men and women, however education predicted performance. Analysis of frequency effects
and exclusion of confounding variables is needed to support a sex difference in the Declarative/Procedural model. The potential difference in language
acquisition has implications for the teaching of a second language to adult students.
Second Award of $500 - National Academy of Neuropsychology
Award of $3,000 in savings bonds, a certificate of achievement and a gold medallion - U.S. Army
Second Awards of $1,500 - U.S. Air Force
2004 - BE002
IMPROVING COGNITIVE FUNCTION AFTER CHRONIC BRAIN INJURY WITH HYPERBARIC OXYGEN
Zarabeth Lehr Golden
Blanche Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Florida, United States
The numbers of child and adult survivors of chronic brain injury (CBI) who have significant residual deficits have increased to 2-5% of the population. One
suggested treatment for CBI is the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). While there is extensive anecdotal evidence supporting the use of HBOT, there
are no well-designed research studies. This research consisted of the comparison of three samples designed to evaluate HBOT. One sample compared new
test-retest data of 21 children treated with HBOT against archival test-retest scores of 42 untreated brain-injured and normal controls. The results showed
significantly greater improvement in the HBOT treated children on measures of daily living, socialization, communication, and motor skills. Another sample
compared 21 newly treated adults against 42 archival untreated adult normal and brain-injured controls. The results showed that the treated adults made
significantly greater gains across cognitive areas. These two samples were compared to another sample of archival SPECT data collected in previous years,
analyzing the pre and post measures of cerebral metabolism. Overall, the studies were strongly supportive of the use of HBOT as a treatment for lessening the
neurological impact of CBI. HBOT resulted in improvement in both the metabolic and cognitive functioning of the brain-injured client. These studies indicate that
HBOT can be an effective aid in ameliorating the neuropsychological and physiological effects of CBI in individuals once believed to be untreatable.
Third Award of $250 - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
First Award of $1,000 - National Academy of Neuropsychology
2004 - BE035
MODELING PRESIDENTIAL CHARACTER: INSTITUTIONAL AND NON-INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
Jarett Scott Goldman
Syosset High School, Syosset, NY, United States of America
The office of the presidency allows its occupants to express more of their character than almost any other public office. That’s why it’s no stretch to say that
there is no topic in the study of the presidency that is the culprit of more debate than the analysis of presidential character and how it may affect performance in
the White House. This study focused on the expression of previous President’s character, as classified by James David Barber, and how it relates to their
legislative relations with Congress. Barber specifically distinguished between four types of presidential character: active-positive; active-negative; passivepositive; and passive-negative. They are respectively described as adaptive, compulsive, compliant, and withdrawn. A Presidential-Congressional relations
model was first devised by analyzing variables that contribute to different types of relations. Then, using the discriminant analysis test, different measures of the
variables were assigned to different character traits. The discriminant analysis test specially developed three functions that were used to obtain overall
discriminant scores, which were eventually used to develop group centroids. Finally, the mahalanobis distance, the distance between the discriminant score
and the group centroid for each function, was assessed in order to determine which group a future President would be classified in. The discriminant model was
proven to be statistically valid by additional analysis that was completed. This model marks an enormous advance because for the first time it adds a
quantitative aspect to a historically qualitative field and will hopefully serve a bridge between these two often-conflicting areas of study.
2004 - BE013
HOW DOES LEARNING MODALITY PREDICT SAT SCORES?
Ilang Mae Guiroy
York School, Monterey CA, U. S. A.
The objective of this study was to discover if students who are of a certain learning modality would perform higher on the SAT than others. The modalities are
visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic. The experiment devised in order to discover this, is a power point presentation containing slides on which characters
from the Katakana and Ndujka alphabets are presented to stimulate learning in the three modalities. It was found that students with upper
range SAT scores were multimodal. Students with upper midrange and lower midrange SAT scores were highly modal, having a very large preference for the
visual mode. Students with low range SAT scores were found to be less modal. The upper range SAT scorers were either naturally multimodal or
learned to cope very well, making it easier for them to understand material presented in class, and later asked of them on the SAT. Students with midrange
SAT scores were probably visual learners who did not need to learn how to cope quite as much. Students with low range SAT scores were probably highly
modal, but learned to cope, but not as well as students in the upper range. Students learn best in different ways. If classes could be taught to benefit
all the students, performance would improve and comprehension of the material would increase.
2004 - BE319
ISOLATION AND EVALUATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
Sameer Gorav Gupta, Brice Alfred Bongiovanni
Central High School, Macon, Ga, USA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) traces maternal heritage, placing an individual in a lineage group, called a haplogroup. Four halpogroups were known in the
Americas, but a fifth, previously found only in Europe, was discovered in pre-Columbian remains in Illinois (1200 AD). The Libben site (800 AD) in Ohio is one
of the largest burials found in North America. No genetic typing had been done on American remains prior to 1200 AD. The purpose of the experiment
was to isolate and haplogroup-type mtDNA from the Libben remains. The hypothesis was mtDNA could be isolated from Libben site teeth samples and that
Native American haplogruops could be demonstrated with molecular techniques. Teeth from five individuals were obtained from the owner of the
remains. The root of each tooth was separated from the enamel and ground into a powder. DNA was extracted with phenol/chloroform. The DNA was
precipitated with sodium acetate and ethanol. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment analysis were used to amplify DNA in specific regions
of the mitochondria to detect haplogroups A, B, C, and D. Results showed mitochondrial DNA was isolated from all individuals and Native American
DNA was demonstrated in one individual. Degradation and lack of sufficient DNAs prevented determination of haplogroups in the remaining individuals. This
project extends the current finding of Native American haplogroups approximately 300 years prior to the previous oldest report in the literature. 
Award of $3,000 in savings bonds to be shared equally by team members, certificates of achievement and gold medallions - U.S. Army
2004 - BE011
THE EFFECT OF VOLTAGE ON PARAMECIUM BEHAVIOR
Kristina Gvozdjan
Centreville High School, Clifton, VA, U.S.A.
The purpose of this experiment is to determine whether the behavior of paramecium changes as a result of electric shocks of different magnitude. It was
hypothesized that higher voltages cause the paramecium to swim slower. Times that take paramecia to travel the distance of 2 mm at different
voltages were recorded. The results were obtained from 5 different water cultures of Paramecium caudatum, each pretreated with 4 different voltage current
(0v, 50v, 100v, and 125v). The electric shocks (2 seconds in length) were applied in 10 minute intervals. Besides descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Post-hoc
statistical tests were used. The results showed that 50v electric shock does not influence the paramecium to take more time to travel the given distance than
the control group. 100v, as well as 125v shocks, caused the paramecium to take significantly more time to travel the given distance, compared to the 50v
shocks and to the negative control (p<0.0001). Behavioral modifications, including observed frequent changes in swimming direction and collisions,
affected the time required for paramecia to travel the given distance. It seems that increase in voltage, causes a significant prolongation of the interval that
paramecium needs to travel the given length, especially at higher voltages. The further research should determine the minimal voltage that causes behavioral
deviation. 
2004 - BE311
GENDER ROLES IN NORTHERN PAIUTE SHAMANISM: AN ANALYSIS THROUGH THE ROCK ART RECORD
William Thomas Hallett, Marie Sakai, Stefanie Price
West Salem High School, Salem, OR, USA
Our intention in this research project was to explore the relationships between Northern Paiute men and women through an examination of the rock art record
in eastern Oregon. We examined the role and place of shamanism in this record and how the rock art reflected the mythopoetic narratives and symbolic world
of the Northern Paiute. Further, we looked at the role of ritualistic plants in the creation of this art by examining the relationships of phosphene patterns to rock
art motiffs found at the survey sites. The rock art reflected the value systems of a culture different than our own, creating a moral encoding system that gave
direction to people's lives and their artwork. By exploring the ideas of gender and art we hope to generate greater understandings that cross cultural
boundaries.
2004 - BE306
FIRE-CRACKED ROCK
Kai Michael Henderson, Tyler Crabb
Elko High School, Elko, Nevada, USA
Understanding formation processes associated with fire-cracked rock (FCR) is important in determining prehistoric resource exploitation strategies.
Experimentation by archaeologists is needed to determine what kinds of cooking activities (pit-roasting or boiling foods) and how much activity it took to form
the piles of FCR debris common on prehistoric sites. Basalt rocks were sorted into two size and texture matched piles. Rocks weighed between 0.5
and 2 kilograms. Fires were started in each of two pits, 60-65 cm in diamter and 20-25 cm deep. Rocks were heated in each fire for at least an hour. After the
hour, the roasting rocks and a food package insulated with juniper foliage were buried in the roasting pit. The boiling rocks were taken from the other fire, one
by one, and placed into a pot of 2 gallons of cold water until the water boiled. The "used" rocks were removed and a hot rock or two (from the fire) was added to
maintain a boil until all the rocks had been used. One to three hours later the buried rocks and food were dug out. Rocks and broken pieces were
examined for cracks, breakage, and color changes. The boiling rocks broke more than the roasting, but overall there was not enough breakage to compare
shapes. Color change was minimal, but the rocks were black-gray from the beginning. 
2004 - BE026
THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL THOUGHT
Casey King Hogle
Elko High School, Elko, NV, United States
Does the development of political thought (both patriotism and basic American principles) in children and adolescents become more sophisticated with age?
Can this development be related to Lawrence Kohlberg's model of moral development? I hypothesized that the stages of sophistication would increase with
age. A questionnaire and categorization rubric corresponding to Kohlberg's six stages of moral development were created. Two classes in each third, sixth,
ninth, and twelfth grade (a total of 94 people) were tested. The mean of the responses (categorized into stages) of each grade increased. Analysis of
variance (ANOVA) indicated a statistical difference between the grades for all the questions and when comparing just the questions dealing with basic
American principles. The latter difference may be because of increased political socialization and familiarity with those principles. No statistical difference was
shown with the questions dealing with patriotism. That may result from increased familiarity with patriotism in younger children. Testing the correlation
coefficient for inter-rater reliability indicated that when a sample of responses was categorized separately by three people, the different peoples' categorizations
were statistically correlated. T-testing showed no statistical difference between genders. The general trend confirmed by ANOVA agrees with my
hypothesis. The statistically significant correlation indicates that my questionnaire and categorization rubric are a viable and usable measurement of political
thought. Kohlberg's stages of moral development can be used as a blueprint for the development of similar stages of political development that advance with
age. 
2004 - BE015
EFFECTS OF BILINGUALISM ON LANGUAGE-SELECTIVE OR LANGUAGE-NONSELECTIVE ACCESS
Julia A. Hornaday
Central High School, St. Joseph, MO, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if the bilingual experience occurs through a process of language-selective (LS) or language-nonselective
(LNS) access. LS access occurs when reading a homograph (words spelled the same, but different meanings) in one language leads to the selective access of
its lexical system. LNS access occurs when the reading of a homograph leads to the access of multiple lexical systems. It was hypothesized that bilinguals
would not use LS access. This was tested by use of an original computer program composed of two parts. The first was a personal survey asking background
information about the test subject including language experience. The second was a three-phase test using interlexical homographs. In phase one the
homographs were presented without context, phase two in English context, and phase three in Spanish context. Averages for the number of answers and
response times in Spanish and English with and without context were determined. The averages were analyzed statistically using independent variable t-tests
and ANOVA. The results showed that without context, both lexicons could simultaneously be accessed. It was therefore concluded that LNS was being utilized.
However, with the influence of context, subjects responses indicated LS access. It was also shown that interlexical interference was caused when primary
language prevents the access of the less experienced lexicon.
2004 - BE310
PROVING PIAGET'S PRINCIPLE
Asha Jaya Hosangadi, Pranali Koradia
Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills Michigan, USA
The field of developmental psychology seeks to understand human development from the womb to the tomb. One of the most important contributions to the
field came from Jean Piaget’s studies of how human cognitive abilities unfold. Based on his work with children and young adults, Piaget identified four stages of
human cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operations. Piaget viewed each stage as distinct and progressive.
That is, a child must acquire the abilities of one stage in order to progress to a subsequent one. Piaget defined each stage by two characteristics age and
cognitive ability. In order to determine if children progress through the four stages of cognitive development as identified and defined by Piaget, we conducted
four experiments on 100 children from ages 3-14 over a four-month period of time. Contrary to Piaget’s conclusions, our data revealed the following: (1) there is
no specific age at which a child progresses from one cognitive stage to another; and (2) a child can exhibit characteristics of more than one stage at one time.
2004 - BE024
ACOUSTIC CONFUSIONS IN IMMEDIATE MEMORY
Courtney Michelle Howard
Jefferson High School, Lafayette, Indiana, United States
I tested Purdue University students using an identity test and a memory recall test. The students were all native American English speakers, eighteen to twentyone years of age. Miller Nicely I tested the students’ ability to recall syllables that the students heard over a microphone with a white background noise that
distorted the recorded speaker. Miller Nicely II orally presented a set of five syllable clusters that were to be recalled in order at the end of the voiced recording
over white background noise. I formed confusion matrixes and multidimensional scales that visually represented the correlation between the identity
and the memory recall. I was able to see the proportion correct and the proportion of errors performed on both tests individually and the overall average of all
twenty-four students, with the importance put on individual results. The results will help link information to reasons of mature memory loss. 
2004 - BE018
THE STROOP EFFECT
Alyssa Marie Jensen
Carson High School, Carson City NV, United States of America
My experiment, “The Stroop Effect,” will determine if it is more difficult for teenagers to look past the written color of a word (such as the word “purple” written in
green ink) or the written placement of a word (such as the word “right” written below a box). I believe it will be more difficult for teenagers to look past the written
placement of a word. I will complete this experiment by performing a two-part test on numerous teenagers. The first part of the experiment tests
subjects' response time to word colors. Subjects will first complete two sets of fifteen word color cards -- a control sample (words printed in the same color
named by the word) and a test sample (words printed in a color different from that named by the word). The subject will be timed in how long it takes to name
the words on each set of fifteen cards. Each time will be recorded on a chart under COLOR TEST as "Control" and "Test" times. The second part of
the experiment tests subjects' response time to word placement (the words "right," "left," "top" and "bottom" written around a box). The subject will be asked to
complete two sets of fifteen word placement cards -- a control sample (words printed in the same placement named by the word) and a test sample (words
printed in a placement different from that named by the word -- for example, the word "top" printed to the right of the box). The subject will be timed in how long
it takes to complete each sample, and those times will be recorded under PLACEMENT TEST as "Control" and "Test" times.
2004 - BE008
THE EFFECTS OF SERIAL POSITION ON VISUAL WORKING MEMORY RECALL TASKS
Bhargav Katikaneni
Ossining High School, Ossining, NY, U.S.A
This study examines how the serial position of an object affects its subsequent recall in a visual working memory (VWM) task. A modified change detection
paradigm was used in memory trials on 79 subjects to measure recall ability with respect to serial position of visual objects. Correlation measures were
performed with four objects individually as well as with two-object combinations. Serial position was found to significantly (p < .001) influence memory retention
with subjects making recall errors on certain positions more frequently than on others. A positive correlation was found between serial position of a visual object
and misrecall frequency; misrecall was least common for the first object and most common for the final object in a group. A similar trend is evident for double
object errors – combinations involving the object first in serial position had a misrecall frequency almost half that of combinations involving later objects. In an
extended analysis, accuracy was improved (t-test significance << 0.001) with repetition – non-repeated trials had a misrecall frequency of 0.41 while trials that
repeated a memory task reduced it to 0.32. Repetition also significantly altered the effects of serial position on object recall compared to non-repeated trials.
Misrecall frequencies for repeated trials showed a trend opposite to that of previous research on verbal memory where primacy and recency were significant.
For repeated information, subjects in this study were better able to recall visual objects closer to the middle in a presented object group while at the same time
having difficulty recalling objects in the initial and final serial positions. These findings provide a model for ordered presentation of objects to maximize recall
ability for visual information. 
2004 - BE021
HOW DOES LEARNING SIGN LANGUAGE AFFECT PERCEPTION?
Elizabeth Rose Kolod
Midwood High School, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Everyone uses emotional facial expressions, but people who sign American Sign Language (ASL) use a different kind of facial expressions as an essential part
of the language. Does all of this signing affect perception? To determine whether learning ASL has an effect on visual discrimination, deaf signers, hearing
signers and hearing non-signers were tested with three groups of faces: emotional facial expressions, linguistic ASL facial expressions and faces of different
people. The deaf observers perform half as well as hearing signers for all stimuli. When compared to the efficiencies of hearing non-signers, these results show
that learning ASL improves visual discrimination and being deaf impairs it. The observers who know ASL perform best with linguistic facial expressions. Thus,
learning ASL improves one’s ability to identify facial expressions.
2004 - BE032
MORE TO READING THAN MEETS THE EYE
Carrie Ann Kreimier
Rifle High School, Rifle, Colorado, USA
 Reading is an important part of learning. It is much more than just looking at words on a page. Reading works your bilateral coordination, visual
tracking skills, and auditory pronunciation. Not all skills come quickly to all students. The problem presented is: Which combination of auditory,
bilateral coordination, or visual tracking activities will improve a student's reading score? There were three activities presented in combinations, to eight, second
grade classes. In the study there were a total of 168 students. The hypothesis stated that the class performing all three activities will have the greatest
improvement, and then the classes performing two activities will have the next highest improvement, and then the classes performing only one activity will have
the least highest improvement. The results didn't match the hypothesis. Of the three activities, and eight classes, the class that performed only visual
tracking activity had the greatest improvement, with a class average of 7.43 Rigby level benchmark scores. Rigby is a program that measures a student's
reading level. One reason that the project may have been affected was the consistency in performing the activities. The teacher who performed all three
activities was absent from school on various occasions. If the teacher was gone, the substitue may not have presented the activities, or presented them wrong.
 An important finding was: All but one class showed greater improvement than the control, supporting the idea that these activities could be used as a
daily warm-up to stimulate and enhance reading.
2004 - BE016
NEUROCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF NICOTINE AND COCAINE ON PERIADOLESCENT AND ADULTS RATS
Jennifer Alicia Ledon
Dr. Michael M Krop Senior High, Miami Florida, USA
Tobacco use is prevalent in the adolescent populations and is a major concern because tobacco is highly addictive and is linked with illicit drug use. Little
research is available on the interaction between nicotine and other stimulant drugs in animal models. This tissue study examined the effects of chronic nicotine
alone and on cocaine-stimulated activity in male periadolescent rats compared to male adult rats. Neurochemical analysis was begun by slicing from the
nucleus acumbens and caudate putamen and then mounting them on gelatin/chromate coated slides that will be stored at -70 degrees Celsius prior to
Dopamine Transporter and Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor assays. After which, slides and standards were apposed to radiosensitive film and a Macintoshbased image analysis system, a one-way ANOVA and Fisher's Protected Least Significant Difference (PLSD) were used. This study revealed increased
dopamine transporter densities in adolescents. Adult rats did not show significant change, implying that they do not take part in nicotine and cocaine
sensitization. Consequently, it may be that nicotine use during adolescence carries a greater risk than during adulthood and that adolescent may be particularly
vulnerable to the risk of cocaine abuse after nicotine use. This information should be taken into account so as to help us better understand the development of
drug addiction in adolescents compared to adults.
2004 - BE313
PATTERN RECOGNITION USING ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
Amy Maria Mauseth, Andrea Marie Brown
Deubrook Area High School, White, SD, United States
The brain, in combination with all of its sensory nerves, forms a complex system that can recognize various senses, and produce a learned response when
stimulated. This experiment was designed to test the perception of the skin, and the accuracy of the brain's ability to interpret information being received from
an electrical stimulus. Our hypothesis states that subjects will be able to successfully identify electrically stimulated patterns on the skin with a greater than 50%
accuracy. The goal of this experiment was to submit a series of tests to human subjects, to determine if each subject could successfully identify the pattern of
an applied electrical stimulus. To provide a controlled pattern of electrical stimulation to the skin, a commercial nerve stimulator was used to provide the
electrical stimulus, a custom switch box to distribute the stimulus signal to output cables, and stick-on medical electrodes were placed on the skin. We tested
twelve subjects, each with the same forty patterns, randomly administered, and recorded the patterns they answered correctly and incorrectly. The correct
pattern recognition varied from 65.8% to 99.2% for four different electrode patterns. The twelve subjects had an overall correct recognition of 398 out of 400
patterns (82.9% accurate). Our hypothesis was proven true: subjects can successfully identify electrically stimulated patterns on the skin with a greater than
50% accuracy. Additional experimental work should be completed to find out how to improve the pattern recognition accuracy, and how to use this approach to
replace or assist a subject's impaired sense.
2004 - BE006
ETHICS AND TEENS IV: A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF RESULTS AND FACTORS THAT AFFECT ETHICS
Alicia Lynn McDermott
Grace Christian School, Broken Arrow, OK, USA
 Data from the previous year, regarding the effects of age, gender, race, number of parents in the home, and most influential person on teens’ ethics
was analyzed on the largest and most varied test group, including the impact of these variables on the ability to identify troubled teens. All the data was
transformed into numbers then put into a spreadsheet using Excel. A number of different statistical analyses were performed, including a Correlation analysis,
an ANOVA, and a Univariate Analysis (or Interaction) between the different variables. The impact of the newly added variables on the test results was
compared to the original set of variables used last year. The variables included this year were; High School, Juvenile Delinquent, Male, Female, Race, Number
of Parents in the Home, and Most Influential Person. The correlation analysis showed statistical significance in the validated test by revealing that the
categories of “Caring”, “Judgmental”, and “Subjective”, created by the student researcher, were valid methods of testing the moral attitudes of youth. The
analyses also showed that the new test could accurately predict a troubled male 60% of the time, and a troubled female 73.4% of the time. 
2004 - BE023
EFFECTS OF THE INTERNET IN THE FAMILY
Mónica Nieves-Rivera
Francisco Morales, Naranjito, Puerto Rico
The following research analyses the effects of the Internet in the family. The hypothesis postulates that the use of Internet affects family relations if it is not used
properly or under responsible supervision. To develop this research, a survey was done using a questionnaire. There was a reasonable and
representative number of families who have the service of Internet. The questionnaires were analyzed and the families were compared in terms of the effect, if
any, that have occurred among them due to the use of Internet. Once the facts were abridged, other studies related to the theme were analyzed to
support the facts obtained. The data was organized into tables and graphs. According to the results, the conclusion was that the Internet affects family
relations in a negative way if it is not used properly or under a responsible supervision.
2004 - BE044
THE EFFECT OF RELATIONAL AND OVERT AGGRESSION ON SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE AND SELF-ESTEEM IN HIGH SCHOOL
Emily R. O'Neill
Poughkeepsie High School, Poughkeepsie, New York USA
A study was conducted to determine the degree to which relational and overt aggression in middle school predict students’ perception of acceptance in high
school. One hundred and thirteen high school students (47% male and 53% female) responded to a 36-item questionnaire investigating their experience with
aggression and perception of social and self approval. Among the major findings, 74% of non-white males, a significantly higher rate than that of their
Caucasian counterparts, reported engaging in physical aggression at least once a week. The study further indicated that 91% of non-white females engaged in
physical aggression at least once a week, while only 4% of the Caucasian females surveyed reported engaging in aggression on a weekly basis. In comparison
to the 12.5% of non-white females who reported engaging in relational aggression, 87.5% of Caucasian females reported engaging in this type of activity on a
weekly basis. Twenty-eight percent of Caucasian males reported engaging in physical aggression, while 50% of this population reported engaging in relational
aggression. Eighty-eight percent of physically aggressive students were found to have high levels of social acceptance, in contrast to 17% of relationally
aggressive students. Eighty percent of physically aggressive students reported high levels of self-esteem, in comparison to 29% reported by relationally
aggressive respondents. Given the current trend, peer mediation appears to be an intervention schools should consider. 
2004 - BE048
THOUTHFUL GESTURES DO HAND MOTIONS AFFECT YOUR MEMORY?
David C. Organiscak
Burkburnett High School, Burkburnett,Tx, USA
The purpose of this project is to determine if memory is improved when verbal communication includes hand gestures. Memory plays a key role in today’s
society. Life would be much easier if we could remember things more easily. I hypothesized that a person will recall more when hand motions are used while
speaking. The effect of hand motions on memory was tested by showing subjects two separate video segments. The first video contains words with
no motions. After the video was viewed, subjects were asked to record as many words as possible. Then the second segment, which contained words with
accompanying gestures, was shown. Once again, they were asked to record as many words as possible. As a result of this project, I discovered that
memory improves when a speaker uses hand gestures. Over the course of the experiment, approximately 83% of the subjects scored higher on the second
segment. One thing that I noticed was that the time issue was not a problem. None of the subjects needed the full two minute time period I allotted them for
memory recall. My initial hypothesis was correct. The subjects were able to recall more information when speech and gestures are combined. Out of
the thirty-six subjects tested, thirty recalled more when hand motions were added. Out of that thirty, twenty-five of them recalled at least two more words with
hand motions. An extention to this study could separate subjects according to age groups and gender to see if recall differs with these variables. 
$10,000 per year scholarship, renewable annually - Florida Institute of Technology
2004 - BE307
POLI'S PAPER - "FROM STUDENT TO STUDENT NEWSPAPER"
Camila Daniela de Franca Paiva, Luiana Azoubel Goulart Coelho, Miriam de Miranda
E.T.E. Polivalente de Americana
It’s everyone’s daily need to keep up with what’s going on and seek for new information, as these are basic requirements for whoever pursues success in life.
No matter what’s your line of work, up to date information allow us to have better reasoning and make better decisions. The “Poli’s Paper” project was
conceived in the attempt to solve the constant demand of information by the young people who are starting to work and are preparing to apply for college, on
account to the necessity of a younger and also very serious communication medium to share information for the students The “Poli’s Paper” project
strives not only to bring the latest school news, but plans to create a newspaper that encourages the production and data trading between students, instigating
literature and cultural interest. 
2004 - BE304
RELIABILITY OF CRIMINAL EVIDENCE: A COMPARISON OF VALIDITY RANKINGS IN FORENSIC OBSERVATIONS
Rachel Cherie Palmer, Samantha Granberg
Lakeview High School, Lakeview, Oregon, USA
In today's society, the public is influenced by forensic television shows such as Law and Order, CSI, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, and Without a Trace. This leads us
to believe that one type of evidence is enough to convict, while another can be thrown out the window. However, does the public have the right idea as to what
evidence is even considered valid? This study compares the opinion of our peers and factual statistics along with an experiment that has been engineered to
test how they would fare as an eye witness. To do this we used a video, a survey pertaining to that video, and a survey testing their view on valid evidence.
2004 - BE045
NEUROLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF FIGURE-GROUND PERCEPTION
Rachel Pierson
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
The Watercolor Illusion, the spreading of color from two contrasting lines onto a surface, has been shown to change the perception of the Gestalt factor of
proximity, which states that closer elements tend to be grouped together. This study aims to discover why this occurs, looking most closely at the hypothesis
that the color spreading is primary, the cumulative effect of the color spreading leads to association, and the heavy and light lines create border ownership.
Patterns, made up of parallel lines spaced in a ratio of one to two/, were created using three shades of colors to fill in the small areas and the Watercolor
Illusion to fill in the large areas. A color test gathered data on which colors most closely matched the Watercolor Illusion. A baseline pattern was established
through the omission of one color. Subjects observing these patterns were more likely to group the patterns between the larger areas together as the shading in
the smaller area grew closer to white. While it is possible to conclude that the impact of the Watercolor Illusion on the Gestalt factor of proximity is that the color
spreading is primary, subjects did not see the expected figure-ground relationship. Thus, further testing is underway using an alternate color scheme with
varying ratios of the areas.
2004 - BE020
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS
Antonio Javier Pietrantoni
Academia del Perpetuo Socorro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
The purpose of this investigation is to contribute knowledge to the scientific community and to provide a new angle to dealing with Breast cancer patients and
survivors and their Quality of Life. Among Hispanic Breast cancer patients and survivors there is a limited amount of knowledge regarding their HRQOL. It was
hypothesized that QOL was affected by the educational level, civil status and treatment of a patient and that survivors would have a better QOL than patients.
The FACT-B, designed by Dr. Cella, a HRQOL questionnaire for Breast cancer patients was administered. The variables were then scored, measured and
analyzed using scales provided by FACIT. The HRQOL score of patients was 106.88, a High Medium score, survivors scored a High score of 117.62. Hispanic
women have a High Social Scale HRQOL possibly because Hispanic women are affected in Emotional terms by their disease and look for support in contacts
or groups. The Physical and Functional Scales had no significant difference in score. Patients who received Chemotherapy, Radiation and Combination had a
lower QOL than Survivors, indicating that the side effects of the treatment give way to a better QOL in the future. Patients who received Tamoxifen ,whose side
effects are long-term, had a higher QOL than Survivors. In Hispanic Breast cancer patients, the HRQOL does not solely depend on the effects of treatments,
civil status and education, but, on the perception and coping capabilities experience has given them.
Tuition scholarship of $5,000 per year for 4 years for a total value of $20,000 - Indiana University
2004 - BE311
GENDER ROLES IN NORTHERN PAIUTE SHAMANISM: AN ANAYSIS THROUGH THE ROCK ART RECORD
Stefanie Gayle Price, William Hallett, Marie Sakai
West Salem High School, Salem, OR, United States
Our intention in this research project was to explore the relationships between Northern Paiute men and women through an examination of the rock art record
in Eastern Oregon. We examined the role and place of shaminism in this record and how the rock art reflected the mythopoetic narratives and symbolic world of
the Northern Paiute. Futher, we looked at the role of ritualistic plants in the creation of this art by examining the relationships of phosphene patterns to rock art
motifs found at the survey sites. The rock art record reflected the value systems of a culture different than our own, creating a moral encoding system that gave
boundaries.
2004 - BE042
JACK OR JILL - WHO RECALLS THE FALL?
Lindsey Ann Rafferty
Beach High School, Beach, ND, USA
The purpose of my experiment was to determine if gender identity plays a part in a child's short term memory. I wanted to see if boys remember more
masculine things as compared to feminine things and vice versa. I also wanted to see if the number of gender neutral items they remembered were
comparable. To determine this I tested second, fourth, sixth and eighth grade males and females. I showed them fifteen flashcards, and had them
write down the objects they remembered after they had looked at all the flashcards. There were five feminine, five masculine, and five neutral items. I
calculated the results by finding the percentage of items they remembered. I found that gender identity does play a role in the memory of children in
the fact that they generally remembered more of the items associated with their gender than the items not specifically associated with their gender. I found that
this trend decreases with age, and the subjects began to recall more items not associated with their gender. The age where I saw the greatest difference in
items recalled was in the fourth grade males and females. I also found that females have a better overall short-term memory than males. 
2004 - BE017
CATCH MY DRIFT?
Jennifer Hope Reinovsky
Pickens High School, Pickens SC, USA
QUESTION: Do females communicate more clearly by utilizing hand gestures and body language more than males? HYPOTHESIS: I believe that
females will communicate more aptly through the use of more hand gestures and posture changes. PROCEDURE:1. Interview person using list of
questions to provoke communication while recording with video camera. 2. Repeat previous step for all people of each sex sample. 3. Review recorded tape
several times on television checking off the appropriate functions on the checklist with pencil. 4. Use the independant t-test to asses the significance of my data
 BIBLIOGRAPHY: Givens, David B. “The Nonverbal Dictionary of Gestures, Signs, and Body Language Cues.”
http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/diction1.html. c 2003. Masip, Jaurne. “Nonverbal Behavior – Nonverbal Communication Links.” 
http://www3.usal.es/~nonverbal/introduction.htm. Spain c 2003 <http://nonverbal.ucsc.edu/> 
2004 - BE312
THE EFFECTS OF CLASS STRUCTURE ON LEARNING ABILITIES
Lela Louise Rundle, Branndie Sievertsen, Kia Orr
Hotchkiss High School, Hotchkiss, Colorado, United States of America
The Japanese language has three types of alphabets. The three are Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji. The one that most closely resembles American drawings
is that of Kanji. It is an older form of writing and is rarely used by the Japanese people. They use Chinese characters to influence their language, and it is a very
complex form of writing. The purpose of this project was to see if the class structure had any effect on the learning abilities on the students present.
The researchers chose to use the classes of art and biology because the art students were more affiliated with drawings as opposed to the biology students
who were more apt to memorize from books rather than draw anything. The two classes were taught and tested for one week and then their scores were
compared. The researchers concluded that the art students learned the language faster as opposed to the biology students who learned it more
accurately. The reasons for this were that the art students compared the characters of Kanji to what they had been drawing in class. Moreover, the biology
students were more detail orientated and simply memorized the characters. Students abroad learning different languages could use this information in
helping them learn which type of classes to take to help them in learning their languages faster and more efficiently.
2004 - BE311
GENDER ROLES OF THE NORTHERN PAIUTE SHAMANISM: AN ANALYSIS THROUGH THE ROCK ART RECORD
Marie Christine Sakai, William Hallett, Stefanie Price,
West Salem High School, Salem, OR, 97304
Our intention in this research project was to explore the relatonships between Northern Paiute men and women through an examination of the rock art record in
Eastern Oregon. We examined the role and place of shamanism in this record and how the rock art reflected the mythopoetic narratives and symbolic world of
the Northern Paiute. Further, we looked at the role of ritualistic plants in the creation of this art by examining the relationships of phosphene patterns to rock art
motifs found at the survey sites. The rock art record reflected the value systems of a culture different than our own, creating a moral encoding system that gave
boundaries.
2004 - BE012
HOW DO LINGUISTIC AND LOGICAL INTELLIGENCE CORRELATE TO PRACTICAL INTELLIGENCE?
Joshua Damian Salvi
York Catholic High School, York Pennsylvania, USA
Each year, thousands of teenagers in high school are required to take part in standardized testing. These tests, (i.e. the SATs), supposedly measure students'
successful intelligence. These tests become a basis for entering college and may determine the ultimate outcome of those students' academic success in life.
 According to psychologist Robert J. Sternberg, standardized tests are limited in scope and measure two forms of intelligence: logical and linguistic.
Another independent form of intelligence, practical intelligence, is also required to obtain a successful intelligence level. A test was created to ascertain any
possible correlation between the three intelligences, possibly supporting either Sternberg or his opponents. A sampling of high school students received and
completed self-reported tests, whose results were completely anonymous. These results were then compared to mathematical [logical] and verbal [linguistic]
percentiles from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. Analysis of the standard deviation validated no direct correlation between greater linguistic and logical
intelligence levels and greater practical intelligence levels. Results support Sternberg's theory that all three intelligences are independent. Therefore,
standardized testing measures only two of the three intelligences and is partially ineffective. All research followed APA Research Ethics. 
$10,000 per year scholarship, renewable annually - Florida Institute of Technology
2004 - BE315
COLOR THEORY
Athina LaVonne Schmidt, Lyndsay Yarrison
Hilton Head High School, Hilton Head Island SC, USA
For the project, Color Theory, our purpose was to test the theories of design through the medium of color. Our hypothesis was that a design comprised of a
linear pattern would be most pleasing to the human’s subconscious search for balance and symmetry. To complete this project and test the hypothesis we
surveyed 50 students between the ages of 12 and 17 (an equal number of males and females). We showed them three designs classified by the lines they
were comprised of: straight/horizontal, curved, and zig-zag. We showed these three designs in seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and white.
The colors were used to make sure that the individual subjects had an opportunity to see the design in every color therefore eliminating any color bias. We had
the subjects chose their “favorite” in each color set (each color set had design #’s 1, 2, and 3 in one color). We recorded the results in each. When faced with
analyzing the data we discovered the overall differences between the zig-zag and curved design had almost the same rate of selection, but design three had a
very low rate of design. In conclusion we grouped the zig-zag and curved patterns because their rate of selection only differed by 4 votes versus the straight
design which had very menial selection rates; therefore our hypothesis was proven incorrect.
2004 - BE043
"WHAT CAN YOU TELL FROM SMELL?" PHEROMONES IN HUMANS
Matthew C. Searle
Olympus Jr. High School, Holladay, UT, USA
My purpose was to determine if human pheromones can be detected by smell. My hypotheses are: Mothers will not be able to identify their children’s clothing
using the sense of smell. People will not be able to identify a person’s gender by the smell of that person’s clothing. Method I had 12
teenagers wear t-shirts every night to bed for five nights. Mothers of the teenagers smelled the shirts and identified the gender of the person who wore the shirt.
They also identified which of the shirts belonged to their child. Fifty five students smelled each shirt and identified the gender of the person who wore the each
shirt. Data 1. 3 out of 9 mothers identified their child’s t-shirt. (33%) 2.Adult women identified gender of 74 out of 108 shirts. (69%)
 3.Students identified gender of 396 out of 660 shirts. (60%) All results were statistically significant by the Chi-square test. 
 Conclusion 1.My hypothesis that mothers will not accurately identify their children’s clothing using the sense of smell was incorrect. Three of the
mothers succeeded in choosing the correct t-shirt. 2.My hypothesis that people will not accurately identify a person’s gender by the smell of that
person’s shirt was incorrect. Teenagers were able to identify 60% of all shirts correctly and adults were able to identify 69% of all shirts correctly. 3.
Study participants could to some degree identify family members and gender based on the smell of their clothing. 
2004 - BE014
SYMBOLS OF CIRCLE IN THE WORLD CIVILIZATION AND THE SAKHA NATIONAL CULTURES
Kristina Mikhailovna Sitnikova
Sakha – Belgian Gymnasium, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia
The paper deals with the regularities of reflection in the circle image the symbols of religions and mythological world outlooks of the east and the west in order
to find the deep bases of the statement of conciliation and harmony in the modern world full of religions contradictions. The author studies the nation of symbol
and its appearance in the circle image since the most ancient times up to our days. By means of the historical-comparative analysis the essence of the
symbolic meaning of the circle image, the ancient symbol of the centre and the world are disclosed. In the world civilization experience the divided circle in the
form of a wheel symbolizes the eternal motion around the fixed axis, the circle image existed in the medieval myths about Atlantida and Shambala, in the
legend of King Arthur as the symbol of Dream about Peace and Happiness. The modern notion of “a round table” the symbol of democracy and confidence in
the modern business world goes back to the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. In author’s opinion, the penetration into the intellectual
depth of the circle image, uncover of the religions shells and disclosure of its symbolic content expressing the idea of harmony with the surrounding world and
the Universe will help to arrange in order the conscience of a modern civilized individual. The author tries to understand the most complex philosophical
problems disclosing the social, cultural and engineering correlations. 
2004 - BE034
THE EFFECT OF VISUAL IMAGES AND POWER PHRASES ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO A HUNGER PREVENTION CHARITY
Michael Jason Sloyer
Roslyn High School, Roslyn Heights, NY, United States
The last few years have been financially difficult for American charities. This experiment explored the relative efficacy of different charitable appeals in
persuading individuals to make donations to a hunger prevention organization. It was hypothesized that advertisements containing either a happy or sad
photograph of a child would be more effective than advertisements without any visual image and that advertisements containing a power phrase, either “Even a
penny will help” or “You can make a difference,” would be more effective than advertisements without any power phrase. Nine advertisements, using all
possible combinations of the two independent variables (picture and phrase), soliciting donations for a hunger prevention charity were created. Four hundred
and fifty adults were randomly presented with one of the nine appeals and asked for a donation. Chi square analyses revealed that happy and sad pictures
were significantly more effective in increasing the rate of donation than were appeals without pictures, but an ANOVA indicated that there was no statistical
difference in average contribution size. Additional chi square tests showed that “Even a penny will help” was significantly more effective than both “You can
make a difference” and the no phrase condition in increasing the rate of donation; the ANOVA demonstrated that neither phrase impacted the average
contribution size. Possible explanations for and implications of these findings are discussed.
REMOVE FROM AWARD SCRIPT>>>
Honorable Mention - American Statistical Association
Scholarship in the amount of $8,000 - Office of Naval Research on behalf of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
2004 - BE047
MAGIC SYMBOLS USED BY THE INCAS AND THE DIAGUITAS TO PROMOTE METHEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENON AND FERTILITY
Jose Maria Sosa
Instituto Vocacional Concepcion - Club de Ciencias Cochuna
The mountain area of Tucumán has been inhabited by the Indian community called the Diaguitas. They believed in life after death, adored the sun, the thunder
and the earth that provided for their survival. The expansion of the Incas towards this region resulted in a different lifestyle. Their mythic thinking
created symbols they used in their magic ceremonies to make the unnatural grant them gifts such us: fertile soil, intense rain, healthy crops and food. 
 Bibliographic research and interviews to specialists help discover Astronomic Rain Symbols like the sun, solstice, the moon, the stars,the southern cross,
Snake like Symbols like the Stair Like Serpent, Stair like Cross, swastica, meander; Zoomorphs (not Snake like): mythic cat, birds, frogs and toads. dragonfly,
spiders, bats, and lizards. Ceramic pieces represent the vital germ and the gravity cavity, Symbols of reproduction of man, plants and animals. 
 Carvings, stones and ceramics represent Multiple Symbols as expression of different spells for the same purpose, Redundant as an obsessive begging.
 Observation and analysis of figures help discover them as cause of fertility and rain. Surveying the local inhabitants we discover that 72% of
them believe that their ancestors used to communicate with their gods through these symbols but ignore their meaning, even when they can identify them in
woven pieces and ceramics. The reproductions of their symbols in paintings, carvings and figures in art workshops and their exposition will allow their
mythic way of thinking to endure in the community. 
2004 - BE037
ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN RURAL AFRICA
Megan Lakshmi Srinivas
Fort Dodge Senior High, Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States
The magnificent African continent is faced with many dilemmas, and lack of household food security is one of them. In the current study thirty Kenyan farmers
were selected and interviewed to understand the role of education in improving the farmers household food security. The study results indicated a direct link
between the formal education and the farmer’s success. The adoption and practice of advanced agriculture technologies efficient in controlling weed/pest
problem(s) and increasing yields of maize and other crops are found to be directly linked to the educational levels of the individual farmers. Although 100% of
the interviewed farmers identified malaria as a major health threat, but only highly educated farmers were willing to admit and discuss HIV/AIDS, the leading
cause of death, creating numerous hungry orphans. The study results also indicated the farmer’s success depends on how well the females, the main working
individuals of the family, are educated and informed about the advanced agricultural technologies and health issues. Based on the current study results the
following eight recommendations have been made to attain household food and health security success: 1) education, both formal and practical must be
provided to all; 2) agricultural aid must be extended to all; 3) women must be empowered; 4) myths and misconceptions must be fought; 5) farmers’ financial
acumens must be increased; 6) nutritional education needs to be given; 7) an awareness of regional health issues must be created; and 8) African
governments need to play more active roles in supporting their citizens.
2004 - BE001
THE EFFECTS OF LIVING IN A GROUP ON A MUS MUSCULUS’S LEARNING RATE
Jonathan David Stanley
Fleming Island High School, Orange Park, Florida,United States of America
The purpose of this project is to determine whether mice learn quicker when kept singly or in a group. Five mice should be kept singly and five should be kept in
a group. To begin, place the bait at the finish point of the maze. Place one mouse at a time in the maze and allow it to finish before entering the next
mouse. Record the times of each mouse from the time they start to the time they finish. Repeat the above steps until all ten mice have completed the maze.
Repeat this process each day, at the same time of day, until each mouse has run the maze five times. The average run time for the mice to complete
the maze was calculated in seconds as: Mice kept singly – 69 Mice kept in a group – 57. The overall average time that the mice improved was calculated in
seconds as: Mice kept singly – 88 Mice kept in a group – 50. The hypothesis was incorrect. The mice recorded a higher average rate of improvement
when kept singly than when kept in a group. The mice kept in a group ran the maze quicker than the mice that were kept in solitude. Though the mice that lived
in a group could run the maze quicker, the mice that lived by themselves learned better. 
2004 - BE049
FINGERPRINTS: THE CLUE TO I.Q. (PART 3)
Christopher Paul Stanton
Grace Christian School; Tulsa, OK; USA
The purpose was to demonstrate that fingerprint patterns of individuals with autism would vary according to their cognitive abilities. The hypothesis was that
individuals with high-functioning autism would have a higher number of loop pattern fingerprints than low-functioning individuals with autism. Informed
consent was obtained from the parents of thirteen children with autism. Subjects were fingerprinted using a stamp pad and fingerprint record card. Fingerprints
were analyzed and identified as loops, whorls, or arches. Parents completed the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) on their child, and subjects were
divided into two groups based on their CARS score. Group 1 consisted of five subjects with high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome and CARS score
less than 30. Group 2 consisted of eight subjects with moderate to severe autism and CARS score greater than 30. Fingerprint patterns in the two groups were
compared, using fingerprints expected for the general population as a reference. Group 1 had a 30% increase in loop fingerprints and a 29% decrease
in whorl fingerprints compared to the general population. In addition, Group 1 had a 33% increase in loop fingerprints compared to the fingerprints in Group 2.
Group 2 subjects had fingerprint patterns similar to the general population. This study demonstrates that individuals with high-functioning autism have
more loop pattern fingerprints than individuals with low-functioning autism. These findings suggest that predominance of loop pattern fingerprints is associated
with better cognitive functioning in autism and may indicate a better prognosis.
2004 - BE003
AUDITORY VS. VISUAL PERCEPTION: WHICH HAS THE GREATER AFFECT ON A CHILD'S SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Jessica Caroline Stanton
Columbia High School, Lake City, Flordia, United States of America
In past years I have studied the affects of auditory and visual suggestion of a color on taste. I have also tested the affects of age on taste perception. This year I
researched a child’s perception of color, visual perception, auditory perception, and a child’s short-term memory. I wanted to find out if visual or auditory
suggestion, when in conflict, has the greater affect on a child’s short-term memory when both are used simultaneously. I hypothesized that out of 240
trials, 65% of the responses from the child will be a color that they have heard. 25% will be a color that they have seen, and 10% will not remember either color.
 I held up 4 different ‘dolls’ with different color skirts on. The variable is that I did not say the actual color of the skirt. After I held up all of the dolls I
asked the child what color skirts the dolls had on. The visual perception dominated with 68% being the color that I showed the children. Then the
auditory perception with 25% with the children saying the color that I said. Finally, 8% of the responses came from the children who couldn’t remember the
color that I told them. My hypothesis would have been very close to my results if I had hypothesized the exact opposite. My hypothesis may have been
wrong however, it heightened my interest. My project could be useful in many ways to anyone dealing with children: teachers, parents, and advertisers.
 
2004 - BE302
WHITE HOT LIES
Dani Staylor, Jacquie Gertz
Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville, Oregon, USA
The purpose of this experiment is to determine if thermal imaging can be used as a means of lie detection. The hypothesis is that the amount of heat around
the facial area shown on the thermal imager will increase while a person is telling a lie compared to the heat projected around the same area when a truth is
told. If the difference in these two temperatures is noticeable, thermal imaging may be used to replace the modern polygraph as a means of lie detection. 
 Procedures used to test the hypothesis are as follows: there were ten randomly selected human test subjects. Each subject was asked to truthfully answer
all 10 of the control questions in front of the thermal imager then draw a “Truth” or “Lie” card. The subject was then asked to answer 10 experimental questions
according to instructions on the card in front of the thermal imager. Photographs were taken with a Flir PS600 thermal-imaging camera, which measures
temperature in degrees Celsius. The results of the test were not as hypothesized. Instead of facial temperature increasing with the telling of a lie,
most subjects’ facial temperature dramatically decreased. The temperature of subjects holding truth cards stayed relatively constant. In conclusion,
thermal imaging may be used as a means of lie detection, though, not yet as accurately as modern polygraphs. There are far too many variables to skew
thermal imaging results: air conditioning, fever, and other temperature changing factors may mask a lie or create false results. 
2004 - BE318
MICRO EMPRESA AND TECHNOLOGY
Rodrigo Alfredo Teighido Salgado, Jorge Andres Fernández González, Nicolas Alberto Salazar Palma
Liceo Ciencia y Tecnología, Santiago, Chile
Micro Empresa and Technology This objective of this project is to improve the crisis that Chilean and Latin American micro-companies are
going through today. The reasons for these problems are an indebtedness by low production, a big loss of material, and the little technology of these small
companies. Based on data picked up by the Universidad Diego Portales and the national institute of statistical of Chile (INE), we affirm that inserting
technology in the companies the production is duplicated and the lost of material is minimum. This would cause a better quality of the final product and
proportionable increase in sales of the micro-company, according to the study made in Peru. If we Automatize a Micro-company, we can carry out the
previous demands. However, the automatizing systems nowadays in Latin America are high cost ones and difficult to get by the small companies. Because of
the crisis of the micro-companies we design a system which automatize them at a cost near to a 15% respect to the system commonly used (PLC). It also
saves time and money in training. The System consists on 3 processes: a Computer Program on Visual Basic, which commands power electric
systems, an Electronic System which performs as an interface between the computer system and the Electric System already set in all companies ( Machines,
Lights, etc.). 
2004 - BE027
MYTH AND ERGON IN KOM AND WICHI INDIANS. THE PAST SURVIVES IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
Lucrecia Cecilia Teran
Colegio Pablo Apostol, Yerba Buena, Tucuman, Argentina
Two ethnic groups of different linguistic families and origin, the Wichi and the Kom indians, stand out in the Argentine Chaco ecoregion. In this project I applied
the ethnologic approach to analysed the similarities and discrepancies in their adaptive systems, and I took their myths and ergons as relevant dimensions of
their spiritual and economic life in connection with the natural world. By applying participant observation, focalised groups, non guided interviews and
analysis of contents, I present as my contribution the explanation of the differences and similarities between these ethnos by cultural borrowings, internal
movements, historic trajectory and restructuring of myths. In the Wichi the adaptive system is influenced by a humorous narrative strategy, while in the Kom the
mythic structure predominates. This difference may explain why Kom indians can better face the conflicts caused by the transformation of their environment,
migration to cities and their new life styles. I conclude that culture is not only accumulated patrimony, it is a wider dimension of answers to questions
about man's personal and collective sense in the cosmos, his identification with nature through myths and ergons that grant dignity, identity and human sense
to each ethnic group. I propose a programe of educative, social and economic development based on cultural recovery and aborigines protagonism
wich will allow the incorporation of the Kom and Wichi ethnos to the life of the country in their own interactive space.
2004 - BE050
EYEWITNESSES: CAN THEY BE TRUSTED?
Alyce Lauren Thibodeaux
St. Joseph's Academy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
There is good imperial evidence to indicate that the confidence with which eyewitnesses give identification testimony is the single most important quality of
testimony in terms of whether participant jurors will believe that the eyewitness correctly identified the perpetrator. The purpose of this experiment is to prove or
disprove a certain hypothesis of eyewitness identification. The specific hypothesis being studied is that giving an eyewitness confirming post identification
feedback will increase the eyewitness’s confidence recollection and lead them to falsely recall other qualities as well. To test this, subjects viewed a video of a
man and then had to pick him out from a line up. After they had made their selection, one of three conditions was assigned to them: Disconfirming Feedback,
Confirming Feedback or No feedback. They then answered a Questionnaire asking questions about their certainty levels, their view of the culprit and so on.
Results from one condition were then compared the results of the other two conditions. It was proved in this experiment that Confirming Post Identification
Feedback does in fact yield in the eyewitnesses recalling being overly confident. The most significant differences in answers were noticed when comparing
Confirming Feedback to Disconfirming Feedback; however, significant differences were also noticed in comparing Disconfirming Feedback to No feedback and
Confirming Feedback to No Feedback. In conclusion, this study accepts the experimental hypothesis: Confirming Post Identification Feedback results in
witnesses recall being more confident in their identification than they actually were at the time.
2004 - BE040
CAN KILLDEER PREDICT RAIN?
Krista Marie Vogel
Kulm High School, Kulm, North Dakota, U.S.A.
The purpose of this project was to determine if killdeer could predict rain, how accurate they were, and how their predictions compared to those of three
different weather forecasts. The hypothesis was that the killdeer would be correct 80% of the time. Each day, from May 31st until August
15th, data was recorded. The data included days the killdeer sang, days it rained, and the predictions of three weather forecasts' for each day. After calculating
the results, it was determined that the killdeer had an overall accuracy of 84%. This was calculated allowing the killdeer a two-day period for it to rain after they
sang. This is because of the weather lore. It states that if you hear the killdeer sing, it will rain within 24-48 hours. Weather.com (The Weather Channel) had an
accuracy of 86%, which was 2% better than the killdeer's predictions. KFYR was at 78% accuracy, and Dish Instant Weather (sponsored by AccuWeather.com)
was 74% accurate. The killdeer predicted 32 of the 34 rains that occurred during those two and a half months, but they also called 10 times when it never
rained. The hypothesis was nearly accurate, and it can be concluded that it is fairly accurate to say, "If you hear the killdeer sing, it will rain within the next day."
2004 - BE041
LINES OF LIFE
Stephanie Marie Weinreis
Beach High School, Beach, ND, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to find out whether or not there are similarities in the fingerprints of different generations of a family and if the percentage
compared with the general populations percentage were similar. I took fingerprints of nine different people from three different families. I used only
their right hand. I classified them into main categories and compared the different generations of prints. Between subjects 1m61, 2m35, and 3m2,
there was a total of one double loop, one tented arch seven radial loops, three loops, one ulnar loop, one whorl, and one plain whorl. Overall they had mostly
loops. Between subjects 1f60, 2f38, and 3f10, there were four ulnar loops, two plain whorls, four loops, and five radial loops. The second and third
generations of this family had a form of loop on all their fingers. Between subjects 1f81, 2f44, and 3f16, there were a total of five radial loops, three
ulnar loops, one loop, one whorl, one tented arch, one accidental whorl, and three plain whorls. This family was interesting because they had such a variety of
prints. The first and third generations were more closely related to each other than 2f44 was to either of them. I have concluded from my observations
that there are definite similarities between the prints of different generations of a family. Overall 76% of the families together have loops, 20% have whorls, and
4% have arches. 
2004 - BE004
HOW TEACHING STYLES AND COLOR AFFECT LEARNING
Rebecca Jane West
Mills University Studies High School, Little Rock AR, United States
This experiment showed the value of visual learning methods versus auditory learning methods, and also showed the relevance of color when the visual
method is used, with regards to a group of fifteen- and sixteen-year-old students with GPAs ranging from 2.5 to 4.0. Three groups of students were chosen to
participate. The tests were explained to them, and each of the three tests was performed: ten facts were presented in an auditory manner, a visual manner, and
in a manner consistent with a combination of the two. On each test the students was asked to name their age, GPA, favorite color, and sex. This information
was used to identify individuals so that test results could be compared. A Chi-Square was used to sort the data and test for significant variations, and each
question on the visual tests was color-coded to a fact. It was discovered that there were no significant variations in how many students were expected
to do better with the auditory or the visual presentation, according to Devlin. The numbers obtained from the Chi-Square formula were well under the limit (5.99)
set for 2 degrees of freedom with 95% confidence. Also, it was discovered that, when information was presented visually, 92.8% of students got at least one of
the red-coded questions correct, while only 60.7% received points for a correct blue-coded question. It was concluded that the observed results were
in accordance with what was presented by Devlin, and that red is more conducive to learning. 
2004 - BE019
THE EFFECTS OF MUSIC TYPES ON DRIVING ABILITY
Rebecca Elizabeth Wilder
Mentor High School, Mentor, Ohio, U.S.A.
This project explores the effects of different types of music listened to on driving ability. In 1998, 14% of all fatal car accidents killed 6,300 teens between the
ages of 15 and 19. Since only 7% of all drivers are teenagers, they are responsible for twice as many fatal accidents as all other drivers. This experiment is an
attempt to show that if teens listen to loud, aggressive music rather than soft, relaxing music, then they will be involved in more car accidents. To test this, 50
teens will listen to rock music, country music, and no music while driving in a simulator and their number of crashes while listenening to each CD will be
recorded and analyzed. According to Hotz, "[...] a piece of music might elicit a certain behavior one time, such as dancing, and something different another
time, such as smiling when remembering a dance" (2002). What people listen to sparks an emotion, which can change their mood. If this is true, then when a
person hears a song, their entire mood will change and subsequently, the way they drive will change. If it is found that music causes teens to drive more
aggressively, then many fatal car accidents could be avoided by making teens listen to soft relaxing music instead of loud, aggressive music.
REMOVE FROM AWARD SCRIPT>>>
Honorable Mention - American Statistical Association
2004 - BE022
WHICH COLOR HAS THE FASTEST REACTION TIME?
Tiana Monique Woitas
Loyola High School - Mankato, MN - United States
For my hypothesis, I predicted that Yellow would be the color with the fastest reaction time because of it's brightness. However, I did still have strong feelings
towards the colors of Red and Orange because I discovered through much of my research that Red was a color known to express boldness and excitement,
and orange standing less aggressive than Red, but still a color to create the feeling of energy. For my procedure, I tested each of my subjects with a
total of 24 sets that determined which color had the fastest reaction time. I used 4 different colored ping pong balls (Red, Yellow, Orange and Green) that would
be released from my "machine" one at a time. After my subject was correctly positioned sitting, he/she was instructed that once I released a colored ping pong
ball down my machine, they would attempt to catch the colored ping pong ball once the visualized it release from the bottom of my machine, with a total of 8
releases catching with their right hand, 8 releases catching with their left, as well as 8 releases catching with both hands. I would time each of my subject's
reaction times with my stopwatch, starting the timer when I released each ball, and stopping the watch once my subject made any type of movement towards
each colored ball they visualized. I tested a total of 40 subjects. In conclusion then, I disproved my original hypothesis. Red overall was the color with
the fastest reaction time. Orange stood in between, coming in as the color with the second fastest reaction time. The colors both Yellow and Green evened out
to be the colors on the bottom of my list with the slowest reaction times.
2004 - BE308
2 FAST FOR YOUR BEAT
Nitra Cassedy Woods, Jones, Felecia Rene
Andrews High School, Andrews, TX USA
Our project was based on effects of multitasking while driving versus non-driving on blood pressure and reaction times and if using a tester of opposite gender
affects this. We gathered 200 licensed high school students (100 males/100 females). For reaction time we constructed a box placed on dashboard. All tests
involved both driving and non-driving. For Control, drivers had no music, food etc. Next they listened to music (R&B, Country, Tejano) again driving and nondriving. Test three involved girls applying makeup and boys eating burritos. Another task involved reaching for a CD. Retesting occurred with gender tester
changes. Blood pressures were taken before/after each test along with reaction times. The overall average results of Boy Reaction Time/Blood Pressure
Driving results were: Control 1.43 seconds, 130/49; Combined Music Results 1.99 seconds, 135/45; Combined Tasks 2.75 seconds, 143/54. Boys Non-driving:
Control 3.96 seconds, 135/43; Music 3.30 seconds, 137/53; Tasks 3.25 seconds, 151/63. Girls Driving Results were: Control 1.83 seconds, 124/50; Music 2.07
seconds, 137/45; Tasks 1.81 seconds, 141/46. Girls Non-driving were: Control 1.23 seconds, 131/50; Music 1.49 seconds, 134/42; Tasks 1.68 seconds,
136/55. Gender results of boys testing girls were: Control 1.57 seconds, 138/60; Music 1.45 seconds, 140/51; Tasks 2.12 seconds, 145/53. Results show that
boys are faster on reaction times when driving and slower during driving with distractions occurring; however girls are faster while driving and slower only when
non-driving and with music while driving. More distractions do not bother as much except when a male is the test administrator.
2004 - BE301
BRAIN VS. BRAWN: THE AFFECT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN MATURE ADULTS.
LaShanna Antoinette Young, Kyle Landon Young, Dionne LaBrada Solomon
Wildwood High School, Wildwood, FL, USA
These researchers began this project to determine the affect of physical activity on cognitive function in mature adults. From a previous year's experiment, the
researchers learned that physical activity positively affects mental functioning in high school students. The researchers, however, wished to discover if exercise
had the same effect on older individuals. In order to test the original hypothesis that exercise does positively affect mental health in older individuals,
the researchers tested two community softball teams and one control group. One team consisted of ten males while the other consisted of ten females, and the
control group was comprised of five males and five females who did not engage in regular physical activity. The teams were given memory questionnaires at
three different times during the softball season. After the testing, the results were collected and compared to be used as data in the project. This year's testing
results showed a 79% average for the females, a 74.3% average for the males, and a 69.7% average for the non-athletic subjects. The experiment
proved that physical activity does yield a positive affect on psychological function in mature adults. The scores of the female athletes were higher than the male
athletes, and both softball teams outscored the control group. Research on the subject matter also revealed a positive correlation between physical activity and
mental functioning in older individuals. The experimentation and research conducted in this project has helped the researchers to conclude that exercise is
beneficial to the brain in all aspects of life, enhancing brain function from infancy to mature adulthood. 
2004 - BE009
RACIAL BIAS BY PHYSICIANS PROVIDING PRENATAL CARE
Tamiko Bianca Younge
White Plains High School, White Plains, NY, USA
Nowhere in the United Sates are the divisions of race more prevalent than in racial inequities in health. Black women are twice as likely to deliver preterm
compared to white women. This has a profound impact on perinatal mortality and morbidity. Preterm birth presents an enigma to the medical community; the
causes of half of preterm births are unknown and traditional explanations of socioeconomics and behavioral characteristics do not explain the excess rate of
preterm birth among African Americans. Previous studies have shown that a patient’s race can affect their clinical management, but whether it is a contributing
factor to the racial disparity of preterm birth has not been adequately investigated. Physicians providing prenatal care were surveyed to determine their
knowledge, attitudes and intended clinical management related to racial disparities in maternal and infant health. Physicians were aware of some racial
disparities in perinatal health. However, reported clinical management was influenced by patient race. Responses also differed based on the characteristics of
the physician. Findings suggest the need for cultural sensitivity training for physicians to enhance equity of care and minimize the provider contribution to the
racial disparity of preterm birth.
2004 - BE314
IS PESTLE-SHAPED THUMB GENETICALLY CONTROLLED?
Songyue Zheng, Jie Geng , Ping Yang
Zhengzhou Normal School ,Zhengzhou,Henan Province,China
Pestle-shaped thumb, which is characterized by a high ratio (about two) of the width to the length of thumbnail, is frequently observed in Chinese population.
However, it is still unknown whether this phenomenon is genetically controlled. The objective of the present study was to investigate the genetics of pestleshaped thumb. The physical survey was performed on 12180 students in 15 elementary and middle schools around Zhengzhou area, Henan province, China.
Data analysis demonstrated that pestle-shaped thumb is genetically controlled with a relatively constant occurrence at approximately 2% in the population
studied. The results also indicated that pestle-shaped thumb is not sex-linked. Furthermore, some families have a high occurrence frequency of pestle-shaped
thumb. Forty pedigree families with high occurrence of pestle-shaped thumb were further analyzed. Pedigree analysis also suggested that pestle-shaped thumb
is unlikely controlled by one pair of allele genes. Instead, multiple genes may be involved in the genetic control of this inherited phenomenon. In conclusion,
pestle-shaped thumb is an inherited character, which is controlled by multiple genes.The further genetic analysis about pestle-shaped thumb, its distribution,the
ratio among different nationalities and possible linked markers will be carried out and characterized in the near future.
2005 - BE036
THE INFLUENCE OF PREFERENTIAL MUSIC ON THE RETENTION OF INFORMATION
Sarah Renee Kropf
Seneca High School, Seneca, MO, USA
Music has been shown to increase endorphins, relaxation, and memory while decreasing stress, depression and blood pressure. Numerous studies have been
done to determine if there is a difference between classical music, mostly Mozart, silence, and occasionally popular/ contemporary music. The purpose of this
research was to determine if listening to music you prefer helps you retain information. One hundred thirty five high school students participated by reading a
passage and taking a fill-in-the-blank test. Prior to experimentation, participants took a survey to rank six different types of music on a scale of 1-6 (favorite to
least favorite). Participants were divided into five groups of 27 students each, based on what they heard while reading and testing respectively. Here were the
groups: Favorite-Favorite, Favorite-Least, Least-Favorite, Least-Least, and Silent-Silent. Data was analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and a significant
difference was found between the group that read while listening to their favorite music when compared to the least favorite or silent groups. This suggests that
listening to music that is preferred helps in retaining the information.
2005 - BE037
PROTOTYPE FOR AUTONOMY: PATHWAY FOR THE BLIND
Ameen Abdulrasool
Lane Technical High School, Chicago, IL. U.S.A.
Efforts to build and develop technology to assist the visually impaired in travel have, until recently, been limited to instruments that help individuals avoid
obstacles. This experiment opted to create a portable, self-contained navigation system which would allow visually impaired individuals to travel familiar and
unfamiliar environments without the assistance of guides. A satellite navigational tool was adapted for the blind using a Global Positioning System
(GPS) along with a compact flash adapter and a personal digital assistant (PDA). A voice-operated circuit was designed and created to serve as the backbone
to a dual-sided sensory alert system. The complete prototype provided users with verbal and vibratory command prompts. A set of 36 selected individuals were
subjected through an obstacle course to test the efficiency of the navigational tool; their errors and completion times throughout the course were noted and
analyzed. The conclusion that the GPS navigational tool adapted for the blind was truly effective can be drawn and seen in the test results by the
decrease in errors made and the decreased completion time with the use of the navigational tool. The navigational tool helped reduce an average of 6.33 errors
and save 25.82 minutes on the course. 
Third Award of $250 and a certificate - American Psychological Association
Third Award of $350 - IEEE Computer Society
A Scholarship of $50,000. - Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award
of the Nobel festivities. - Seaborg SIYSS Award
Award of $3,000 in savings bonds, a certificate of achievement and a gold medalion - U.S. Army
Tuition Scholarship Award in the amount of $8,000 - Office of Naval Research on behalf of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
2005 - BE012
VIDEO GAMES: FRIEND OR FOE?
Peter David Allen
York Catholic High School, York, Pennsylvania, United States of America
The American public has been exposed to the “dark side” of video games: the graphic violence, the brutal subject matter, and its addictive qualities. Recently,
the redeeming qualities of video games are coming to light. Soldiers in all branches of the military play video games to train, video game playing surgeons are
making fewer errors when operating, and stroke victims are being rehabilitated faster by the use of video games. Experimentation was performed to determine
if teenagers who play video games regularly have better hand-eye coordination and visual attention skills than those who don’t play. During video game play,
the neurotransmitter dopamine is released. Dopamine increases a person’s ability to learn; therefore, increasing their hand-eye coordination and visual
attention skills. The subjects were teenagers who were divided into two categories, gamers (3+ hours/week) and non-gamers (less than 3
hours/week), based on the amount of video games they typically played per week. The experiment tested hand-eye coordination by using a ruler drop test and
a cup stacking test. Subjects were tested in visual attention using an object find test and a multi-object slideshow flash test. In respect to eye-hand
coordination, non-gamers scored 41% lower than gamers in the ruler drop test and 10.4% lower in the cup stacking test. With respect to visual attention, non-
gamers scored 31.2% lower on the object find test and 16.3% lower in the multi-object slideshow flash test. Gamers proved to have superior hand-eye
coordination and visual attention over non-gamers. 
2005 - BE039
"MY BROTHER'S KEEPER": WELL-BEING AND RELATIONSHIP EFFECTS OF HAVING A SIBLING WITH AUTISM
Christina Marie Amoroso
Lawrence High School, Cedarhurst, New York, United States
Although interest in cognitive disabilities such as autism has increased in recent years, this field is still relatively unexplored. Little is known about the
functioning of the sibling and the effect a child with autism may or may not have on his or her sibling. The present study examined whether the presence of a
sibling with autism causes difficulties (measured by Goodman's Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). The relationship between the sibling pairs was also
examined using Furman's Sibling Relationship Questionnaire and compared to a matched control cohort. In all, 24 experimental sibling pairs and 21 control
sibling pairs were studied. Additional variables included age gap, genders, birth order, and severity of autism (measured by Rimland and Edelson's Autism
Treatment Evaluation Checklist). Surveys were completed by one parent. Results indicated that siblings of children with autism experience greater
emotional difficulties than a control group. Warmth and closeness between experimental sibling pairs was dramatically compromised. Dominance and rivalry
scores were also higher than those of the control group. Several significant gender differences were also found; brothers of children with autism were much
more likely to be maladjusted in terms of conduct problems, peer problems, and experienced less warmth and closeness with their sibling than did sisters of
children with autism. Sibling pairs in which the age gap was small (<3 years) had higher prosocial scores and fewer peer problems. Correlational analyses
indicated that severity of autism may play a role in the well being of the typical sibling and the relationship between the sibling pair. 
First Award of $3,000 - U.S. Air Force
2005 - BE043
EDGE INTEGRATION IN HUMAN BRIGHTNESS PERCEPTION
Jonathan Yong An
Emerald Ridge High School, Puyallup, Washington, U.S.A
In 1948, Hans Wallach showed that brightness of disk surrounded by a ring depends on the ratio of the disk luminance divided by the ring luminance. Recently,
more exact quantitative models have been introduced to account for the disk lightness. The one studied today is Rudd and Zemach’s model of edge integration:
a hypothetical process by which the visual system combines information about the local contrast, or luminance ratio, at luminance borders within an image to
compute a scale of relative brightness for the regions lying between the borders. When two squares are surrounded by frames of different sizes, the
edge integration model predicts that the relative brightness will depend on the intensity of the background field. In this project, we changed the background
luminance to see if that manipulation affects the square’s lightness. This might seem surprising since the background is not adjacent to the square, and older
theories only take into account the effects of luminance contrast from neighboring regions. The observer's task was to adjust the intensity of the left
(match) square to match the right (test) square in brightness as a function of the background luminance. The effect of the background luminance variations on
the test square was determined by the slope of the logarithm of the matching square versus the logarithm of the background luminance. The data showed that
the weight given to the outer frame edge is larger when the outer frame edge is dark on the inside (lighter background). In summary, our data
indicates that changing the background affects the lightness of a square even though it is not adjacent to the square. The data lends further support to the idea
of edge integration that lightness of a square depends on a sum of induction effects derived from edges. 
2005 - BE315
DETECTING THE AGGREGATION PHEROMONE OF ARMADILLIDIUM VULGARE
Jason Lavar Anderson, Clara Grace Watson
Grenada High School, Grenada Mississippi, United States of America
The purpose of the project is to determine if the aggregation pheromone of Armadillidium vulgare is contained in the fecal matter of males, females or both
genders. We believe that the aggregation pheromone is located in the fecal matter of A. vulgare. The procedure consisted of the following: researching
information on pheromones; creating a habitat for A.vulgare; collecting A.vulgare; placing groups of 15 specimens male,female,and both genders in weighing
dishes to collect fecal matter; constructing a multiple choice arena; placing fecal mattter of mixed groups in one end of the arena; placing males and females in
the arena for 10 minutes; recording the number of males and females on the end with the fecal matter; repeated the procedure for male and female fecal
matter. The results show that a higher ratio of Armadillidium vulgare aggregate in the area where fecal matter is present. The results also show that males tend
to aggregate around their own fecal matter as well as the female fecal matter. Females aggregated only around male fecal matter, and avoided their own. The
hypothesis,based on the results indicates that a pheromone is present in the fecal matter of A.vulgare. The chemical nature of the aggregation pheromone has
not been determined. When a suitable solvent for the fecal matter is found, it is believed that a gas chromatograph will indicate whether or not there are in fact
two seperate pheromones.
Third Award of $1,000 - Team Projects - Presented by Ricoh
2005 - BE022
THE BI-ORBITAL ROTATIONAL THERAPY SWING: A NEW HOPE FOR CHILDREN WITH ADHD
Liz (Elizabeth) Anne Baker
University High School, 422 N. Arcadia Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85711 USA
This project designed, built and tested a unique therapy swing that increased the concentration and performance of ADHD children. The wide-ranging and
multi-dimensional movement of the swing provided sensory integration that stimulated the Vestibular system in the inner ear and significantly improved a child’s
ability to compete school-work. Eighty elementary students participated in this blind study of the Bi-Orbital Rotational Therapy Swing. The four-cell
design divided ADHD and Non-ADHD children into equal groups, and then further divided them into equal treatment versus control groups. Sex and age were
equally balanced. Students were pre-tested with a test of ten words that they copied from a chalkboard while being observed for accuracy, on and offtask behaviors, time and changes in their affect. Forty students received three sessions of swing therapy. Forty students were placed in a control group and
received similar, non-swing interaction for the same length of time. A post-test followed. Analysis of the data revealed the concentration and
performance of all students improved significantly (from .005 to .000 level) on all measures, except time. And, the improvement of ADHD students who received
treatment was even more highly significant in these areas. Whether a child was on a stimulant medication or not, made no significant difference in the
effectiveness of the swing. Based on my results, it was concluded that the Bi-Orbital Rotational Therapy Swing was effective in improving the
concentration and performance of all children treated and, in particular, children with ADHD. This project sets a mandate for further research. 
Tuition Scholarship Award of $5,000 per year for 4 years for a total value of $20,000 - Indiana University
Honorable Mention Award - National Academy of Neuropsychology
2005 - BE302
SKIN DEEP
Miraya Berke, Hanna Bliden and Nikki Dance
Soquel High School, Soquel, CA, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of physical appearance on personal approachability. We hypothesized that physical appearance
would affect people’s perceptions of each other and impact their choice of friends, preferred students and potential employees. We selected one boy and one
girl and dressed them up in five different outfits, each one based on a stereotypical image. We took ten photographs of each different look. We devised a
simple poll to determine which stereotypical image people preferred and identified three subgroups to query: high school students, teachers, and parents. We
then asked high school students to review the photographs and choose the person they would most like to have as a friend. We asked teachers which person
they would prefer to have as a student. Finally, we asked parents which person they would hire for a job. Results showed that appearance did affect a person’s
approachability and that image did affect people’s choice of friends, preferred students, and potential employees. Students and teachers preferred one image
overall others (T-shirt, jeans, clean-cut, sporty image). Parents preferred the professional image overall others as a potential employee. We concluded that
physical appearance and image affected the choices people make regarding friends, preferred students, and potential employees.
2005 - BE014
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Peter Michael Bishara
Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, Jersey City, NJ, USA
This project began with a series of forwarded e-mails sent to me. I was intrigued how the tests knew all the answers I would say before I even said them. The
underlying principle of this project was to comprehend how my mind, and all minds, are affected by the repetition of items. This repetition is also known as the
priming effect. The priming effect shows a manipulation over certain parts of the brain; the Frontal Cortex (thinking process) and the Parietal Lobe (Association
Area). Forty test subjects were given three different examinations all using the priming effect. All tests proved to show 62% of the subjects to have the correct,
or primed, answer. A Chi-square analysis of the data confirmed that the expected answers were given and that the priming effect was statistically significant.
Each test also showed varying levels of the priming effect suggesting that the amount of priming does not have a significant increase on the accuracy of an
answer.
2005 - BE045
THE A"MAZE"ING SLEEP DEPRIVED MICE A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Valerie Brak
Navasota High School, Navasota Texas, USA
Studies have shown that eighty-five percent of teens do not get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation studies show that animals and humans respond to a lack of
sleep in much of the same ways. This experiment will test how efficiently mice can navigate through a maze after 2, 3, and 5 hours of sleep deprivation. 
 First, identify the mice. Second, study the sleep patterns of all seven mice to find out when they should be deprived of sleep. Deprive the four mice of five
hours of sleep using the slowly turning wheel then have the mice run through the maze. Record the amount of time needed to travel through the maze. Allow
the mice to receive an adequate amount of sleep. Repeat using three hours of sleep and two hours of sleep. The other three mice should be allowed to sleep
(these are the control). Have these mice run the maze one at a time. Record each mouse’s time. When the mice were deprived of sleep, they became
much more sluggish and docile. While in the maze, they would run back and forth in the section they had already passed through several times before moving
on to the new section. Also, they had a tendency to stop in the middle of the maze. When deprived of five hours of sleep, they took an average of 249 seconds
to run through the maze. The control mice finished the maze with an average time of 83.6 seconds. This is a difference of 165.4 seconds. My
hypothesis was proven correct. I hypothesized that sleep deprived mice would take longer to run through the maze than the mice that received an adequate
amount of sleep. This assumption was proven correct by the information gathered from the experiment.In conclusion, sleep is an essential factor in learning
and processing information in mice and in humans. 
2005 - BE046
SOCIAL SPACING IN JUVENILE AFRICAN WEAKLY ELECTRIC FISH, MORMYRUS RUME PROBOSCIROSTRIS (TELEOSTEI, MORMYRIDAE)
Samantha Breakstone
John F. Kennedy High School, Bellmore, New York, United States
“Champion species” serve as models to uncover the intricate interactions between an animal’s internal hormonal and neuronal status and the environment to
which it must adapt in order to survive. African mormyrid fish use multiple sensory modalities to maintain their position in space. Conditions permitting, sight
and electrosense acting in concert play a synergistic role in social spacing and schooling in these fish. This project investigated the effects of group size and
illumination level on social aggregation. Fish actively sought the close vicinity to conspecifics to form temporary groups and maintained the same average
nearest neighbor distance of about 30-80m regardless of group size. Expression of this aggregation was much stronger in a group of 10 fish. The data showed
a clear difference in the distributions of fish interacting under low light and light condition (normal and bright). Fish under bright light conditions are much more
likely to maintain closer group cohesion than fish under low light conditions. These differences are discussed as the fish’s adaptation to different predation
pressures from sighted predators during the day and electroreceptive predators during the night.
2005 - BE306
AL - KUHL ADOLESCENTS ALCOHOL ABUSE CONCEQUENCES
Violeta Soledad Broggi, Marcelo Claudio Lazza, Luis María Bos Cisneros
Escuela Normal Olegario Victor Andrade, Gualeguaychú - Entre Rìos, Argentina
It’s more frequent to see, nowadays, how a lot of adolescents consume great quantities of alcoholic drinks. The alcohol is a drug with which the ocidental
society has learnt to live with, and now the youngest population has broken its control capacity. To consume is a permanent and abusive activity, and this
occasions problematic situations proper of the intoxication with that substance. From this foundation the following disquiet comes: Which are
the main consequences originated by the alcohol abuse in students adolescents between 16 and 18 years old in Gualeguaychú? To elaborate the previous
theoretic frame reference, different bibliographic sources and the every day fact observation have been used; the following hypothesis could be formulated: 
 “The main consequences that the alcohol abuse bring to students adolescents from Gualeguaychú, is mainly manifested in biologic and social
aspects.” To verify it, different methodological techniques have been applied: written documents analysis, surveys, interviews, journalistic
advertisements synthesis, observations, etc. From which data elaboration we could get the following conclusion: “Among the main consequences that
the alcohol abuse in students adolescent from 16 to 18 years old in Gualeguaychu the following fact stands out: In the biologic aspect: .
Physical problems: general sickness (equilibrium lose) . Psychological problems: neurological system alteration (memory lose, lose of coordination
thinking-action) In the social aspect: Problematic or violent situations with his/her environment (quarrels, lack of control) 
 
2005 - BE004
CAN SIMULATED ROBOTIC BEHAVIORS ELICIT RESPONSES FROM ANOLIS SAGREI?
Thomas Kemerer Bunbury
Center for Advanced Technology, Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States
Over the last few years the use of robotics to study animal behaviors has become more popular. Behavioral researchers have realized robotics as a way to
increase their knowledge about animal behavior. The Brown Anole, Anolis Sagrei, a common lizard in the southeastern United States, is known for its unique
head bobbing as a form of communication. Researchers have tried to interpret these bobs to better understand the lizard and its reaction to the environment
around it. To determine if the number of head bobs that a lizard displays elicited a specific type of response from other lizards a robotic lizard was created. This
robotic lizard was constructed out of Lexan and constructed to mimic the Anolis Sagrei. This lizard was driven by a servo motor and bobbed its head in 2, 3 and
4 bob cycles. Another still cycle was included with zero head bobs. The real lizard’s reaction was then assigned a number between zero and seven, zero being
no reaction, and seven being an extreme reaction. Statistical analysis of the response data showed that the lizards responded significantly less to the four head
bob cycle. This significance is based on a 99% confidence level between four bobs and no movement, a 98% confidence level between 4 bobs and 2 bobs, and
a 98% confidence level between 3 bobs and four bobs. There was no significant difference between 2 and 3 bobs, 2 and no movement, or 3 and no movement.
It was hypothesized that a larger number of head bobs would elicit a greater response because the head bob is a sign of aggression. However the data shows
that more head bobs elicits less of a response then the fewer bobs. This lack of reaction could mean that a small number of head bobs are a sign of
aggression, or a large number of head bobs mean nothing.
2005 - BE005
MEMORIZATION, DURATION, AND MOTIVATION
Cristina Maria Canfield
A. Crawford Mosley High School, Lynn Haven, FL, United States
The researcher tested ninth-grade advanced students to determine if length of time without rehearsal of information and a student’s motivation to learn the
material affected his/her ability to recall it. Concerning duration, the researcher hypothesized if the initial presentation of a concept were only stored in the shortterm memory of the student, testing occurring closer to the time of presentation would result in higher scores. This was proven incorrect. Eight series, each
consisting of a scientific fact and quiz was presented to each of the seventy student subjects. The students recorded the fact three times and after a specific
amount of time a quiz was given. The “notes and quizzes” were then analyzed to determine if there was, in fact, a correlation between test scores and length of
time between memorizing a fact and recalling it. There was little correlation. Also, the scores did not seem to increase or decrease with the passing of each
series of facts and quizzes, proving hypothesis three wrong. Next the researcher gave a surprise formative test with all eight scientists. The students
did poorly on this test. They were then given a sheet with all the correct answers to study for a summative test on which the students did very well. Concerning
the students’ motivation, the researcher hypothesized that since the students were in an Honors Science class, they would care about their grades (summative
grades). Therefore, the tests that counted more of his/her grade would have better scores. This hypothesis was proven correct. 
Scholarship Award of $10,000 per year, renewable annually - Florida Institute of Technology
2005 - BE303
GENDER DETERMINATION BY THUMBPRINTS
Shannon Marie Cassidy, Meryl Hulteng
Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville, Oregon, United States of America
This experiment was designed to test the possibility of determining gender from a fingerprint. The science of fingerprinting has become an easy way to identify
people from crime scenes to finding missing persons. Preliminary research did not indicate that gender can be determined from fingerprinting. The hypothesis
stated that at least one print characteristic would surface as an aid in distinguishing the gender of prints. Thumbprints were taken from a group of 25
males and 25 females. The prints were analyzed using a system keeping the gender unknown during evaluation. Analysis determined that males
tended to have a higher ridge count than female subjects. When comparing type of prints to ridge count and gender, common patterns were discovered. From
this a classification system was created to determine the probability of a gender. We were able to designate probable male and probable female thumbprints.
Those with a low ridge count and right loop were probable female prints and those thumbprints with a whorl and high ridge count were probable males. 
 Due to the sample size, it is believed that similar results would be found if the experiment was repeated. If gender could be determined via
fingerprint, it could prove important to criminal investigators, by speeding processing drastically. For instance narrowing down the suspect pool; prints taken
from a crime scene could be prioritized when knowing the suspects gender. Plans have been made to collect more prints for further analysis and
research.
2005 - BE001
CORRELATIONS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT, CLASSES, AND STRESS AND THE EFFECT IT HAS ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Nava E. Cohen
F.W. Springstead High, Spring Hill, Florida, United States of America
This project deals with trying to understand the correlation between student's social environment, rigor of classes, and student's stress level so that students
can be more successful in their academic and social environments. There will be a correlation between the social environment of a student, the rigor
of classes, and the student's stress, that affects the student's stress level. A survey will be given to local high school students. Consent Form 4 will be
used for the students taking the survey, so that their parents are aware of the survey. Survey areas include: parents' and grandparents' marital status, student
GPA, student age and sex, question of student's classes, social environment, emotions/attitude/behavior in school. To form this self-report survey,
information was researched through literature and formal consultation with a school psychologist. Questions were written by the chai square method to obtain
maximum information about the student. After the survey was formed, a professional psychologist thoroughly reviewed and revised the survey to ease any
problems that could have arisen from the questions. Possible risks that already exist from stressful situations can be agitated by this survey, this is why there is
parents' consent for the teenager to fill out the survey. The hypothesis of this project was proven correct. There is a correlation among social
environment, class rigor, and student's stress that can and will affect the student's stress level. This was proven by seeing the class rigor and how many
classes they took, as well as adding in the contributing factor of whether the teenager has a job, and then adding in the final factor of home-life situations that
definitely affected the teenager's choices in life. A little over 50% of the participants surveyed were females resulting in an unequal balance of sex as well as of
age.
2005 - BE040
SOUNDS INTO SYLLABLES- A TEACHING SYSTEM FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
Kayla Marie Cornale
Assumption Catholic Secondary School, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
This project is intended to assist children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder learn to read and write. To do this, I have created this teaching system,
which presents language in a spoken and musical format. I did this by creating an animated computer program. The child learns to identify the
alphabet and 26 nouns by simultaneously hearing them as musical tones based on a pre-established scale. The nouns are then given further definition with
pictures, sound effects and textured letters. This process is designed to activate multiple areas of the brain and in so doing improve the child’s ability to learn
language. In addition, the computer program serves to conceptually link learned nouns with related verbs. The animations are presented in a story format
designed to begin the transfer from single word comprehension to sentence comprehension and formation. The test subject was my nine year old
cousin who is diagnosed with PDD-NOS. At the commencement of our weekly study sessions she was unable to read or spell any letter/word including her own
name. Today she spells (both verbally and musically) over 20 nouns, 5 related verbs and her own name. She has grasped the relationship between the nouns
and verbs in the animations and expresses interest in the story aspect of the program. In addition, her ability to communicate and focus on the task at hand has
greatly improved.
First Award of $1,000 and a certificate - American Intellectual Property Law Association
Award of $250 - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Award of $5,000 - Intel Foundation Achievement Awards
Honorable Mention Award - National Academy of Neuropsychology
2005 - BE013
THE PEER PRESSURE EFFECT A SEARCH FOR GREATER UNDERSTANDING
Cristina Maria Costantini
University School of Milwaukee, Milwaukee WI, USA
The purpose of my experiment is to find a practical and reliable method of measuring the degree of susceptibility to peer pressure in individuals, and to find a
scientific method to study and gain a greater understanding of the cause and effect of peer pressure. Forty freshman boys were first instructed to
complete five different paper-and-pencil tests, four of which are commonly used by social psychologists to measure various personality traits including selfmonitoring, self-consciousness and self-esteem. I designed the fifth test myself to measure self-confidence, leadership, and friendship skills. Each test
subject was then seated in a room with three other students and instructed to answer 25 verbal math problems. The test subject was not aware that the other
three students in the room were “plants” who had been instructed to give the wrong answers to some of the problems. The ten questions which the test subject
was asked to answer first were used to measure his math ability. The ten questions which he was asked to answer last were used to measure peer pressure
susceptibility. When the test subject answered last, he was forced to make a decision whether to go along with the wrong answer which he had just heard from
the three “plants”, or give his own answer. My experiment was able to measure the degree of conformity in each test subject and to identify statistically
significant correlations between specific personality traits and conformity. This experimental method may be used to gain a greater understanding of the cause
and effect of peer pressure. 
2005 - BE021
IS A PICTURE WORTH A 1000 LIVES?
Cory D. Cox
Charlottesville high school, Charlottesville V.A. USA.
 Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries, medical/legal expenses and lost productivity from driving accidents. Previously, I
demonstrated that when signs that encourage drivers to buckle their seatbelts are put up at the exits of senior centers, seniors were more likely to buckle up,
and this effect lasted for at least four years. In last year’s project I found that similar signs worked the same way, or generalized, to other settings (exits of
churches). I wanted to find out why signs work. I hypothesized that: 1) the effects of signs would be reliable, 2) signs would be more effective when
seen at the beginning rather than in the middle of a trip, and 3) signs with a motivational message, a picture modeling seatbelt usage plus instructions to buckle
up would work better than a sign with a modeling picture and instructions, which would work better than either a sign with a model or words alone. I observed
1,260 drivers at six intersections and found that: 1) the effects of signs were reliable across locations, time and observers, 2) signs worked similarly at exits and
at intersections, 3) signs with instructions to “Buckle up” plus a picture that modeled this, worked better than either instructions or a model alone, and 4) a
motivational message did not improve seatbelt use. Signs modeling and instructing seatbelt use could be very cost-effective, working 24 hours/day, 365
days/year encouraging safe behavior, saving lives and money. 
2005 - BE314
PERSONALITY LEARNS
McKinzie Rhea Craig, Jessie Marshall
Christian Academy of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
This experiment is based upon the behavioral analysis of testing eighty different thirteen to fourteen year old human subjects to discover whether personality
has an effect on the type of learning style prominent in each subject method of short-term memorization. Each subject is administered a
David-Keirsey Temperament Sorter II Personality Test to determine which of the sixteen personality types the subject appropriates. Visual, auditory, and
kinesthetic learning style tests are administered. The visual test displays a verse of twenty-nine characters that the subject has five minutes to memorize by
reading the text off the test sheet. The subject is given five minutes to rewrite the verse in grammatical and contextual perfection. The auditory test allows each
subject to listen a verse that is repetitiously read aloud for the duration of five minutes. Five minutes are given to rewrite the verse in grammatical and
contextual perfection. The kinesthetic test allowed each subject five minutes to physically perform or act out another twenty-nine-character verse in aide of
memorization. The subject has another five minutes to rewrite the verse in perfection. Completing the experiment the grammatical and contextual errors are
analyzed and used to determine if each personality type has a prominent learning style. According to the concluding analysis, each personality type is
dominant in one of the visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learning styles and the results are as follows: ESTP-visual, ISTP-kinesthetic, ESFP-kinesthetic, ISFPvisual, ESTJ-auditory, ISTJ-visual, ESFJ-auditory, ISFJ-auditory, ENFJ-visual, INFJ-kinesthetic, ENFP-auditory, INFP-auditory, ENTJ-visual, INTJ-visual,
ENTP-visual, and INTP-visual. 
2005 - BE030
IF YOU DRINK, THINK! DON'T GO FOR A SPIN!
Victor Edward Cross
Central High School, Phenix City, Alabama
Research on the effects of alcohol on the ability of orb weaver spiders to spin webs was the basis of an anti-drinking and driving campaign: a two faceted
program was developed. Facet one was an anti-drinking and driving poster. The poster that was created shows before and after photos of the spider webs. At
the top of the poster the caption read, "If it will do this to a spider, think of what it will do to you!" Below the photographs was a drawing with two coffins: one
with a dead human in it and the other with a dead spider in it. At the bottom of the poster was the slogan, "If you drink, THINK! Don't go for a spin!" The second
facet was a multimedia presentation which was made to classes of middle and high school students. A pre- and post-test on information on the presentations, a
DUI fact sheet, and pledge cards were created. Health and Driver's Education teachers in Russell and Muscogee Counties (grades 7-12) agreed to allow the
presentation to be made to their classes. The presentation was viewed by 688 students who took the pre- and post-tests. The cumulative data was analyzed by
a 2-sample Z test (0.05 confidence level). The Z test indicated that the presentation yielded a significant difference in the knowledge of the students about
problems inherent in drinking and operating any kind of vehicle. Additionally, 98.71% of the students stated that the presentation significantly affected their
attitude towards drinking and driving, and those students signed pledges agreeing never to drink and drive.
2005 - BE029
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES AND THE EFFECTS ON STUDENT CLASSROOM
PERFORMANCE
Johanna Esther Dela Cruz
Kapolei High School, Kapolei, Hi. 96707
The purpose of this experiment was to find whether a student’s grade in a class would change based on having the same multiple intelligence. Fifty students of
a history class, and sixty-eight students in a weight-lifting class were asked to fill out information regarding their sex, academy, and current grade level. First
quarter grades were obtained from both teachers. Students then filled out the multiple intelligence inventory, which has a total of eighty statements. The test
was tallied, and the highest multiple intelligence was determined. A 2-proportion Z test was done for both classes. The null hypothesis is that the
number of students with A’s and B’s and have the same intelligence is equal to the number of students receiving A’s and B’s and have a different intelligence.
The alternative hypothesis is that the number of receiving A’s and B’s and have the same intelligence will be greater than the number of students receiving A’s
or B’s and have a different intelligence. In the history class, a p- value of .043 was found, and in the weight- lifting class, a p- value of .00000281 was found,
which in both cases, is extremely rare. Therefore, the null hypothesis is rejected, and the alternative is accepted. It was discovered that student with the same
multiple intelligence as their teacher would receive higher grades in class 
2005 - BE049
CRYSTALLIZED INTELLIGENCE: BENEFICIAL FOR MEMORY PERFORMANCE IN THE ELDERLY
Menaka Kaur Dhand
Spanish River Community High School, Boca Raton, Florida, United States
Memory activity may deteriorate for those over the age of 55 naturally or due to disease. The purpose of the experiment was to determine factors that may
contribute to an enriched ability of recollection. Crystallized intelligence, essentially concrete information of facts, and education were hypothesized to have an
immense effect on memory performance. This project was a data analysis of anonymous archival data collected from previous studies performed by other
researchers. Data from memory tasks such as story summarizations and vocabulary assessments were analyzed. Data was categorized into two groups: highlevel if the subject received more than 15 years of education and low-level if less than 15 years. Initially, the high-level group accomplished a score of 68.23, out
of 150, on a story summarization whereas the low-level group received an average of 53.02. Furthermore, in later evaluations, the high-level group
overpowered the other with the score of 83.60 to 71.73. The data was also categorized into intellectually-advanced if the subject scored above 33, out of a
maximum 40, on the vocabulary assessments; the low-level category had scores of less than 33. The high-level group received an average of 65.79 on the
evaluation, as opposed to the 55.23 score of the low-level. In further tests this group scored a 79.54, greater than the average of 75.27 of the low-level group.
Thus, evaluations of scores revealed a positive correlation between crystallized intelligence, education, and memory performance. It was concluded that
memory enhancement and maintenance are related to education and crystallized intelligence.
2005 - BE026
REHTEAED APHLAEBT SUOP
Kayelon Lee Easterday
Eustis-Farnam Public Schools
The motive of the initial study, Aphlaebt Suop, was to determine if the ability to read correctly composed yet misspelled words (meaning all the letters of the
original word are present, however not necessarily in the correct position) is present at all levels of comprehension and if all word types could be read in the
same manner. The purpose of the latest study was to determine whether the accuracy levels for each maturation level of the current test exclusively
correspond with that of each maturation level in the former test, or if they inclusively correspond with that specific group of initial subjects. The
researcher utilized the former word program. The program consisted of 100 words broken down into ten categories. Only those subjects tested in the former
test were used. 125 subjects were tested throughout the course of the experiment It was concluded that the accuracy levels of each maturation level
in the current test do exclusively comply nearly directly with the maturation level of the former test. It was noticed that the trends of each level in the current test
almost identically match the trends of the former test in terms of maximum, minimum and average values. Results indicated that Level 4 out performed
all other levels. The combined results of both studies further indicate that at level four, individuals exhibit their highest comprehension potential. The
accuracy level of each current maturation level did comply with that of its corresponding level in the former test. 
2005 - BE006
THE EFFECTS OF SEXUALLY APPEALING IMAGES ON COGNITIVE PROCESSING SPEED
Devin Michael Elting
James Bicknell Castle High School, Kaneohe, Hawaii, United States of America
The effect of sexually provocative images on automatic cognitive processing in 20 male and 20 female subjects was examined using a modified Stroop task. As
was predicted, no main effect for gender was found (F=1.87, p=.179). Likewise the main effect for visual stimuli (neutral vs. sexually provocative images) was
strong (F=8.72, p=.00039), again as was predicted. However, the hypothesis that a gender by stimuli interaction would be found was not supported (F=1.09,
p=.34). It was hypothesized that male response times would be slower when presented with sexually provocative images of females while female response
times would be slower when presented with sexually provocative images of males. Visual inspection of graphed data suggests that female subjects showed the
predicted response pattern but male subjects had slowed reaction times in response to both male and female images judged to be sexually provocative.
Possible theoretical explanations for these findings included homophobic socialization of males and biologically based reactions to dominance hierarchies.
Additional study is called for to explore these hypotheses. (Note: Based on feedback provided by judges in earlier rounds the study sample size will be
increased. Consequently, findings presented at the International Science Fair may be different than those reported here.)
2005 - BE044
A STATE BY STATE ANALYSIS OF THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM STATE LOTTERY PROGRAMS
Vanessa Elizabeth Esch
Skyview High School, Vancouver, Washington, USA
As of 2002, thirty-eight states had state lottery programs. Never has a modern state lottery been abolished, indeed they are only growing in depth and
popularity. It would seem that state lottery programs are here to stay. Hence, while all the research and argument against the existence of such
programs on moral or social levels is interesting, a much better direction to pursue for those concerned with the proliferation of lotteries would be an analysis of
existing programs in order to show the variables that the most efficient systems share. A preliminary analysis of just such efficiency is the whole of the following
research. This research of ‘efficiency’ is focused on finding variables which increase the percent of gross profits returned to the government programs
to which the lottery is dedicated (or net revenue), as the ultimate goal of a lottery is to support government institutions. (This percent is the efficiency level.) The
variables that have been researched are percent of revenue used for prizes and administration, the way in which the lottery bureaucracy is run, state
populations, participation rates, and where the lottery money is dedicated. Although these variables all have some correlation with efficiency, the one variable
that most drastically alters efficiency is the percent of the revenue returned as prizes. The results of this research are very applicable. Should a state wish to
increase the efficiency of its program, incorporating most combinations of the efficiency variables found in this model would significantly increase net revenue.
 
2005 - BE054
TUNE INTO TOUCH! DO WE RELY ON OUR OTHER SENSES TOO MUCH? TACTILE DISCRIMINATION OF STIMULI
Alison Rae Ficek
Trinity High School - Dickinson, ND - United States
The purpose of my project was to determine how well human individuals could develop their sense of touch, without relying on their other senses. This process
included a method called tactile discrimination of stimuli, which means using the sense of touch to determine the differences between objects. My first
hypothesis is that there will be a significant difference between male and female touch perception, based on the discrimination of stimuli. To determine if there
is a significant difference between male and female touch perception, I will calculate a t statistic test. I feel that the group of females that I will test will have
better tactile perception, compared to the males. My second hypothesis is that as human subjects develop their sense of touch, the ability to discriminate tactile
stimuli will progressively get easier. I designed a display board for experimentation. This featured a human-like hand with twelve compartments, which
contained stimuli. Forty eight human subjects were seated and blindfolded. They were tested on discrimination of stimuli. Test stimuli varied through size,
texture, and shape. Comments and scores were recorded on survey sheets. After analyzing experimentation data, I came to two conclusions. The
males I tested had an eight percent higher score, than the females. By calculating a t statistic test, I have proven that the male and female touch perception
were NOT significantly different. Therefore, my hypothesis was rejected. Tested participants sense of touch seemed to be enhanced as tactile learning levels
progressed. Therefore, my second hypothesis was accepted. 
2005 - BE028
TEACHER PERCEPTION OF STUDENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS LEARNING
Brett Tyler Figus
St. Charles West High School, St. Charles, Missouri, USA
The paper will discuss teacher perception of student attitude towards learning in class. In reasearching this, a survey was sent to teachers in St. Charles West
High School. 30 teachers representing all fields offered chose to respond. This survey asked teachers to objectively rate each of their students on a scale of 110, ten being the best possible score. Being probed is whether or not teachers can objectively rate their students on the basis of attitude towards learning.
Research indicates that in nearly every case teachers rated each student as at least 'above-average' (6 or better), and in many cases scores were considerably
better.
2005 - BE033
UHEALTHY EATING HABITS INTENSIFIES MENSTRUAL CYCLE DISCOMFORT IN NORTHEASTERN PUERTO RICAN WOMEN: A PORTRAIT OF LATIN
AMERICAN WOMEN
Tashay Gonzalez-Ortiz
Colegio Sonifel, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Throughout many years people have studied the effects that outside forces have on the human body. The purpose of this project is to study the effects of
unhealthy foods on the female body during the time of menstruation, if geographical placement could affect a woman's eating routines, and to prove that certain
patterns emerge in women's eating habits depending on age. To obtain the necessary information to prove the hypothesis, a questionnaire was
prepared and handed out to different women of varying ages. This questionnaires asked participants who were tested about their food preferences, any positive
or negative side effects they felt after consumption, the geographical placement of their homes, and which foods they tended to stay away from during the time
prior or during menstruation. After performing the necessary statistical analysis, it was shown that younger women tended to develope unhealthy
eating habits which worsen the side effects felt during the time prior or during menstruation; while older women made healthier eating choices because, with
experience, they knew which foods have a negative effect on their bodies.
2005 - BE048
THE EFFECT OF THE "LEARNING BREAKTHROUGH PROGRAM" ON COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE
Kaitlin Graff
Henry Clay High School, Lexington, Kentucky, United States
The intent of this study was to determine the effect of the “Learning Breakthrough Program”, a structured cerebellar exercise and sensory integration program,
on cognitive subjects randomized into experimental and control groups, to examine the effects on cognitive performance following a single “Learning
Breakthrough” session. Second was the Case Study of a 14 year old boy with AD/HD investigating the effect of a 6 week intervention of twice daily participation
in the “Learning Breakthrough Program”. The Group Study results, analyzed with a 2-tailed test using SPSS, showed no significant improvements when the
experimental and control groups were compared. The other measures including cerebellar function (Finger to Thumb Test), cognitive flexibility (Stroop Test),
reading fluency (Modified Analytical Reading Inventory), and handwriting (Woodcock Johnson II ACH) did not demonstrate significant comparative data. The
Case Study showed significant gains in reading fluency (Woodcock Johnson), fine motor coordination (9-Hole Peg Test), and behavior as determined by parent
rating (Conners’ Parent Rating Scale). Handwriting also improved but was statistically only marginally significant. Limitations of the study include the practice
effect for both the Group and Case Studies. This research raises important questions about the possible role of combined cerebellar stimulation and sensory
integration activities and their effect on cognition, academic performance, and behavior. Further large-scale studies are recommended to help people with
AD/HD and other learning/developmental disorders to improve cognitive performance.
2005 - BE025
ORIGINS OF MASS POLARIZATION IN THE TUCSON ELECTORATE
William Amado Green
Rio Rico High School, Rio Rico, Arizona, United States
It is known that the Tucson/American electorate is highly polarized. Several reports from independent agencies and research institutions have been released
stating that the causes of this polarization range from one's income, to the news channel one views most frequently. In hope of discovering some of the leading
causes of polarization a questionnaire was developed addressing issues ranging from the ongoing war in Iraq to one's overall fear of terrorism within the United
States. Once the questionnaire was developed a random sampling of approximately 5000 registered Tucson voters was obtained and used to call, and acquire
responses from 400 residents of the city of Tucson from January 25th through February 7th 2005. Overall it appears that there are many contributing
factors to mass polarization in the Tucson electorate. It is evident that a voter's perception of the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism (P<0.000 and P<0.000,
respectively) as well as whether Saddam Hussein was involved in the September 11th tragedy and whether there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq
(P<0.000 and P<0.004, respectively) were important to many voters when they decided for whom they would vote. Other factors such as, fear of terrorist
attacks in the United States (P<0.000), a voters perception of U.S. military fatalities in Iraq (P<0.000), and the medium or television channel from which a voter
receives news (P<0.001 & P<0.000, respectively) appear to strongly contribute to partisan polarization. 
Second Award of $500 and a certificate - American Psychological Association
2005 - BE011
QUANTITATIVE EEG AS AN IDENTIFIER OF LEARNING MODALITY
Ilang Mae Guiroy
York School, Monterey, CA, U.S.A.
In the current educational system, students who are highly modal learners miss out on a portion of their education. One feasible solution offered to this dilemma
is for the educational system to adapt to the learning modality of the student with the use of a quantitative measure of her learning modality. This study
offers a new method that uses the measure of mental focus while a person is being taught in different learning modalities in order to create a numerical
measure using brain waves. Twenty students with a mean age of sixteen were included in the study. Each subject was given an assessment, which stimulated
learning in three modalities: auditory, tactile/kinesthetic and visual. While learning, the subject’s frontal lobe brain activity was monitored using
electroencephalograph (EEG) sensors. Brainwave data were processed in real time by a computer software program using a ratio derived from theta and alpha
brainwaves as a measure of mental focus (Quantitative EEG (QEEG)). In this study, QEEG identified a preferred learning modality 86% of the time indicating
that the learning modality of a student can be identified from brainwave activity. This quantitative EEG identifier of learning modality will offer
educators a new set of tools to adapt their teaching to match the needs of the students. 
Award $500 - National Academy of Neuropsychology
2005 - BE301
MALES VS. FEMALES PERCEPTION OF A BOY/GIRL RELATIONSHIP
Kayo Johnson, John Johnson, Earth Robinson
Greenville-Weston High School, Greenville, Mississippi, USA
Society has placed a gulf between males and females by using a cliche' that states, "Women are from Venus and men are from Mars." Through this project we
plan to bridge certain aspects of this gap. As we began to plan our project, we first determined which parts of this gap we wanted to bridge. After several hours
of critical thinking, we decided to find out whether males and females perceived of a relationship in the same way. Not only did we want to know their
perception of a relationship, but also how they would respond to certain instances in a relationship. In order to find out how males and females think,
we devised a questionnaire. We then gave twenty students, ten males and ten females of the same age group, the survey. After the students finished the
survey, we complied the data. First, we did this by separating the male and female surveys. Then we tallied the answer of each question of the survey. 
Males and females, according to the data received, perceive of certain occurrences within a relationship in the same way. Moreover, males and females are not
so different when it comes to perception of a relationship. In turn, this eradicates the cliche' that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. However, the
way in which we choose to portray our emotional perceptions are far removed from one another.
2005 - BE305
ACTION-RESEARCH ENVIRONMENTAL - PART II
Nelson Beuter Junior, Priscila de Camargo Nunes
Fundação Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha - Novo Hamburgo, RS - Brasil
The research had as target to ecologically sensitize the community in a low class district in São Leopoldo/ RS/Brazil.The target population was children from
kindergarten to third year of elementary school of a public school in this district.Environmental education approached trough practical and theoretical
methodologies as a transverse, multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary theme. Lectures and gymkhanas concerning the community’s current themes, such as:
domestic garbage, vector animals, biodiversity and marshes were promoted.A primer was also written with suggestions for environmental activities to be used
by the teachers in the classroom.Through the obtained result in the form applied before and after the research with students and teachers, and in the
gymkhana tasks the method was evaluated. This evaluation used indexes, which involved the form answers before,and after the sensitizing, number of
teachers who developed environmental activities, students engaging as environmental monitors and the relation of students to teachers engaged in the
project.The results were considered to be satisfying once that:43,75% of the researched students had interest in taking part in a volunteers group of
environmental monitory, when the aim established was of 25%.40%improvement in the students'correct answers to the sensitizing forms,for an aim of 40%.The
teachers’ engagement was a little low, 45%.The aim was of 80%.77,14% of the children who engaged on the environmental monitory were students of teachers
who used the approach proposed by the research, thus showing that the method is efficient for an 80% aim.The conclusion is that it was possible to
ecologically sensitize the students from first to third grade in the low wage community using the proper method. In one next stage the teachers shall be more
trained and sensitized separately. The sensitizing shall be longer; with more students family interaction, maybe with parents as environmental monitors. 
 
2005 - BE019
PITCHES GO UP AND DOWN PART 2
Cynthia Alejandra Juraidini
Homer Hanna High School, Brownsville, Texas, United States of America
The purpose of this experiment is to determine whether the Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate from an Experience and Non-Experienced Males and Females will
increase while singing the musical scale in the key of F. First, you need a Male or Female. Let her/him practice for a couple of minutes on the different pitches
that are in the musical scale. When the participant is done practicing, put the Blood Pressure monitor around the upper part of any of the two arms. Before they
start to sing take the Blood Pressure and their Pulse Rate. After taking the Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate, ask the participant to sing the first note that will be
played in the piano or keyboard, making sure he or she is in pitch by using the musical tuner. The piano will start on a low pitch called Do. Next, ask her/him to
sing Do and hold it for a few seconds, to take the Blood Pressure using the monitor and the stethoscope. Then record the results. Play the same pitch again
and the participant will sing it for a couple of seconds, so that you can take the Pulse Rate. After the participant is done singing the last pitch, which is high, Do,
let the participant rest for a few minutes and take their Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate of the participant. Repeat steps 1-8 with all the participants. My
hypothesis was correct and incorrect at the same time.
2005 - BE023
STANDARD FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING PROTOCOL FOR THE STUDY OF NEURONAL RESPONSES TO FOOD STIMULI IN
HUMANS
Daniel E Katz
Ossining High School, Ossining, NY, United States of America
The neural network responsible for appetite regulation and food ingestion is currently being redefined to incorporate sociocultural and integrative factors.
Functional brain imaging now allows for in vivo observation of brain activity using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), yet there is no existing
standardized protocol for appetite-related changes. This experiment aimed at creating this protocol and examining the neural network associated with hunger.
Twelve subjects were scanned using fMRI after being exposed to target food objects or non-food objects via visual and tactile sensory trials. A standard block
design was used to eliminate extraneous activation not related to strictly food objects through a series of conjunctions and subtractions between each of
conditions (Food or non-food, visual or tactile combinations) computed to find final activation levels. Food-related activation tended to yield more activation than
did non-food (mean ± SEM, 2147 ± 548 vs 1304 ± 329, P = 0.06). The neural network was located to contain activation within the cerebellum, middle frontal
gyrus, lingual gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, inferior parietal lobe, superior parietal lobe, and sub-gyrus.
2005 - BE312
THE EFFECTS OF BIRTH ORDER ON PERSONALITY TRAITS IN TWINS
Brittany Alison Koffer, Rachel Elyse Koffer
Chantilly High School, Chantilly, Virginia, United States
The Effects of Birth Order on Personality Traits in Twins was designed to find out whether birth order affects the following personality traits: dominance,
competitiveness, and temperament. In order to do this, ten sets of identical twins, fraternal twins, and siblings were recruited. A series of tests was administered
to each set individually, including three written tests and one interactive game. The data from the tests was collected and analyzed. In the first
dominance test, the first-born twins and siblings scored more dominant. The data from the second dominance test was meant to reinforce the first. The results
were similar for twins, but the siblings’ data was inconclusive. The second test was judged inconclusive due to the small number of questions. The interactive
game, testing competitiveness, showed both types of first-born twins were more competitive than the second-borns. In siblings, the first-borns were less
competitive than the second-borns. The temperament test resulted in a majority of ties amongst all types of sets, although the number of ties in fraternal twins
and siblings were less than those in identical twins. The data led to the conclusions that dominance is affected by birth order, where the first-borns of
the sets are more dominant. Twins and siblings are affected differently by birth order for competitiveness. The first-born twins are more competitive than the
second-borns, while the first-born siblings are less competitive than the second-borns. Temperament was not found to be affected by birth order.
2005 - BE017
THE EFFECTS OF CHRONOLOGICAL AGE ON TEENAGE DECISION MAKING
Ashley Sandra Kroubetz
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Secondary School, Lake Crystal, MN, United States
This project was chosen because there is information that needs to be shared regarding issues that teenagers are facing today. The purpose of this project was
to determine how chronological age affects teenagers in the areas of study habits, sexual activity, alcohol use, and drug use. It was hypothesized that
chronological age would have a negative effect on teenagers as they got older in the areas of sexual activity, alcohol use, and drug use, but chronological age
would have a positive effect in the areas of drinking and driving. A confidential survey of students in grades 7-12 was done to test the hypothesis. The
hypothesis that chronological aging did have a negative effect in the areas of sexual activity, alcohol use, and drug use was supported. However, it was not
supported in that chronological aging did not have a positive effect on drinking and driving. The largest turning point in the decision making of teenagers
apprears to occur between 8th and 9th grade. This is when sexual activity, alcohol use, and drug use increased dramatically. These findings show that even
more needs to be done to educate and help young people with their choices.
2005 - BE308
TIME TO GET UP: DOES SLEEP DEPRIVATION AFFECT THE FRONTAL LOBE OF THE BRAIN?
Jose David Lopez, Mayra Martinez
Andrews High School, Andrews, Texas, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if the lack of sleep affects the activities of the Frontal Lobe of the brain. Our experiment involved sixteen
different people, eight male and eight female. The test subjects were required to stay up until a certain time at night, then awake at a certain time in the
morning. They were then tested using an X-Box game system. The results were collected and written down. The subjects had to get eight hours of sleep, five
hours of sleep, three hours of sleep, and no sleep. They were tested three times under each of the amounts of sleep. In the overall average, kills and deaths
were around the same range in the periods of 8 hours and 5 hours. In the time periods of 3 hours and no hours the kills and deaths are varied. In the time
period of no hours of sleep, there was a great difference. There was a lot more deaths than kills. They had real slow reactions to the things that were going on
in the game. It was harder for them to make quick decisions and focus on what they were doing. They had a short-term memory and their concentration level
was low. We came to the conclusion that when a person is sleep deprived it does affect how their brain functions. 
2005 - BE310
THE EFFECT OF THE RHYTHM OF BACKGROUND MUSIC ON ICONIC MEMORY AND TWO PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICATORS ON 15 TO 17 YEARS-OLD
STUDENTS
Luis Abner Lopez-Febres, Priscilla Martinez-Rosario
Dr. Gilberto Concepcion de Gracia High School, Villa Fontana, Carolina, PR
Most students have difficulties in learning as demonstrated when a new concept or skill is taught in school. The purpose of this investigation is to determine if
the rhythm of background music played on a flute has an effect on iconic memory and two physiological indicators (blood pressure and pulse) on 15-17 yearsold students. The researchers expected that an increase of rhythm would produce stress on the subjects which in turn would decrease the number of items that
they could recall and increase their pulse. Sixty students were evaluated considering their age, gender, handiness and academic achievement. The
experimentation was divided into three steps. First, the subjects answered a questionnaire. Then, they entered a sound-proof room and observed fifteen items
on card A during fifteen seconds. After that time, they told the researchers the items they recalled. No music was heard at this time. Next, they observed cards
B and C, while listening tapes one and two. A flute was used for the melodies taped. In step two, the subjects heard a moderato rhythm, increased to allegro
rhythm in step three. The physiological indicators were measured by a digital instrument before and after each treatment. Data was collected and analyzed
statistically. The results did not support the hypothesis significantly. The lateralization of the left-handed, the greater tolerance of males towards increased
rhythm of music and the effect of maturation on 17 years-old subjects suggested that other factors operated during the experiment. 
2005 - BE042
DOMINANCE HIERARCHIES AMONG CRAYFISH
Joseph James Mammone
American Fork High School, American Fork, Utah, USA
Dominance Hierarchies occur naturally in many different species. They occur among dogs, chickens, and humans too. The purpose of the experiment was to
see if an established dominance hierarchy could be disturbed, by changing the top position or any position in the hierarchy. Crayfish were chosen
because they are naturally aggressive animals and are easy to use in experimentation. To establish the hierarchies the crayfish were separated by size and
fought against each other. Once the hierarchies were formed stimulants were added in an attempt to disrupt the hierarchy. The stimulants chosen were food,
light, caffeine, and adrenaline. Another method used in an attempt to restructure the dominance hierarchy was removing the most dominant crayfish. They were
separated for different lengths of time to see if their memory of previous fights affected the dominance hierarchies. It was found that once a
dominance hierarchy is formed the top position does not change. Though with the addition of stimulants the less dominant crayfish do become more aggressive
and defeat previously higher ranking crayfish but, the most dominant crayfish never lost no matter what the conditions. 
2005 - BE031
WE GOT THE BEAT
Hubert Montoya
Andrews High School, Andrews Texas, USA
The purpose of my experiment was to find out if different types of music affected a mouse's ability to navigate and momorize a maze. Four groups of white mice
were exposed to music: one group was exposed to classical music, one to rock music, another to rap music and the final group was a control group. 
 The first week of testing the mice went throught the maze daily for three consecutive days, with out being exposed to music, they took on an average about
five minutes per mouse. The second week of testing the mice went through the maze after being exposed to music for five hours prior to and during
testing. The mice took on average about 30 seconds; the control group took 2-3 minutes. My original hypothesis was that the classical music mice
would finish first, the control group second, the rap group third and the rock group fourth. My conclusion is that the mice that were exposed to music
can navigate the maze in a much shorter time than the mice that were not exposed to music. The mice that were expsed to rap music finished the maze faster
than all the other mice.
2005 - BE035
THE EFFECT OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IN READING COMPREHENSION WITH TENTH GRADERS
Esther Morales
Ramon Quinones Medina High School, Yabucoa, PUERTO RICO
The purpose of this investigation is to determine how effective it is to listen to classical music to improve reading comprehension. The hypothesis established
that students would obtain a better performance on reading comprehension tests while listening to classical music. A sample of 34 students was selected and
were subdivided in two groups of 17 students each. They were identified as Group A and Group B. Two reading comprehension tests were administered under
the same conditions except for the use of classical music. For the first test, Group A (experimental group) listened to classical music while reading and
answering the test related to the story and Group B (control group) did not listen to music. For the second test, Group A (control group) did not listen to classical
music while reading the story and answering the test, but Group B (experimental group) listened to classical music while reading and answering the test. The
tests were corrected and the percentage, the medium, and the deviation standard and graphs were made to compare and analyze the results. The data
reflected that both groups that listened to classical music obtained a better performance in the reading comprehension tests. The conclusion was that classical
music helped to improve reading comprehension. It is planned to repeat the investigation using the same method, but with another type of music. 
 
2005 - BE008
REACTIONS
Kelci Noelle Mynhier
Manatee High School, Bradenton Florida, USA
Does the way customers dress affect the way store and restaurant personnel act towards them? There are many ways to dress. A person who likes a certain
image tends to dress similar to that image. Different reactions to different types of people are almost always expected, and some people dress differently just to
get reactions from people. If dressed like a punk, a "valley" person, a poor person, a pregnant teenager, and a regular person, then the responses to each
subject will vary. Five outfits were worn by the researcher while visiting four different types of stores and one fast food restaurant. The amount of time it
took for the clerks to assist and the attitudes of the clerks to the subject were recotded after each visit. Z scores were calculated to compare the proportion of
rude clerks to each personality, while t-tests compared the times. The significant results showed that the clerks were ruder to the pregnant teenager
and the punk than to the poor person, "valley" person, and the normal person. It also took the clerks significantly longer to assist the pregnant teenager and the
punk than to the poor person, "valley" person, and the normal person. A possible correction for future projects on this topic would be dressing more like the
personality to get more responses.
2005 - BE313
MULTICREAMA THEMATICS GAMES
Caroline Elizabeth Nieto- Polo Abanto, Edinson Perez C.
Colegio Militar Gran Mariscal Ramon Castilla, Trujilla, Peru
The present investigation project, title multicreamathematics games, has an objectives increases learning on the students of the high school, using games.
 The present AND-TO it is an activity and exchange: professor- student, student- student and student- it sets, in which puts at stake a series of
intellectual activities, dexterities motorboats and the professor's so much attitudes that it assumes the list of orientador of the learning, like on behalf of the
student that is who learns. The Problem is in which degree influences the use of the multicreamathematics games in the learning of the mathematics
area, in the students of the fifth degree of secondary education of the Gran Mariscal Ramon Castilla military school? The Hypothesis is the learning the
mathematics area by the students who are exposed to the multicreamathematics games is increased in greater degree that in those that are not exposed to the
multicreamathematics games. The Method is experimental, cuasi-experimental design, the of techniques to collect the information were the
observation, survey and evaluation (pretest and postest), using the techniques of stastic for the information processing: arimethic average, design standar,
variation coefficient and T test for the two test samples. The Conclusion is compare the learning of mathematics area, in the students of the 5th
degree of secondary education by means of the stastics of the test T for two average samples where the positive influence could be verified that had the
multicreamathematics games in the learning.
2005 - BE041
THE EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL LOANS ON ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES: AN INTEGRATED STATISTICAL
APPROACH
Daniel Nikbakht
Half Hollow Hills High School West, Dix Hills and NY, USA
This paper empirically examines the effects of foreign loans on the economic performance of Latin American countries from 1990 to 2003. The countries in this
study are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. The countries are
classified into groups of high-borrowing and low-borrowing through T-tests. Logistic regression is conducted to verify if the economic indicators of the two
groups could be differentiated. Furthermore, regression analysis is conducted to determine if there is a correlation between the level of borrowing and economic
performance. Contrary to traditional thoughts, the results fail to support a relationship between borrowings (capital) and economic performance.
Strikingly, even a negative relationship is found in a few cases. The results show that capital is neither the “engine of growth” nor a sufficient condition for
economic growth in Latin America. The findings of this study alert policy makers of both borrowing and lending countries in managing external financing. 
 
Second Award of $1,500 - U.S. Air Force
2005 - BE018
LIAR, LIAR, YOUR STOMACH'S ON FIRE
Trisha Satya Pasricha
Clear Lake High School; Houston, TX; USA
The aim of this study was to test the effects of lying on the electrical rhythm of the stomach. The gastrointestinal tract is uniquely sensitive to mental stress,
reflecting the communication between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system. I hypothesized that this relationship could be
exploited to provide insight into the psychological state of an individual when lying by analyzing changes in gastric physiology. Current lie detection methods
rely on non-gastrointestinal physiological changes (ie. heart rate and sweating), but are only about 90% accurate and often unreliable. Baseline
electrogastrography (EGG), a measure of the electrical rhythm of the stomach, and heart rate variability (HRV), a standard measure of sympathovagal balance,
was performed in 17 eligible subjects. A "truth test" was then administered that compelled the subject to both lie and tell the truth at different intervals, during
which changes in EGG and HRV were monitored. Analysis of the results showed a distinct change in the electrical rhythm of the stomach between the
baseline and lying period. The HRV did not perform as well as the EGG in distinguishing between lying and telling the truth. The addition of the EGG
to standard polygraph methods has clear value in improving the accuracy of current lie detectors. In addition to a new, potentially breakthrough method for a
variety of security applications, the results also provide understanding of the complex communication between the big brain and the little brain in the stomach.
 
2005 - BE007
PSEUDOMEMORIES: CAN WE REALLY BELIEVE WHAT WE REMEMBER?
Paige Nicole Paxton
The Villages High School, the Villages, FL, USA
The purpose of my experiment was to determine if our memories are really believable, or if they're false based upon things we are exposed to. A
pseudomemory is the idea that our memories are false based upon something we might've seen or heard. In my experiment, I hoped to prove the theory of
pseudomemories to be true. For my experiment, I tested my patients by giving them a ten question survey. Then, I had them read a short story about
a boy who had fallen out of a tree. Two weeks after the first session, I had to patients re-take the same survey to observe if anyone's answers had changed
based upon the story. After all the surveys had been completed , I examined the first survey, then compared it with the second one. Along with testing my first
set of patients, I also tested a control group to prove that if any patients changed their answers it would've been in result of the story they had read. For my
control group, I tested them with the same survey as the others, both sessions, except they didn't read the story in between. In conclusion, my
hypothesis was proved to be incorrect. Unfortunately, most of the surveys remained the same. In the future, if I chose to re-test my experiment I would probably
improve my test by adding more detail to the survey and story. I would increase the amount of questions in the survey as well as the difficulty, and I would
lengthen the story, also by adding more detail. Although my experiment didn't prove my hypothesis to be correct, with my research supporting me, I still feel that
pseudomemories do indeed occur. I am still debating whether to always truly believe what I remember. 
2005 - BE003
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM
Jillian Meredith Phipps
Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs FL, 32714, USA
The media is found to be a selective and often negative catalyst. It plays a very influential role in the lives of the teenage generation. The focus has always
been placed on them, but what happens when one outgrows that age bracket? Do the negative influences just disappear? To research the validity of this
question posed, a study was done with 200 subjects divided into two age brackets. One bracket consisting of 100 subjects represented the teenage population,
ranging from 16-18 years of age. And the other bracket of 100 subjects, represented the adult population, ranging anywhere from 30-50 years of age. Within
these age brackets 50 individuals were male and 50 were female. These subjects were selected at random and surveyed. After evaluating the surveys, each
individual's media exposure, body image, and self-esteem was rated. A significance test was then performed to support or reject the hypotheses that there is a
relationship between media exposure and body image and self-esteem and also that the teenage population is more negatively impacted by the media than the
adult population. Unexpectedly, there was only one “significant “ relationship found, and that was between the media exposure and body satisfaction of adult
females. Aside from the significance test however, adults and teenagers have equal media ratings and yet have slightly higher self esteem levels but lower
body image levels. Overall the age of the population responds differently to the media but not at significant levels.
2005 - BE010
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF BREAST AND PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS PHASE II: TREATMENT
IMPACT AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Antonio Javier Pietrantoni
Academia del Perpetuo Socorro, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
The purpose of this investigation is to contribute knowledge to the scientific community and to provide a new angle to dealing with Breast and Prostate cancer
patients and survivors and their Quality of Life. Among Breast and Prostate cancer patients and survivors there is a limited amount of knowledge
regarding their HRQOL. We hypothesized that QOL was affected by the educational level, civil status and treatment of a patient and that survivors would have
a better QOL than patients. The FACT-B and FACT-P, HRQOL questionnaires for Breast and Prostate cancer, were administered to participants in a span of
two years, the first year to those with Breast cancer and the second to those with Prostate cancer. The variables were then scored/analyzed using scales
provided by FACIT. Overall, Breast cancer survivors scored the highest QOL score than Breast cancer patients and Prostate cancer patients and survivors.
Hispanic women have a High Social Scale HRQOL possibly because women are affected in Emotional terms by their disease and look for support in contacts
or groups while Hispanic men with Prostate cancer have a lower social scale score mainly because they tend to be more personal about their condition. The
Physical and Functional Scales had no significant difference in score, except with Prostate cancer patients. With Hispanic Breast and Prostate cancer
patients and survivors, the HRQOL does not solely depend on the effects of treatments, civil status and education, but, on the perception and coping
capabilities experience has given them.
2005 - BE015
THE GERMAN DIALECT IN THE FORMER COLONY OF BAUMSCHNEIS
Bruno Gasparotto Ponne
Fundação Liberato Salzano da Cunha - Novo Hamburgo - RS - Brasil
In the beginning of the XIX century, Europe was going through terrible wars that left its people extremely impoverished. The Germanic peoples lived in
wretched conditions in this context. Hence, as of 1824, immigration to Brazil turned out to be an opportunity for a better life. The idea of bringing these people
to Brazil came from Empress Maria Leopoldina, wife of the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro I. She was of German descent and wanted to help people undergoing
difficulties in her homeland. Germans started to arrive in Brazil in 1824 bringing with them an enormous cultural background. So, even after 180 years,
some habits and traditions which they brought from Germany still remain very strong. This project investigates one of these traditions: the speaking of the
German dialect even until today in the city of Dois Irmãos, the late German colony of Baumschneis. This theme was idealized taking into account that
there are very many German descendants living in Southern Brazil who are interested in fostering the culture of their forefathers, and this includes their
language. That is why this investigation sought to answer the question of why some German descendants preserve this dialect and others not. This
was achieved through interviews and theoretical references. All this was released to the community so that there would be a revival and a reflection of their
history, and, in this way, maintaining the traditions of their ancestors and preserving the cultural plurality which exists in Brazil. 
2005 - BE047
A NEW STRATEGY FOR THE EDUCATIONAL LATIN-AMERICAN CHANGE- @CEPROMUL.CAF
Karina Maribel Rivas Rodriguez
Centro Educativo Experimental "Rafael Narvaez Cadenillas"
INTRODUCTION: The objective of this project “A NEW STRATEGY FOR THE EDUCATIONAL LATIN AMERICAN CHANGE - @CEPROMUL.CAF” is the
formation and creation of a Multimedia Production Center in which will be applied learning activities in order to develop the fundamental abilities of the students
of the C.E.E: "Rafael Narvaez Cadenillas” (elementary and high school) of the National University of Trujillo. PROBLEM: How the application of learning
activities in the Multimedia Production Center influences to develop the fundamental abilities of the students of the C.E.E: "Rafael Narvaez Cadenillas"? 
 HYPOTHESIS: The application of learning activities in the Multimedia Production Center influences to develop the fundamental abilities of the students of
the C.E.E.: Rafael Narvaez Cadenillas as: creative thought, critical thought, making decisions and solution of problems. The activities that will be
developed in the Multimedia Production Center are: -Elaboration of Biology multimedia material.-Elaboration of Multimedia material in the “Frame of the project:
World knows my region”-Elaboration of a CD in the frame of the III Pedagogical Innovations Seminar.-Formation of the Internet Club.-Elaboration of CDs to the
primary level.-Implementation of the Virtual Library. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of this research the students will elaborate educational software, after
that the coordinators and volunteers of the Multimedia Production Center will make classes with them and teach them the use and manage of some computers
programs,when the students know them and participate in the activities of the Multimedia Production Center, they will develop their fundamental abilities. The
methods of investigation will be theoretical and empirical.
2005 - BE034
THE IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE LIFE OF A HUMAN BEING
Michael Gabriel Rodríguez Martínez
José Gautier Benítez High School, Caguas, PR
This investigation deals with the importance of the Emotional Intelligence or the management of the emotions in our lives. The Emotional Intelligence is a
concept that has been studied recently but the findings demonstrate that it is very important. The experts in this theme say that 75 percent of the success in life
is related to this intelligence and not to a high intellectual quotient. The initial idea was to determine, how well developed is the Emotional Intelligence
among youngsters from seventh to twelfth grade. The hypothesis established that there is a low level in the development of Emotional Intelligence among
youngsters and this is directly related to the aggressiveness and social problems in today’s society. To do the experiment, an Emotional Intelligence
test was prepared and administered to 150 males and to 150 females from seventh to twelfth grade. A four levels scale was used to evaluate the tests. It was
divided into Excellent, Normal, Deficient, and Very Bad. The results demonstrated that the females have an Emotional Intelligence more developed than the
males. Based on the test evaluation scale, none of the grades presented a normal or excellent level of Emotional Intelligence. The most important finding
showed that only 10 percent of these young people had an Emotional Intelligence developed. The analysis of the data validated the hypothesis since
the test evaluations demonstrated that the students do not have a well developed Emotional Intelligence. 
2005 - BE307
EDUCATION AND H.D.I. IN ROMANG
Mauro Isaac Sanchez, Emir Espinoza , Adriel Machin
HIGH SCHOOL 9314 ROMANG SANTA FE ARGENTINA
This is the third stage of a research that started four years ago, its objective is the Human Development in Romang. During the previous stages we
researched about: a) The local Human Developments level. b) Whether the economical benefits from agriculture would provide resources to
the improvement to the urban rates of Human Development. The general purpose of this project is to investigate whether Education would contribute
to the improvement of Human Development. The starting point is to answer the following questions: a)What is the impact of Education on the local
Human Development? b)What is its priority in the district budget? Following the scientific research stages we used comparisons on human
groups of same age and social background but with different level of education; case study about sibling sharing the same economic, intellectual and
educational opportunities in which one of them has studied and others haven’t; research on official resources and census; informants; surveys; analysis of
district budget; H. D. N. P information. The outcome of the research was: education strongly benefits H. D. because it contributes to a healthy and decent life,
since it improves economic income of people and stimulates the public matter participation. On the other hand, it is not perceived a priority on the district
budget; as it was stated in the hypothesis. Projections are oriented to propose greater investment on Education, by the rationalization and optimal
allowance of resources, with the purpose to revert the stagnation in the local Human Development. 
2005 - BE309
BULLYING IN SCHOOLS: THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL KILLER
Erin M. Sanderson, William J. A. Pinnock
Malta High School, Malta, MT USA
How often does bullying occur in Malta High School and how do the students feel about it? The purpose of our experiment was to discover how Malta
High School students feel on the subject of bullying and to determine if bullying occurs in our high school. Our hypothesis states that in Malta High School,
seventy percent of our student population will say that peers have bullied them in their lifetime. Ninety-five percent of our student body will say that we have a
bullying problem. Fifty percent will say that they themselves are bullies. The procedure used to determine our hypothesis was to write a non-biased survey. We
randomly selected one hundred Malta High School students and had them fill out the survey to prove or disprove our hypothesis. Finally, we used statistics
programs to determine if hypothesis one, two, and three were correct. It was concluded that hypothesis one was incorrect. We stated that seventy
percent of our student population would say that peers have bullied them, and only fifty percent of the students said that peers have bullied them. For
hypothesis two, we said that ninety-five percent of our student body would say that we have a bullying problem, but only eighty-nine percent said that we do.
For hypothesis three, we said that fifty percent of our students would say that they are not a bully. Our statistics showed that seventy percent of our student
body says they are not a bully. 
2005 - BE052
THE PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS ON PROCAMBARUS CLARKII
Nissa Leigh Schmidt
Merino High School, Merino, CO, United States
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor’s were developed for adults and are regularly prescribed for use in adolescents. In 2004, eleven million prescriptions
were issued to children under the age of 18. The purpose of this project is to determine the effects of antidepressants—specifically Effexor, Strattera and
Prozac—on aggression and learning abilities in adult and juvenile crayfish. A total of 40 adults and 36 juveniles were tested. The first test conducted
was a dominance test. After the initial dominance test, the crayfish were separated and injected for five days. On the sixth day they were put back together to
reestablish dominance. The second test consisted of running each crayfish through a T-maze using electric current as a punishment for wrong decisions. It was
observed that in the adult crayfish, 50% of the crayfish fought, with 10% of the groups switching dominance. In the juvenile crayfish, 100% of the crayfish fought
with 33% of the groups switching dominance roles. In the learning test, Prozac had the greatest effect on learning in both adults and juveniles, with none of the
juvenile groups able to complete the second trial of the maze. This study shows that the SSRI’s, Prozac and Effexor, have the greatest negative effect on
aggression and learning. If this project were to be conducted again, several improvements would be made including using slightly larger juvenile
crayfish as well as excluding Strattera from the study since no definite effects were noticed. 
2005 - BE050
AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF 5-METHOXY-N,N-DI(ISO)PROPYLTRYPTAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE ON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENT IN RATTUS NORVEGICUS
Melissa C. Selinger
Wellington High School, Wellington, Florida, U.S.
The intent of this project was to assess the effects that 5-Methoxy-N,N-Di(iso)propyltryptamine hydrochloride (5-MeO-DIPT; "Foxy"), a "designer-drug" rapidly
gaining popularity, has on neuropsychological development and behavior in its recreational users. Practically nothing is known about the consequences it will
have, as there is currently no published research on this substance. In response to a rapid increase in reported use, the US Drug Enforcement Administration
has recieved approval to classify 5-MeO-DIPT as a Scedule I drug. Three groups of rats (control, low-dose and high-dose) were run in multiple types
of training and tests: constant-start training followed by novel-start testing and goal-rotation testing, and then Greek-cross response testing. Use of these spatial
and non-spatial tests could reveal what damage the substance may have had on the serotonergic systems. While both the experimental and control
groups were able to learn to master the spatial navigation tests at comparable rates, the performance of the experimental groups were markedly inferior to that
of the control animals on a response learning task, demonstrating a lack of flexibility in adapting their responses to changing task demands. Despite the varying
dosage of the two experimental groups, they performed very similarly to each other, while both having a substantial difference in performance as compared to
the control group. This could indicate reductions in serotonin activity in the forebrain similar to the effects of studied drugs such as 3,4methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "Ecstasy"), suggesting 5-MeO-DIPT may act as a serotonin agonist. The resulting data gives some insight
to the elusive activities of 5-MeO-DIPT. The developing brains of the rats correlates to the developing brains of young adults, the core groups of users of this
substance. This data should help deter people from using "research chemicals" as a form of recreation, as the long-term effects are still unknown, but the
research thus far does seem to indicate the abuse of this substance may lead to neuropsychological problems in individuals who consume it. 
Award of $1,000 - National Academy of Neuropsychology
2005 - BE002
MUSIC & STUDYING: IS THERE A LINK? A 3-YR. STUDY: A COMPARISON OF SPECIAL EDICATION & GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
Stephanie Nicole Sickels
Okeechobee High School, Okeechobee, FL USA
This project continued to research learning and studying while listening to music to determine whether there is a difference in test performance of Special
Education (SE) students versus General Education (GE) students. Previous experiments proved that music did enhance student performance and that classical
generated the greatest increases in scores. Two GE classes were given history passages, study guides and tests to study in silence and then again
the following day with classical music playing softly. The experiment was repeated utilizing SE students under the same conditions. The experiment
produced a GE test score, without music of 54% vs. 76% with music. SE students averaged 55% without music and 74% with music. 80% of GE students
passed, as did 68% of SE. A difference of 12% between the groups while listening to classical music is significant. T-Test calculations produced a pvalue of .295 for tests administered while listening to music. Therefore, if the experiment is reproduced, the GE students would score 70.5% higher if listening to
classical music. A T-Test on the second test produced a p-value of .386, therefore, the GE students would score 61.4% better than the SE students studying
without music. The conclusion drawn by the experiment substantiates previous assumptions of the data collected that we can expect score
improvement while listening to classical music. This experiment could be repeated in other situations and produce similar results of improved scores.
Applications to society promise that this type of studying could be applied on a wide scale in educational settings. 
2005 - BE032
REASON AND SENTIMENT – THE SELF-REPRESENTATION OF DEHUMANIZATION IN LITERATURE
Taly Sister
Escola Brasileira Israelita Chaim Nachman Bialik, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The main goal of this research is to understand how the horror of the holocaust -- the systematic dehumanization of a whole population of human beings – can
be represented in an effective way. My research considered that definitions of “horror” includes indescribability and my question was how can
witnesses describe the horror of dehumanization without trivializing it. I started by identifying literary works containing first-hand accounts of
holocaust. Then I selected the novel "If this is a man" by the Italian-Jewish scientist and Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi for a detailed study. Next, I identified in
this work instances of dehumanization in the everyday life of a camp. I’ve found that even within extremely dehumanizing contexts, acts of
reaffirmation of humanity occurred against the external attempts to deny it. The narrator and other camp prisoners repeatedly tried to assert their morality
against a context of moral debasement and devaluation. My conclusion is that the horror of the holocaust can be represented without making it
frivolous. This can be done by representing the contrast between the dehumanization process in camps and the victims’ attempts to assert their own humanity.
Thus, literary reports go beyond the objective narrative of dehumanization, creating a bridge between readers’ and the witnesses’ feelings. Such
representations have an important role in preserving the subjective memory of mans efforts to assert their own humanity in adversity. The very act of writing
may also have the side effect of reasserting the writers humanity, contributing also to humanize readers. 
2005 - BE020
A STATISTICAL EVALUATION OF NORTHERN PAIUTE ROCK ART FROM THE GUANO VALLEY REGION
Grant Jeffery Snitker
McNary High School, Keizer, Oregon, United States of America
Rock art of the Northern Great Basin is not well understood. Few theories about the functions of this art exist. Of the limited theories, I chose the two most
prominent to analyze. The first theory is proposed by Dr. David S. Whitley. He suggests that the petroglyphs and pictographs were made by the male Shaman
of the tribe and had extreme religious importance. The other theory is proposed by Dr. William J. Cannon and Mary Ricks. They believe the petroglyphs and
pictographs to be scenes that illustrate practical duties such as food manufacturing and hunting techniques and were made by all people of the tribe. It is
suggested that the nearer the rock art is to the habitation sites of the people, the more influential the art is in their lives. After surveying, mapping, and
then categorizing hundreds rock art panels of the Northern Great Basin, I have come to an interpretation that is a combination of the two theories. I found many
examples of Shaman inspired rock art panels, but I also found panels illustrating manufacturing grains, mountain sheep, and other food stuffs. I believe that the
type of rock art panel is related to its proximity to any habitation site. I have created detailed maps that include GPS coordinates of habitation sites in the area
and used them to statistically analyze the rock art distribution. Perhaps this distribution can be applied as a model for all Great Basin cultures. 
Tuition Scholarship of $5,000 per year for four years - Oregon State University
2005 - BE053
THE EVOLUTION OF WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Anna Elizabeth Stalker
The Altamont School, Birmingham, Alabama, The United States of America
This project was designed and conducted to discover the processes that allow humans to translate the spoken sounds of language into the written symbols of
an alphabet. It was theorized that visual sensory input (the seen shape of the mouth during articulation) and auditory sensory input (the sound of the utterance)
played a primary role, as well as tactile input (functioning mixed with visual and auditory input as whether the utterance sounds "sharp", and then what sharp
objects look or feel like, or how it feels to pronounce the utterance). A tri-part written test was designed to administer to subjects that asked them to associate
spoken sounds and written symbols, create their own symbol for a sound, and pronounce symbols created by the researcher. The results were then compared
to discover common patterns. The experiment showed that subjects associated the sounds and symbols in the first part of the test in accordance with the
theorized articulation representation rules. The symbols created by subjects in response to the sound in the second section were all similar and followed the
same rules as the first part. The pronunciations of the symbols in the third part were also similar and followed the same rules. In conclusion, the hypothesis was
accepted in every facet; written symbols are created using combinations of auditory, visual, and tactile input and are created following predictable rules.
2005 - BE009
DOES VIUAL, AUDITORY, OR GUSTORY PRECEPTION HAVE THE GREATEST AFFECT ON A SUPERTASTER, MEDIUMTASTER, OR A NONTASTER:
A FIFTH YEAR STUDY
Columbia High School, Lake City FL, United States
Does visual and auditory perception have an affect on the gustory complex? Does it have the greatest affect on a supertaster, mediumtaster, or a nontaster? I
believe that out of 540 trials 70% of supertasters, 60% of mediumtasters, and 50% of nontasters will be affected. Wearing gloves I put tasteless blue dye on my
subject’s tongue. I held a piece of paper with three holes in it, counting the taste papillae. After my subject took a sip of water he or she tasted a pudding, which
was colored red or blue, and tell me what flavor he or she believes it is. I then blindfolded my subject and repeated the test. After the blindfold was removed I
gave my subject a spoon with cherry flavored, red pudding. I said the word “blue.” He or she told me the flavor that they believe the pudding to be. I repeated
with a berry-flavored pudding. 57% of supertasters, 51% of mediumtasters, and 41% of nontasters were affected by the perception of color. My project could
make a great impact on advertising companies around the world. I have found that the auditory suggestion of a color is more influential than a visual
suggestion. According to my study, the cafeteria food would be much of appetizing with the use of an “auditory color.” An auditory color could be used for bland
and tasteless foods. For instance, the military, NASA, or any other industry that advertises or supplies food could use it. 
2005 - BE038
ABSOLUTE PITCH HUMAN ACCURACY IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF AUDITORY TONES
Reva Lee Stidd
Macomb High School, Macomb Illinois, USA
 This experiment investigates the relationship of early musical training and absolute pitch. Absolute Pitch, or perfect pitch, is the ability to know the
identity of any note from the musical scale without any references to any other note or device. For years musicians and scientists have questioned if this ability
is hereditary, stimulated by environment, or obtainable with discipline. It has been predicted that those with musical training will be more inclined to have
absolute pitch compared to nonmusicians trying to acquire it. Seventeen high school students that fit criteria for three specific groups of people—early
musicians, late musicians, and nonmusicians—were obtained and tested once a week over a six week time period. A tone generator played approximately
seven tones within 15 minutes, and the subjects were requested to properly label each tone. Because the musicians had distinct advantages over the
nonmusicians, at least 30 seconds of music was played in between each tone presented. This was done to distract the subjects and guarantee the experiment
would test absolute pitch, not relative pitch. The nonmusicians were expected to prepare for each testing session by taking lessons from a helpful absolute
pitch website. Despite the fact that most of the nonmusicians did not visit the website, one subject did visit it and he did gradually improve his
accuracy. The average intervals of responses for each group, however, support the hypothesis and show that early musicians are 86.5 % more accurate in
providing the correct note name. 
2005 - BE304
WHO HAS BETTER COORDINATION: MUSICIANS OR ATHLETES?
Danielle Marie Strausbaugh, Jessica Reile
Upper Sandusky High School, Upper Sandusky Ohio, United States
The goal of the research is to see whether or not students that practice music on a regular basis will have better hand-eye coordination than students who
practice an athletic activity on a regular basis. The basics of coordination: memory, rhythm, timing, and intricate hand movements are taught to children when
coordination is first being developed. Memory, rhythm, timing, and intricate hand movements are also very large components in both athletic activities and
music. If both contained the same basic skill, could the components be put together? The hypothesis is that students who practice musical instruments on a
regular basis will have better coordination than the students who practice athletic activities on a regular basis. The experiment consists of gathering fifty
students who practice athletic activities, fifty students who practice musical instruments, and fifty students who do not practice either of the aforementioned. All
students will be of high school age between fourteen and eighteen. The student will trace a pattern while looking in a mirror. This will test the student's hand
eye coordination. Based on the results obtained, the musicians had the better coordination with an average of 7.16 buzzes per thirty seconds. This research
that was conducted could prove that playing music can better one's coordination and be used to better the development of the growing process.
2005 - BE016
DJUHA'S SLEEVE: A STUDY ON THE RELIABILITY OF THE ORAL TRADITION
Katie Lynn Thompson
St. Clair High School, St. Clair, Minnesota, United States
Djuha's Sleeve was a study of the reliability of the oral tradition. My experiment was designed to imitate the game Telephone. I chose a Syrian folk tale called
"Djuha's Sleeve" and told it to one person. I then recorded that person telling the story to someone else. The second person told it to a third person while I
recorded it, and so on, until the story had been passed through six people. I used the recordings to track the number of changes that occurred in the story from
one version to the next. As it turned out, none of the final versions of the story were anywhere near the original version. Based on the results, I can conclude
that no one ever listens to or interprets data exactly the same way, so no story ever has been or ever will be told the same way twice.
2005 - BE027
COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF ATTRACTIVENESS
Daniel Tate Verwholt
Hilton Head Preparatory, Hilton Head Island, SC, USA
The problem this experiment attempted to address was how being categorized a model or average person affects other people’s judgments. After creating a
portfolio of eight pictures (4 men and 4 women of varying ethnicities), an unbiased original survey was developed. Within this survey it asked people to rate
each picture in four different categories: intelligence, attractiveness, athleticism, and wealth. Once all the materials were prepared, 50 people were surveyed
and half were told to rate the pictures as models, and the other 25 to make judgments based on the fact that the pictures were of average people. In order to
conceal the true reason for the experimentation and make the results that much more viable, the survey was said to be used for internal purposes involving
trends at a local modeling agency. Once the experimentation was done, the data was analyzed and several valid conclusions were found. On average, people
rated the pictures an average of 34.3053% higher overall when they were labeled models than as average people. In order to determine whether the results
were statistically significant, a two sample T-Test was performed. This type of statistical test attempts to see if there was a significant difference between two
means. In every category (attractiveness, intelligence, athleticism, and wealth), the P-Value was found to be zero, which means that it can be conclusively said
that there was a statistically significant difference between the ways people rated the pictures depending on how they were initially prompted. Clearly, simply
inducing people to think that the pictures were of models, affected their judgments. This shows that the physical attractiveness stereotype is still alive and well
and influencing our everyday lives.
2005 - BE051
MAKING OUT THE MEDIA: CHOMSKY'S PROPAGANDA MODEL
William Durland Watson
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science, and the Arts; Hot Springs, AR, USA
This project is the result of a series of media experimentation on the presence of bias in media sources. The primary goal of the project was to take a large
media source and test for the consistent presence of bias, and whether it adhered to Noam Chomsky’s “propaganda model.” By using a large source, like the
New York Times, it was determined that an accurate and revealing sample could be obtained. By researching Chomsky’s methods using his extensive
publications, it was determined that bias could be quantified. Using the country of Colombia as the subject, the archived articles search engine on the New York
Times on the Web website, the articles were quantified. The hypothesis was that the “friendly” entity, the Colombian regime, would be given more positive
coverage than the insurgents or rebels. The time interval sampled was from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004. The experiment yielded very
significant results. Positive news was given in favor of the Colombian government more than any of the other entities, and the hypothesis prevailed 66.734% of
the time. Material was given much less often in favor of other parties, only 29.763% of the time. The contribution of this project is multi-purposed. First,
it gave clear insight into what sorts of bias Americans absorb on a daily basis. Second, it allowed the observer to view exactly how the U.S. government
influences other governments, and our own beliefs. Finally, it provides a platform for future research on the topic of media bias. 
2005 - BE311
THE EFFECT OF AGE AND GENDER ON COGNITION RATES THE STROOP EFFECT
Saima Akheel Zaman, Reema Farasat Chaudhry
Potomac Senior High School, Dumfries, VA, USA
Abstract We chose to experiment on the Stroop Effect and its effects on gender and different age groups. The Stroop Effect refers to the disturbance
caused by trying to eliminate meaningful but conflicting information from a task, even when the information is irrelevant or counterproductive to the task.
Disturbance is experienced when a person tries to say the color a word is printed in when that color does not correspond to the actual name of the color. For
example, “mental interference” is experienced when the word “blue” is printed the color “green” and a person tries to say the color “green”. We chose to
experiment on the Stroop effect because we found the whole concept of “mental interference” and the ways in which our brains function interesting. Five males
and five females from each age group were timed while they read a control chart and named the colors the words were printed in the Stroop chart. It was
determined that females have lower reaction times than males with respect to naming the colors in the Stroop chart. There was no specific pattern when it
came to the control chart. The time taken to read the control chart and to name the colors in the Stroop chart for males and females decreased from the age
group of 4-6 to 16-18, increased from 16-18 to 40-55, and decreased again from 40-55 to 60+. If this project were to be conducted again, we would perform
more trials with more colors and narrow down the age groups.
2005 - BE024
PISCO - A PERUVIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE
Paula Mariana Zambrano
C.E. Parroquial San Antonio de Padua - Jesús María - Lima - Perú
Wine and its byproducts production is an economic potential which can promote Peruvian products within international market. Given the con-troversy about
“The Peruvian origin of Pisco” against the Chilean’s position and the definition of Peruvian’s register, in order to ex-tend the commercialization of this Peruvian
grape liquor with the “Denominación de origen Pisco” our purpose is to clarify this dilemma. Hypothesis: "Pisco is a Peruvian Culture Heritage",
because Peru owns historic, social, productive and geographic arguments that can prove such argument. Methodology: Theoretical investigation, exploration
and expert judgment. PERÚ: Pisco is quichua’s expression, first map of Pisco Harbor (1574), Ica’s old resident found testament (1613). Date
Foundation: Pisco Town (1640). Technology Production: XVI Century: used fresh grape-juice, earthen clay pitcher, discontinuons distillatory, distillated clear
Pisco, don’t include aggregates. CHILE: Pisco Elqui (1936), Since 1670 grape spirituous liquor was elaborated, wine was obtained first in continuous
distillatory, moderated with distillated water, influenced by wood of guard (marl) yellowish tonality. Beginning Chilean’s prototype industry (XIX century -1831)
actual controversy starts. Pisco is Our Cultural Heritage. It isn’t a matter who produces more liquor, who can afford to expend millions of dollars
publiciting campaigns, or who has the best prices in the international/national market. The point is to defend Peruvian origin. Nobody questions the quality of
another liquor. This investigation demonstrates Peru’s necessity to become an integrant of the Lisbon’s Agreement in order to register the “Denominación de
Origen Pisco” at the “World Intellectual Property Organization” in defense of our legitimate ownership. 
2006 - BE309
RESILIENCE: A PROPOSAL FACING ADVERSITY II
Gabriela Maricel Andreoli, Malen Gotte, Patricia Natali Grinovero
Club de Ciencias LIBERTAD, Cerrito, Entre Rios, Argentina
This descriptive-explicative and retro-prospective investigation emerges as a continuation of an exploratory investigation into resilience. It has the following
objectives: ·To make the educational community feel interested in resilience as a source of self-help when we are faced with the adversities of our
environment. ·To generate strategies to reduce the institutional risk factors. ·To provide information, activities and resources that will let us
elaborate helpful resilience activities at school. By means of methodological triangulation, applying as qualitative and quantitative techniques open
interviews to professional educators, observing, and conducting structured diagnostic surveys of fixed multiple-choice questions to the teachers of the selected
educational institution, we plan, design, implement and evaluate a school intervention project as a pilot test in a school located in a peripheral neighborhood of
Paraná (Entre Ríos-AR), whose students present a high rate of risk factors. Psychologically advised and supported by the staff of different
departments of the State Board of Education, we develop and implement the project called “We change to change” , based upon two approaches: the tetra
model and the resilience wheel. The project consists of three stages; first intervention: mitigate the risks; second intervention: build up resilience; and
evaluation. As regards the reduction of the risk factors, the results were satisfactory. It is necessary to make adjustments so as to improve them and
achieve a truly resilient school. We propose the implementation of this project in other schools with a high rate of risk factors. 
2006 - BE037
HOW DO PEOPLE FORM ADDICTIONS AND ARE THEY HEREDITARY
Kristina Argo
Central High School Brooksville Fl US.
Addictions can take on many diffrent forms and consume anyone who gives anything of substance a chance. In the researchers opinion, addictions are not
based on heredity, but based on the choices people make and also on the environment you live in. The purpose of this project was to disprove the theory that
addictions are hereditary. This hypothesis will be tested by creating and conducting a survey that will reach the age group of 18-45. The individuals involved
were asked to complete a twenty-five question survey that will extend no longer then about eight minutes. The surveys were collected and evulated. Only
reaching Hernando county resdents, this survey that the researcher has created has made people think about the addictions that they were never certain about
or aware of. The results of the survey were utulized to evulate the formation of addictions in the human brain. The survey was grouped based on age, ethnicity.
From the grouped individuals, more people were willing to take the survey were caucasian males between the ages of 18-20. For this experiment there were
numerous types of charts made full of data. According to the overview of the data numerous amounts of people who came off like they had an addiction, denied
to even having an addiction at the end. In final analyisis the researchers hypothesis was inconclusive. Further research and usage of test subjects will further
advance this project.
2006 - BE325
CHICA CULTURE: BETWEEN THE RESPECT AND THE FORGETFULNESS
Jose Humberto Armella, Blanca Zulema Martearena, Nadia Abigail Lopez
Escuela de Comercio Nro. 1, La Quiaca, Jujuy, ARGENTINA
The project "Chicha Culture: Between Respect and Forgetfulness allowed us to discover a historical place, which is a very important source of knowledge and
wisdom of our ancestors, an archeological site located near our school, Cerro Colorado and Laguna Colorada, Department of Yavi - Jujuy - Argentina. 
That place is called by the inhabitants as "forbidden because of respect and fear". This labeling led to forgetfulness, nobody took care of the place, and there
were many acts of pillage, thus the place became unknown for the most of the people. From then, a research work started so as to give value again to
the chicha culture. Students' motivation started with a questioning process looking for information on the origin, culture and historical time of the indigenous
people. During the research process the first important information came from several sources with the help of the community. Then a process of
awareness started, so as to help the people to face their vital environment, taking part in it, breaking a daily position of knowledge of their reality and trying to
get this to be a challenge in order to humanize and change their culture, without leaving aside the legal regulations regarding protection to a cultural and
archeological heritage. While educating we try to show that this culture is alive and that it survives through people's rites, customs and traditions that
need a stricter process so as to know it, protect it, know its value and thus build an authentic identity. 
2006 - BE045
SPONJ- THE EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE SUITE FOR CP CHILDREN
Sinchan Banerjee
Clear Lake High School, Houston, Texas, United States of America
Cerebral Palsy is a neural disorder that is marked by physical and cognitive difficulties, and I had the opportunity to work with children suffering from Cerebral
Palsy this past summer. Living through routine activities with these children, I realized that they were sorely in need of a software program that could cater to
their unique needs. Thus, I set out to develop an educational software program, called SPONJ, and a typing interface, called IntelliScribe Intellectual Interface,
that is proficiently suited for the needs of Cerebral Palsy children. I have done this by making a special mouse-motion-recognizing interface called the
ArtificialNavigator. With the aid of numerous artistic and advanced programming techniques, SPONJ’s lessons teach arithmetic mathematics via
stimulating examples, definitions, targeted questions and an entertaining game that reinforces the lessons taught. The questions were used to compile a scaled
score, which verified my hypothesis. A total of 30 children, ages 6-12, tested the program for three weeks. After testing, the children’s average scaled scores of
the three weeks were 2.989, 5.35, and 7.011, respectively. The children also observed that the IntelliScribe Intellectual Interface is very accessible and efficient.
Their average typing speed has improved from 0.849 words/min to a remarkable 2.238 words/min. Therefore my hypothesis was proven true. The program is
successful as it allows the user to gradually improve mathematics skills and typing speed. I am grateful to have been able to touch 30 lives with my software;
however, with time, SPONJ has the capability to allow numerous individuals to jump over the hurdles that Cerebral Palsy has set for them. 
Tuition Scholarship of $5,000 per year for four years - Oregon State University
2006 - BE019
IT'S NOT AS EASY AS 1-2-3: LIMITS OF THE HUMAN ABILITY TO COUNT
Jake Baron
Stuyvesant High School; New York, NY; USA
The ability to quickly count a group of objects is something we often take for granted, but counting is more error-prone than it may seem. Human counting
ability was investigated using a computer paradigm that presented dots, enclosed in a rectangle, under three visual conditions: 1) central presentation, 2)
peripheral presentation, and 3) peripheral presentation with distracter dots surrounding the rectangle. Even under the easiest condition (central viewing), one
can accurately count only up to 3 objects in a glimpse. Presenting the dots peripherally and surrounded by distracters invoked visual crowding, which radically
impaired counting accuracy. Under this condition, the standard deviation of observers’ counts is increased by about +2 at every number of dots presented,
compared to central viewing. This impairment is especially drastic for small numbers of objects (fewer than 4) since without crowding the standard deviation is
zero in this domain. These results indicate that when an array of objects is crowded, we cannot reliably count even 1, 2, or 3 objects. Each object must be
fixated individually, one at a time.
2006 - BE029
WORD SEGMENTATION IN LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: ASSESSING AMBIGUITIES BETWEEN WORD OFFSETS AND TRANSITIONAL PROBABILITIES
Riana Juhn Betzler
The Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York USA
The process of language acquisition begins in the infant mind before birth and progresses at such a rapid rate that by the first year of life, infants have reached
the level of understanding at which they begin to produce speech and be understood by the outside world. Yet, language acquisition is an indefinably complex
and involved process, the fundamentals of which, researchers have barely begun to understand. Aural language contains a complex grammatical and
phonological structure that the learner must recognize and acquire. In a previous study, we investigated the abilities of adult learners to use
transitional probabilities (statistical frequencies inherent in the grammatical structure of language) to segment a continuous speech stream of artificial language.
The results of this research indicated that subjects were able to correctly segment the speech stream based on transitional probabilities. However, ambiguities
arose within the data results in regard to the effect of word offsets and onsets as an influence on subjects’ ability to correctly segment the speech stream. 
 This research seeks to investigate the power of word offsets and onsets in determining where word boundaries exist in the continuous speech stream. A
novel was presented aurally to participants, followed by a testing session, in which participants were asked to identify the word from the novel language. 
 Although results have been inconclusive as of yet, discrepancy between word onset or offset cues and transitional probabilities occurs even within natural
language. Thus, this research gives us insight into how we resolve ambiguity inherent in natural language. 
First Award of $1,000 - American Psychological Association
First Award of $3,000 - United States Air Force
2006 - BE305
CLOTHING FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE
Petra Bezchlebova, Jana Malcova
Secondary school of clothing
Handicapped people belong among us. They deserve to be in a society in smart comfortable clothes which are easy to use. Whenever they are putting on in
the morning, it is evident that not all garments meet their needs. We were interested in the problems of handicapped people with their clothing. That is
why we made a short survey. We asked these people what sorts of problems they had. We also asked what kinds of clothes they wore. By analyzing the
questionnaires and interviews, we identified major problems including crew necks, getting dirty and rubbing long sleeves at the elbow area, wide sleeves at the
bottom edges, jeans like unsuitable material, slash pockets at the trousers and layered pockets on the side seams and clothes closures with buttons and zips.
 We tried to find a solution in order to eliminate or reduce these problems. We designed novel “V” shape necks, dirtying sleeves from moving
wheels of a wheelchair - covering these parts with a protective leather clothes, sleeves have to be classic straight, appropriate size or more narrow at the
bottom parts, denim should be replaced with another material, for example material with elastic fibers. Appropriate kinds of closures are: riveted buttons, velcro
zip, clips, hooks and eyes, lacing, buckles. In the end we tested our suggestions in real situations. One of us meets such problems every day because
she has a physically handicapped brother. 
2006 - BE013
THE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION ON THE REM SLEEP PERIOD
Caroline Anne Blosser
Upper Arlington High School, Upper Arlington, Ohio, United States
REM sleep is essential to daily necessities such as memory, learning, cognitive ability and daily performance, and growth and repair. The purpose of this
project was to observe the effects of caffeine consumption on the REM sleep period of the human sleep cycle. It was hypothesized that moderate to significant
caffeine consumption in both male and female adults between the ages of 16 and 55 would both decrease the length of individual REM periods, and decrease
the number of completed REM periods each sleep session. To test this hypothesis, 34 subjects participated for three days in recording hourly food and drink
consumption, as well as general information relating to their sleep behaviors each night. Subjects were divided into two separate categories based on daily
caffeine consumption; 17 subjects who did not consume caffeine and 17 moderate to high consumers of caffeine. In addition, each individual was required to
wear a REMView® sleep-monitoring device each night that recorded the length and characteristics of the REM sleep period. It was concluded that
caffeine consumption has no significant affect on the number of completed REM periods each sleep session. However, evidence suggests that caffeine
decreases the length of each individual REM period. These results imply that caffeine consumption may prohibit or delay the REM period. In addition, caffeine
may actually withdraw an individual out of REM sleep prematurely. Future studies are needed to determine how significantly caffeine consumption affects REM
as compared with other variables. 
2006 - BE006
WORKING MEMORY INTERFERENCE EFFECT ON VISUAL ERP'S
Mary Margaret Brinkopf
Canterbury School, Fort Myers, FL USA
This experiment was designed to test how working memory is affected by interference and non-inference stimuli dependent on two levels of memory load. My
hypothesis examined if working memory differentially influenced sensory components of ERP in visual cortex (P1, an event related potential waveform) when
making cognitive decision about target matching status. Furthermore, is the visual cortex activity to target matching affected by task-irrelevant interference and
does the effect vary in working memory load? Lastly, do patients with high fear differ from those with low fear in either of the above statements? In an
independent research project, subjects viewed distracter stimuli composed of five valences. The subject pressed M if the probe matched the previous cue
diamonds or N if it did not match. I analyzed the resultant data when the subject observed the probe and its transmittance from the eye to the visual cortex.
Next, an ANOVA statistical analysis was completed which revealed little deviation in valence conditions in phobic subjects but a difference in the control group.
Nevertheless, the phobic subject’s error rates remained substantially higher than the control group. My original hypothesis was rejected because
valence failed to cause a deviation in the P1 of the phobic subjects; therefore an alternate hypothesis was formed. It states: valence conditions will not have a
significant affect on the sensory components of phobics due to their heighten anticipation and stored visual memory of feared object.
Tuition Scholarship Award in the amount of $8,000 - Office of Naval Research on behalf of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
2006 - BE322
DRIVING PLUS CELL PHONES EQUALS NO CONCENTRATION
Frances May Bruce, Jing Chen
Mayo High School, Rochester MN, USA
More and more people including teenagers talk on cell phones while they are doing something else that actually requires full attention. However, people may
not realize the impact cell phone conversation has on their ability to focus. Our project tested the effect on concentration while talking on a cell phone and
driving, and determined whether youth and adults were equally affected. Sixteen adults and twenty youth were selected to perform a simulated computer carracing game with and without using a cell phone. The order of testing was randomized so that a learning curve would not occur. The time each subject required
to finish the racing course and the number of crashes were recorded. Our data showed that cell phone usage significantly increased (p<0.05) the number of car
accidents in adults. Interestingly, youth were not affected as much as adults, presumably due to their familiarity with computer games. To test this possibility,
we conducted a second experiment to test the subject’s ability to complete randomly selected basic multiplication problems under two minutes with and without
use of a cell phone. Both the adults and the youth showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the number of multiplication problems done and percentage of
accuracy with cell phone usage. In both cases, cell phone usage significantly (p<0.05) increased the subject’s stress level. The results of our project
demonstrate that cell phone usage impairs concentration regardless of age and cell phone usage while driving is dangerous.
2006 - BE312
DIFFERENCE IN BEHAVIOR OF LAKE APOPKA AREA CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS WERE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY EXPOSED TO PESTICIDES
Grant Fabian Chernoby, Shahin Pourkaviani
Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States of America
The problem investigated whether toxins internally or externally consumed by parents affect the physical and mental development of their children. The
alternative hypothesis stated that there is a statistically significant difference in children’s’ mental and physical capabilities in children whose parents had
exposure to pesticides through farming on Lake Apopka compared to children whose parents did not have this exposure. The null hypothesis stated that there
would not be a statistically significant difference in physical and mental development between children whose parents were exposed to a high level of toxins
from Lake Apopka compared to the children whose parents were not exposed to a high level of toxins from Lake Apopka. To investigate the problem, the
researchers conducted simple tests on each child. The children were then split into three main groups where they were then compared to the control group.
 The results showed statistically significant evidence that the children whose parents were exposed to a high level of toxins scored significantly less
than the control group. It was concluded that the children whose parents had internal and external exposure to pesticides were at least one year behind in
mental and physical capabilities. The data was analyzed by using the two sample t-test to prove significance. 
Student Membership in SETAC - Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
2006 - BE009
THE IMPACT OF WORK FORCE MIGRATION ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN
Sorina Codrea
"Emil Racovita" National College, Iasi, Romania
 The project focused on the influences of the migration phenomenon on the mentality, social conduct, behavior, values and lifestyle of children (8-14
aged) whose one/both parents work abroad, whereas they keep living in their original habitat. Based on the investigation data, the project aimed to
help development of special councilling programs for those children who are negatively affected by the absence of their parents and to foster legislations
initiatives to protect them by setting parents' obligation to solve children care, before their leaving the country. The topic and the outline of the research
followed the next hypotheses which were finally confirmed by the data interpretation. 1.Children whose parents work abroad are more likely to
internalize their parents model of leaving the country. 2. Children whose parents work abroad are exposed to a higher risk of socio-school deviation.
 3.Children with parents working abroad are more likely to suffer from lack of affection. 4. For the children in the families where migration is
encountered, the spare time budget (the loisir) suffered some changes. A part of the spare time is affected by supplementary tasks, derived from the missing
parent domestic choruses. The survey (643 respondents) and observation were chosen as methods of the research and questionnaires and
observation forms completed by teachers were preferred as instruments. The data interpretation confirmed the hypotheses and led to the conclusion
that families with one/both parents abroad do not provide an ideal emotional and educational environment for the children left home. 
2006 - BE024
SOUNDS INTO SYLLABLES(TM) II WINDOWS TO THE WORLD OF CHILDHOOD AUTISM
Kayla Cornale
Assumption Catholic Secondary School, Burlington Ontario, Canada
To assist children diagnosed with autism, I created a teaching system called Sounds into Syllables™. It is based on the premise that various musical
components can assist these children with their linguistic and social development difficulties. This project represents the second phase of the system in
both method and application. Harmony is introduced with the creation of six 3 part harmonies that are linked to the six universal emotions of happy, sad, afraid,
angry, surprised and disgusted. Three 2 part harmonies have also been created and linked to the concepts of nouns, verbs and adjectives. These harmonies
have been integrated into a children’s book (also in computer format) created specifically for the system and titled The Story of Little Bear. It is
designed to assist these children with face perception, recognition of emotional expression and to stimulate interest in the human face so as to improve their
social interaction with others. It also addresses sentence construction by teaching nouns, verbs and adjectives within a series of simple sentences. 
 The conclusion that musical harmony can assist these children with social and sentence construction difficulties can be drawn from the progress of the nine
year old test subject. She has demonstrated enhanced face perception and recognition of emotional expression, wishing to imitate expressions on her own face
by using a mirror. Her primary interest in the story is with the changing emotions of the central character Little Bear. 
Award of $1,000 - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Mathematica software package for all Intel Grand award first place winners. - Wolfram Research, Inc.
2006 - BE030
ATTENTION IN THE BRAIN: A STUDY OF COGNITIVE CONTROL USING FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Maggie Delano
Ossining High School, Ossining NY, USA
This study investigated cognitive control of the Stroop and Simon tasks using functional MRI. Conflicting task dimensions on a given trial trigger cognitive
control mechanisms that lead to increased selective attention on the next trial, so that conflict is resolved more efficiently. It is undetermined whether cognitive
control triggered by one type of conflict leads to superior resolution of another type of conflict. Stimuli included the words "red" and "green" written in red and
green ink located to the left or right of a fixation point. Stimuli were presented to subjects in an fMRI scanner. Reaction time, accuracy, and fMRI images were
recorded. Interaction effects between the Stroop and Simon effects did not reach significance (f(1,12)=.1, p=0.947; f(1,12)=.4, p=0.543), indicating that
cognitive control did not generalize across different types of conflict. In the Stroop contrast of cognitive control, significant brain activation was located in the
inferior-parietal lobule, frontal regions, the postcentral gyrus, and the fusiform gyrus. In the Simon contrast, the pre-central gyrus, post-central gyrus, parietal
regions and fusiform gyrus were activated. There was minimal overlap in brain areas responsible for resolving Stroop and Simon conflict. These results may aid
in improving the assessment of specific impairments in attentional control. 
Third Award of $250 - American Psychological Association
2006 - BE042
THE COGNITIVE AND EMOTIONAL FACTORS THAT IMPACT AN INDIVIDUAL'S LIKELIHOOD TO USE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Allison Erica Dender
Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School Plainview, NY USA
The public understands that renewable energy is better, safer, cleaner and good for the environment, but still generally opposes the use of renewable energy
because of misconceptions that it does not work, is experimental or too risky (Whitley, 2005). Therefore, this project focuses on designing a survey, called the
AELK (Alternative Energy Likelihood and Knowledge) Scale, to determine whether an individual’s knowledge, their misconceptions and/or their natural
resistance to change impacts their likelihood to use alternative energy. The AELK Scale consisted of a Resistance to Change Scale (Oreg, 2005), a Likelihood
Scale (Hart Research Associates, 2005) and a Knowledge Scale compiled from various sources. Three hundred AELK surveys were distributed nationwide to
adults for a total sample size of n=248. Chi squared tests showed a significant relationship between an individual’ s knowledge of alternative energy
and their likelihood to use alternative energy (p =0.003) as well as an individual’s resistance to change and their likelihood to use alternative energy (p=0.000).
T-tests showed no significant difference in an individual’s likelihood to use based on their sex, age, level of education, and incomes. The most applicable
finding is the relatively low level of knowledge of alternative energy; mean value of 18.3 out of 93. Hence in order to increase people’s likelihood to use
alternative energy, it is essential to increase their knowledge of alternative energy. Hart Research Associates, Peter D. "GM Automotive Survey."
(2005): 1-6. Oreg, Shaul. "Resistance to Change: Developing an Individual Differences Measure." Journal Of Applied Psychology 88 (2003): 1-16. 17
June 2005 Whitley, Kathleen. "Your Energy Research Inquiry." Email to the author. 19 Aug. 2005. 
Second Award of $1,500 - United States Air Force
2006 - BE303
CULTURAL INFLUENCE ON EYE MOVEMENT BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO A SOCIAL TARGET IMAGE AS MEASURED BY A NOVEL EYE-TRACKING
DEVICE
Cameron Walden Dennis, Suji Paek
West Salem High School, Salem, Oregon, United States of America
Culture acts like a pair of prescription glasses; a filter through which we see the world. And due to such significance, our hypothesis is that culture influences a
subject's eye movement behavior while viewing a target image in a social context. In order to track a subject's eye-movement behavior, we
constructed an eye-tracking device consisting of a video camera in the night-vision setting using infrared light, a LCD computer screen, and a two-way mirror
enclosed within a darkened wooden box. Computer software (Final Cut Pro and Adobe Photoshop) was used to generate the target image from a digital photo
and to analyze the video taken of the subject's eye movements. The subjects represented Japanese and Western cultures. In the experiment,
subjects looked through a lens-less goggle attached to the front of the box to center their eyes. The subjects viewed a picture of a man in a business suit in
front of a natural landscape. This image, projected from the LCD computer screen, was reflected onto the two-way mirror. The subjects viewed the image while
the Sony DCR-TRV18 Digital Handycam video camera in the infrared setting recorded their eye-movements from the other side of the mirror. Video
of each subject's eye movement was analyzed and compared based on the proportion of gaze fixation on a target image as compared to the background, gaze
fixation duration, and eye movement patterns to determine if culture was a significant influence. Differences in proportions in gaze fixation between the cultures
were found; thus, reinforcing our hypothesis. 
2006 - BE032
THE EFFECTS OF TELEVISION VIOLENCE ON ADOLESCENTS
Supal J. Desai, Supal Desai
Celebration High School, Celebration, FL, USA
The goal of this project is to determine the effects of television violence on adolescents. Research has shown that there is a clear link to violent television and
prolonged influence on individual’s behavior. This study analyzed the behavior of two populations of high school students, measuring both costisol levels and
behavioral responses. Students at the school were divided into two groups. The control group sat quietly for 30 minutes reading an article. The
experimental group was shown 30 minutes of war created scenes that exhibited various degrees of violence. Saliva samples were taken prior to dertemine the
subjects’ reactions to violence within the media. Parents were also surveyed to determine the amount and type of media the subjects are exposed to. Using
cortisol antibody, immunocytochemical studies were done on the saliva samples. Immunoblot analysis was also used to determine relative amounts of cortisol
before and after the study, using a secondary anti-cortisol antibody with a horseradish-perocidase tag to visualize the cortisol on the blot. The result
showed that the experimental group had a significantly higher elevated cortisol level after watching the cartoon when compared to the control groups. Male and
female responses were analyzed and showed that the females had a higher level of response when compared to the males. However, males showed a higher
initial level due to their increased viewing of television watched by the subjects. This supports the initial hypothesis of desensitization to television violence.
 Additionally, this correlation is demonstrating that the males, who watched most television, had the highest initial levels of cortisol, contributing to that
desensitization. 
2006 - BE311
COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE CAUSES OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE
Tiffany Nicole Doll Requena, Lorena E. Berges Cabrera
Colegio Marista, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
During the past recent years school violence has been flooding the major headline news. Due to the social implications of such events, special attention has
been given in order to understand the causes and risk factors of violence in school settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the
potential causal factors of school violence among students from public and private sectors. The population sample consisted of two hundred young people from
high school of eleventh and twelfth grade of both academic sectors. A questionnaire with thirty different questions related to the potential factors
causes of school violence was used as the research instrument. The answers were obtained by means of an evaluative scale from one to four. The
data analysis was carried out using a spreadsheet of the program MS Excel. The results were tabulated by school to determine if the sample of each sector
responded in the same way. This was obtained using a variance analysis (ANOVA). Finally, another ANOVA was used to establish if there was a difference in
the perception on the causes of school violence between high school students from both academic sectors. The results of this study concluded that no
significant difference was found in the perception on the causes of school violence between students of both academic sectors. Further studies should continue
with other geographical groups and population to support and widen people’s perception about the underlying causes of school violence. 
2006 - BE023
THE EFFECTS OF STEREOTYPE THREAT RELATING TO GENDER AND 11+ GRADING
Katherine Charlotte Rachel Donnelly
Loreto College Coleraine, Northern Ireland, BT51 3JZ
The 11+ examination is still used in Northern Ireland for academic selection top a grammar school. I have examined the effect of reminding pupils of their
grades in this examination on their performance in mathematics and logic test. I have discovered significant effects on pupils’ performance in this test in 14 and
15 year old pupils in a Catholic Grammar school. The experiment was planned with 120 pupils in year 11 (14 to 15 years old), 53 were boys and 67
were girls Pupils were divided into 3 groups, one group were to experience the gender stereotype threat, another the 11+ treat and the final group was
a control group. Each pupil was presented with a test paper which had their name on the front and contained an answer grid with a code that referred
to the pupils’ sex and 11+ grade. On the front of the answer grid was a stimulus which the pupils had to respond to before commencing the test. Pupils had to
write a short paragraph in response to the stimulus explaining whether or not they agreed with it and why. Only the answer grid was collected so that the test
results were confidential. 
2006 - BE318
THE EFFECTS OF CNS STIMULANTS AND SSRIS ON THE FORMATION OF CONDITIONED LONG TERM MEMORY AND LEARNING BEHAVIORS IN
SLEEP DEPRIVED WILDTYPE DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER
Mary Martha Ferrari Douglas, Alison W. Liu
Manhasset High School, Manhasset New York, USA
63% of the college students suffer from a lack of sleep. 15% are clinically depressed and nearly half of these students take antidepressants. Walker suggests
that adequate sleep is crucial for effective learning and long term memory (LTM). Caffeine, a commonly used stimulant, is believed to facilitate memory by
raising concentrations of memory effector proteins. SSRIs such as Prozac (fluoxetine) allow a buildup of serotonin by blocking its reuptake. Therefore the
purpose of this experiment was to document the effects of sleep deprivation on LTM in wildtype Drosophila and establish the effects of caffeine and fluoxetine
on LTM formation. This study hypothesized that fully rested drosophila would perform better on LTM testing than sleep deprived ones. Additionally, it stated that
supplementation of fluoxetine and caffeine would foster LTM formation. Flies were divided into ten subdivisions; normal sleep (control), drug supplemented,
sleep deprived and supplemented sleep deprived. Two concentrations each of caffeine and fluoxetine were used. Drosophila were olfactory trained with 3Octanol using the interval training method of Tully, shown to be effective at creating LTM. One week post training, drosophila were tested for LTM. More than
4,000 flies were tested. After 4-6 trials of each subdivision, sleep deprivation was shown to hinder LTM (ANOVA p<.05). Supplmentation of caffeine and
fluoxetine did not create a significant difference when supplemented without sleep deprivation. However, supplementation prior to sleep deprivation was shown
to actually reverse the effects of sleep deprivation on LTM. 
Trip to the EU Contest. - European Union Contest for Young Scientists
Intel ISEF Best of Category Award of $5,000 for Top First Place Winner - Team Projects - Presented by Science News
Award of $600 - Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
2006 - BE314
BIOLOGY EDUCATION ACROSS THE NATION
Xinyi Duan, Gauri Manglik, Jenna Rosenberg
Briarcliff Manor High School, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510, USA
We have decided to undertake the task of surveying the biology teachers of randomly chosen schools across the country to see exactly how biology,
specifically evolution, or its counterpart, creationism, is taught in the United States. Additionally, we wanted to examine how the intelligent design theory is
being received as a compromise between creationism and evolution. The goal of our project is to trace the roots of the controversy to its sectional, political, or
even personal origins. We wanted to see what teachers are teaching in the classrooms and their opinions on their specific curriculum. 430 hard copies of the
survey were mailed to the high schools’ biology teachers and 113 responses were received in total. The data were analyzed using Stata SE8.2 for statistical
significance. From our results, we found that intelligent design is not as popular as we expected; however, many people still believe that God and evolution
could be compatible. There is a schism in the opinions of biology teachers when divided by their location, political beliefs, and their states’ recent history of
legislative controversy. The significant findings in all three groups indicate that the country is very polarized on this issue.
2006 - BE049
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN RATIONALITY: A STUDY OF IF AND WHY GENDERS DIFFER IN HOW CLOSELY THEY ADHERE TO THE THEORY OF
RATIONAL BEHAVIOR.
Marshall Bradley Everett
Shoals Christian School, Florence Alabama, USA
The Theory of Rational Behavior states that when playing a game, a person (presumed to be rational) will choose the strategy that is best for him and the best
response to the strategies of others. This theory is presumed to be useful because it allows economists to predict how people will respond to a given situation.
The study of rational behavior lends itself to trying to understand how different groups of people behave strategically. The primary goal of this study is to
understand if and why males and females differ in their rational behavior. This was accomplished through experiments with approximately 200 human subjects.
The subjects were given two games to play: The Ultimatum Game (an economic game used to estimate the rationality of a participant) and The Risk Aversion
Game (a game used to estimate the tendency of a participant to be risk averse). They were also given two questionnaires to complete: one asked basic
questions (age, sex, ACT score), and the other was designed to estimate the concern for fairness the participant possessed. For each participant, the data from
the questionnaires and the risk aversion game was compared to the data from The Ultimatum Game. The goal was to understand how age, sex, intelligence
(ACT), risk aversion, and concern for fairness affected a participant’s strategy (rationality). The conclusions were that sex, age and risk aversion did not affect a
participant’s rationality, but intelligence, actual risk taken, and concern for fairness greatly affected a participant's rationality. 
Scholarship Award of $20,000 - Department of Homeland Security, University Programs Office
2006 - BE302
MUSIC TO MY EARS
Jordan Nicole Farris, Rachel Elizabeth Purtee
Nettleton High School, Jonesboro AR, United States of America
It has been reported that listening to music while taking a test or studying helps one to do better. This project is designed to see whether that idea is right or
wrong. Thirty-nine local first graders were given a common math test. They were given two minutes to accurately complete as many problems as they could
while having different genres of music being played in the background or a quiet background (no-music). Three types of musical genres were used. These were
classical, country-western, and rock `n' roll. The four individual tests were given on three separate occasions each separated by one week. Four out of
five school days were used to conduct this experiment. For the results to be as accurate as possible, the same music was used on the same days. Also, the
tests were given during the normal time the students had math class throughout the day. Six students who did not complete at least two tests under each of the
experimental conditions were not included in the statistical analysis of the data. Paired t-tests were used to compare average test performances between the
no-music condition and the three musical genres. When the no-music scores were compared to the three musical genre scores, there was no
significant difference in the scores. However, when the musical genres were compared only to each other, rock `n' roll math test scores were higher than
country-western math test scores.
2006 - BE304
DOES GENDER AFFECT HANDWRITING ANALYSIS?
Jessica Marie Gamber, Angela Neslund
Champlin Park High School, Champlin MN, Hennepin
Titled "Does Gender Affect Handwriting Analysis?" this project focuses on just that. The idea was to identify wether gender has an affect on graphology's
accuracy. (The hypothesis proposed that gender did not make a difference). Surveys were filled out, handwriting samples were written, and each survey was
scored. The surveys were separated into four groups according to personality types, and this was used to check the accuracy of the handwritng analyses.
Every sample was analyzed, and there were no differences between males and females. Seven T-tests proved seven trait comparisons (line spacing, letter
size, Artisan letter size, Gaurdian letter T, Gaurdian base line, Idealist Letter T, Artisan line spacing) all proved to be statistically significant. The conclusion was
drawn to support our hypotheses as close to fully as possible.
2006 - BE050
USE YOUR BRAIN TO LOSE YOUR PAIN
Sarah Beth Gillund
Wildrose Alamo Public School, Wildrose, North Dakota, United States
Do people have the ability to control and reduce pain simply by using positive thought exercises and relaxation techniques? For this experiment, two
mental exercises were designed to reduce pain using the methods of relaxation, imagery, and deep breathing, based on present research in related areas. A
survey was also formulated containing a universal pain scale to measure how pain was impacted by the positive thought exercises. Subjects were selected that
reported suffering from some sort of pain one or more times a week. The subjects completed the exercises and survey whenever pain occurred. This
study revealed that the human subjects had an 89% success rate reducing pain using the exercises. Eleven percent of the time the pain stayed the same,
however, the pain never increased as a result of the exercises. 100% of the human subjects reported the exercises reduced pain at least once during the
experimentation period. While Exercise A yielded a 6% percentage of unsuccessful trials, in Exercise B 20% of the trials were unsuccessful. Exercise A was
approximately four times more successful than Exercise B. In conclusion, the exercises demonstrated a plausible alternative to current pharmaceutical
methods for reducing pain. This research exhibits very clearly that one has the ability to train their mind to have a major effect on pain. Further research may
shed light on what kinds of pain can be managed best with this method. 
2006 - BE002
THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE LIVING WILL ACCORDING TO VARIOUS AGE GROUPS
Stephen T Hallet
F.W. Springstead High School, Spring Hill, Florida, Hernando County
The purpose of the experiment was to find out which age group has the most living wills. The researcher conducted surveys using 30 subjects per age group.
The questionnaire was the same for all subjects in the survey. The results of the questionnaire showed the youngest age group had the least living wills with
the numbers of living wills increasing along with the age group, showing the oldest age group with the most. There are many factors that could have
an affect on a subjects answer: subject suffered a loss, was stressed out, hungry, thirsty, or sick at the time. The individual subject’s knowledge level of the
topic could also have affected the results. The researcher calculated from the surveys the following statistics to support his hypothesis. The
researcher received 42 or 28% of yes responses from the 150 subjects that they had a living will. Of the 42 yes responses 3 or 7% were from the 18-25 age
group, 6 or 14% were from the 26-35 age group, 6 or 14% were from the 36-45 age group, 8 or 19% were from the 46-55 age group and 19 or 46% were from
the 56 and older age group. The researcher recommends conducting a survey to determine the percent of subjects who have a regular will.
This outcome would probably be attributed to a subject’s financial assets and stability. The researcher believes that the subjects with more financial assets
would more likely have wills, regardless of their ages. 
2006 - BE008
DOES THE ODOR OF CHOCOLATE STIMULATE MEMORY?
Adrienne M. Heintz
Bradenton Preparatory Academy, Bradenton, FL, USA
I conducted this experiment in order to discover if the odor of chocolate had any memory-enhancing properties that affected humans. I believe that chocolate
will enhance the memory of humans, and it exposes a new technique for people trying to remember things. I located an online memory game and
gave the test to twenty subjects, once without smelling anything, and once after they smelled ground-up chocolate for thirty seconds. I gave each person a
sheet with clear instructions on how to take the test both with and without smelling the chocolate to avoid confusion. I discovered that the average time for the
first test was 2 minutes and 50 seconds, and the average time after smelling chocolate was 2 minutes and 14 seconds. This shows a 36 second improvement,
or 21.2%. The data supports my hypothesis. This experiment opens up a new window of research on memory. I believe there was a lot of room for
improvement in my project, however. The subjects could have performed better on the second test only because they became more comfortable, so I should
have given the test 5 times with and without chocolate and taken the averages. Also, I tried to isolate each person while they were taking the test in order to
eliminate distractions, but because I did most of my testing at school, it was hard to administer the test when there was absolute tranquility. The last thing I
believe would have improved my project was to test more people than I did. 
2006 - BE310
TEEN OBESITY- IS PORTION SIZE PERCEPTION THE PROBLEM
Samantha Grace Hennenfent, Austin Malach
Fort Zumwalt West High School, O'Fallon, Missouri, United States of America
The purpose was to determine if there is a correlation between BMI, family eating habits and portion size perception and to examine the relationship between
the size of the container a single portion is served in and the subject’s satiation. Twenty female high school student’s height and weight were taken to calculate
BMI. Subjects were asked to pour one portion of cereal in a 250ml cereal bowl. The portion was bagged and weighed. Subjects took a family eating habits
survey. Surveys were scored and compared to BMI and portion size perception. Subjects ate a pre-measured single portion of candy placed either in a 50 ml
cup or a 250 ml bowl. There satiation level was then surveyed. When comparing family eating habits to portion size, the null hypothesis was rejected. There is a
correlation (r=-0.225) between a family’s eating habits and a teenage girl’s perception of portion size. When comparing BMI to portion size perception, the null
hypothesis was accepted, indicating no correlation (r=0.001). Most subjects were within the normal range of BMI and typically underestimated the portion of
cereal. There was no correlation (r=0.114) between a teenage girl’s BMI and her family’s eating habits. Even though the mean family eating habits score of 9.2
indicates that the families need to work on their health habits, the teenage girls in this study were either athletes or actresses and are very conscious of their
weight and tend to self-monitor their diets.
2006 - BE044
THE EFFECT OF FRAMING AND DESCRIBED TASK DIFFICULTY ON EXPECTATIONS AND PERFORMANCE
Michael Elliot Hofer
Roslyn High School, Roslyn Heights, NY, United States of America
Over the last decade, standardized testing has become increasingly prevalent. This experiment sought to determine how framing and described task difficulty
affect students' performance and their expectations of that performance. After reading a statement concerning how participants in previous classes performed
on a test about trees, students were asked to rate how they expected to perform. In addition to varying the frame of the statement (positive or negative), the
experiment manipulated the described difficulty of the task (high or low). Performance was operationalized by a Tree Test on which participants had to list as
many types of trees as they could. It was found that students had higher expectations when the statement was positively framed (p < .01) and described as
easy (p < .05). In addition, there was a significant interaction between task difficulty and framing on performance such that positive framing led to better
performance when described task difficulty was high, whereas negative framing led to better performance when described task difficulty was low. Additionally, a
weak, positive correlation was found between expectations and performance. This information is helpful in understanding how framing and described task
difficulty, among other external factors, influence performance on tests and possibly other types of tasks as well.
2006 - BE301
DETERMINATION OF GENDER AND AGE BY THUMBPRINTS YEAR TWO
Meryl Adelman Hulteng, Shannon Marie Cassidy
Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville Oregon, United States
This experiment was designed to test the ability to determine age and gender from a thumbprint. The science of fingerprinting is commonly used to identify
individuals by comparing an unknown print to a known source. Thus far, no previous studies have been found involving age or gender determination of
unknown prints. The hypothesis stated that thumbprint characteristics could be used to predict probable age and gender. Year one of the study
suggested that gender could be determined from a thumbprint using two characteristics: ridge count and type. During that initial investigation, questions arose
as to whether or not age had an effect on thumbprints. The current study focuses on replicating the ability to determine gender and investigating the
predictability of age using four characteristics: print type, ridge count, size, and density. It was found that males and females differ significantly in print
type, ridge count, and size. A classification system was created that allows gender to be predicted with 77.6% overall accuracy. Print size, and, under some
circumstances, density were found to be modest predictors of age. A classification system for predicting age showed significant but modest improvements over
chance. If age and gender could be predicted from fingerprint characteristics, it could prove beneficial to criminal investigators and forensic analysts.
This would allow the suspect pool to be narrowed even when no print is available for positive identification. Predictions of age and gender could also be used to
prioritize database searches and print identification efforts. 
Third Award of $250 - American Statistical Association
2006 - BE020
THE CONTEXT EFFECT OF SENSE STIMULI ON DECLARATIVE MEMORY
Samuel Jang
Nicolet High School, Glendale, Wisconsin, United States
The purpose of this research is to test the context effect of the change in various environment set by sense stimuli on declarative memory. Context effect gives
differences in subjects’ performances depending on whether the conditions present during learning and later remembering are either matched or mismatched.
Context effect is important because it can improve memory. People use senses everyday and this research tests the effect of sense stimuli. The sense stimuli
considered in this research are color, odor, and taste. For the sample test on the context effect, subjects are given three types of test environment.
Under the SAME environment subjects are given the same environment as that of learning. Under the NO environment, subjects are given an environment
without sense stumuli (white color, no odor, and no taste). Under the DIFF environment a set of different environment from the learning environment is
presented to subjects. The sample size of each test case is 20, and two types of word list are used for two days. The statistical analysis on the result
lead to the conclusion that testing under the SAME environment gives no statistically significant context effect over the NO environment. Testing under the
SAME environment, however, gives statistically significant context effect over testing under the DIFF environment. 
2006 - BE022
THE DEPENDENCE OF IMAGE RECALL AND RECOGNITION ON PIXEL SIZE IN HUMANS
Granton A. Jindal
Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
An important ability of the human brain is to recognize pictures. A sharp picture is made up of a large number of small regions of uniform illumination called
pixels. What enables the brain to recognize a human picture more efficiently? Absolute pixel size or pixel size in relation to key features of the face? I think it is
the latter. For experimentation, I selected two pictures A and B for each of 19 individuals. Using a computer program I redesigned based on last year's
research, I generated photos A1-A7 from each picture A. These pictures were made by combining pixels in groups (reduction factors) of 1, 4, 9, 16, 36, 64, and
256 respectively. I gave human subjects a complete set of B-pictures. Then, starting with the lowest resolution, I showed photos A7-A1 until recognition was
made. I found that recognition is possible at poor picture quality minimizing file size for storage applications. I also found that Indian subjects recognized Indian
and American pictures about the same while American subjects recognized American pictures better than Indian pictures. I also observed that close-up pictures
were recognizable at larger reduction factors. However, the improvement in reduction factor became weaker exhibiting a logarithmic dependence at higher
zoom, when critical features were being cut off. At the recognition point, all pictures had about the same number of pixels in corresponding key features
irrespective of pixel size, supporting my hypothesis. For better recognition, the viewer must be familiar with ethnic features. This has homeland security
applications.
2006 - BE046
THE EFFECT OF COGNITIVE DISTRACTION ON DRIVING ABILITY
Henry Branscomb Joe
The Altamont School, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Data suggests that the average driver spends approximately 40 percent of his or her time behind the wheel talking on a cellular phone. Only three states have
completely outlawed the use of cell phones while driving. Thus, further research is necessary to ascertain whether cell phone use while driving is dangerous
enough to influence other states to do the same. This study attempts to determine the effects of cognitive distraction on driving ability. The hypothesis
proposes that cognitive distraction greatly impairs driving skills in teens. Subjects between the ages of fifteen and twenty-one were tested using a realistic
driving game system equipped with a steering wheel and pedals. Each subject’s driving ability was graded based on the number of times he or she committed
certain infractions: hitting a side wall, failing to stop at a crosswalk, and crossing into an opposite lane. The first attempt on the set course was performed and
graded without distractions. On the second attempt, the subject was asked a series of questions while completing the course. Primary analysis
showed that the average difference between Trial 1 and Trial 2 was 7.2 more mistakes. Further breakdown revealed that the average percent increase in
mistakes due to the cognitive distraction was 85.626 percent. These numbers suggest that driving while engaging in any form of cognitive distraction, especially
cell phone use, is potentially hazardous and should be outlawed for young drivers in all states. 
2006 - BE048
THE HUMAN MIND AND MATHEMATICS: EXPLAINED THROUGH THE GOLDEN RATIO
Breanna Bounds Johnson
Southridge High School, Beaverton, Oregon
The purpose of this project is to determine whether or not the human mind works mathematically, specifically when performing visual tasks, and if the ability to
think mathematically is innate or learned. To answer this question, high school subjects from a variety of different art, math, and psychology classes took part in
a series of tests: the first being to draw a “perfect” rectangle; and the second being to circle the three most “beautiful” rectangles, when given an array of 10
with different ratios. To gather data to support the idea of innate mathematical vision, rather than learned, second graders will also be tested and asked to draw
a “perfect” rectangle. The ratios of these rectangles drawn by the students, and those selected was then measured and compared to the Golden Ratio, which
has been found to be the most “aesthetically pleasing” of ratios. The data collected from these tests provides an example that displays the degree to which the
human mind can see beauty through mathematics—specifically the beauty of the Golden Ration—and therefore the degree to which it is programmed by
mathematics. The current findings of the study support the idea that the human mind has an instinct to see and think mathematically—the ability is already with
you at birth, it is not learned, however, further research is being conducted.
2006 - BE027
CEREBRAL DOMINANCE: DOES IT AFFECT ACADEMICS?
Jenna Kathryn Johnson
Burnsville Senior High School, Burnsville Minnesota, United States
High-school students’ academics are influenced by many factors, but they are primarily shaped by instructors. If a teacher schools right-brained students in a
predominately linear matter, or if an educator attempts to teach left-brained students with divergent concepts, the students in these situations would not be
learning to their full capacity, and the teaching strategy could therefore have a negative impact on academic performance. The purpose of this study was to
determine if there was any correlation between cerebral dominance and scholastic achievement. Surveys were given to forty-five high-school students to
determine their hemispherical dominance, and to record their grade-point averages. While sixty percent of those who took the survey were right-brained, the
conclusion indicated that left-brained students had significantly higher GPAs, as a possible result of their linear processing ability and of the teaching methods
used in high schools.
2006 - BE034
PLAYING MONOPOLY: DOES THE SHELF-LIFE OF A PRODUCT AFFECT THE EXTENT OF COLLUSION AMONG ITS SELLERS?
William Alexander Johnson
Murphy High School, Mobile, AL, USA
This project looks at how the length of a product’s shelf-life affects the extent of collusion among its sellers. Collusion refers to the phenomenon of sellers
cooperatively keeping prices higher and selling fewer products than at the competitive level; this benefits sellers but is detrimental to society and is generally
illegal. What this experiment addresses could be an important matter in antitrust cases. My hypothesis is that the sellers of products with longer shelflives are more likely to attempt collusion. Attempting to collude is risky, and sellers of products with longer shelf-lives feel less pressure to sell what they have as
soon as possible, making them more willing to take risks. My hypothesis was tested using human subjects in experimental markets, with imaginary
goods but real economic incentives. The markets proceeded through several trials. In half the markets, the “sellers” were allowed to keep in stock any goods
that they were unable to sell before (this represents a long shelf-life); in the other half of the markets, the sellers had to sell their goods during the trial in which
they bought them (this represents a short shelf-life). The Competitiveness Index of the short shelf-life condition was 29.98%. The long shelf-life
condition was negative 14.87% competitive, a difference of 44.85%. According to a T-Test, I can conclude with 93.3% confidence that my hypothesis is correct.
Perhaps the formulas used in antitrust law should take into account the shelf-life of the product in question.
2006 - BE033
THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, HOPE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADOLESCENTS
Sarah Batya Joselow
Ossining High School, Ossining, NY, United States
Religious commitment has been shown to have positive impacts on adolescent academic achievement, hope, and quality of life. However, previous research
has not focused on either ethnically or religiously representative samples. In addition, it has not examined the impact of separate aspects of religious
commitment on the lives of adolescents. The purpose of this study was to extend available literature by focusing on a more diverse sample and differentiating
between separate aspects of religious commitment. Questionnaires were distributed to 539 adolescents, aged 14 -21, from a diverse high school in suburban
New York. Questionnaires contained 36 multiple choice and free response questions compiled from the previous works of Sethi and Seligman (1993) and
Smith and Faris (2002), which evaluated subjects' demographic groupings, self-identified hope and quality of life, and level of religious commitment as
determined by various aspects of religious participation. Belief in God was negatively correlated with GPA (F=.159, p=.036, Mean difference=4.497). Hope and
quality of life were positively correlated with frequency of prayer (r=.162, p=.000) and sense of connection to God (r=.207, p=.000), though these findings were
inconsistent when the sample was disaggregated by race and religious affiliation. These findings suggest that the impact of religion on adolescent academic
achievement, hope, and quality of life is highly dependant on both racial and religious affiliation.
Award of three $1,000 U.S. Savings Bonds, a certificate of achievement and a gold medallion. - United States Army
2006 - BE041
THE IMPACT OF ATTACK ADS ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS DURING THE 2000 PRESEDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
Michael Brett Katz
John F. Kennedy High School, Bellmore, New York, United States of America
Previous research has offered mixed indications of whether or not negative ads are effective in helping a candidate win an election. Some studies have shown
that negative advertising is better remembered and thus more effective in shaping a voter’s impression of a candidate. Other studies suggest that negative ads
may have a boomerang effect that hurts the candidate. No previous study has examined the real-time attitudes of voters in response to ads that individuals
were exposed to in the midst of an election. I compared data on the frequency and dates of negative ads from the 2000 Presidential Election with pre- and postpolling data, corresponding to the dates of the negative ads. The results indicate a novel finding that with an increased frequency of negative ads, the general
favorability of attitudes toward the candidate employing the negative ads increase, while general favorability of attitudes toward the opponent decreases. Future
research will need a more extensive polling database and will need to measure the different effects of negative campaign ads on different demographics. An indepth study into the effect of the new 527 groups should also be conducted.
2006 - BE012
ANIMAL CARING - AN EDUACATIONAL PROPOSAL
Anelise dos Santos Klein
Fundação Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha, Novo Hamburgo - RS, Brasil
In order to create an association of protection to the animals that works, several aspects must be observed, between them the community’s effective
participation. But since it will wake a respected feeling and protection to the animals in a society where these actions are not stimulated. Theories of
the psychology emphasize to be in the childhood in which we build our character. From these data the question was formulated: Is it possible to organize an
educative program for children that contributes to the development of respected attitudes with the animals? On basis of the aforementioned factors it was
prepared a method of playful teaching of informative character to instruct the children of as they might treat the domestic animals. The method
intends to stimulate the children to have a good familiarity with the animals from activities that develop his creativity and imagination. This method was
implemented firstly in an institution of childlike teaching. After the knowledge of the quite satisfactory results, a cd-rom was produced with informations of
introduction of this program, which will be distributed in the public schools. The project was developed through a descriptive research of field. The
data were obtained through the use of the children in the proposed activities, of questionnaires carried out with teachers, psychologists, vets. With the
conclusion of this stage it was noticed that it is possible to wake in the children a feeling of care with the animals and change the way as they react in the
environment where they lives.
College Fund of $1,000 - National Anti-Vivisection Society
2006 - BE319
VIDEO GAMES AND YOUR HEALTH
Wellis Leung, Helen Ly
Josiah Quincy Upper School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
It is common to hear parents say this, ?Stop playing video games, it?s going to hurt you more than you think.? That might be true, but that sort of statement is
pretty bold without any evidence supporting it. The purpose of this project is to either find evidence to support the above statement or to prove it wrong.
The experiment tested 37 subjects between the ages of 14 to 18. The subjects played non-violent video games for the duration of thirty minutes. Their blood
pressure, vision and reaction time were measured before and after the game playing. To test the blood pressure, we used a blood pressure monitor to
keep track of the subject?s blood pressure for 30 minutes with two 15 minutes interval. The vision test was taken only twice to see the difference. Two different
hand written tests were given to the subjects before and after the experiment to test their reaction speed. Our hypothesis was that video games would
cause the subjects? eyes to become worse, blood pressure would be very high after the video game, and their reaction time would be slow. Our results refuted
our hypothesis. Instead of high blood pressure and blurred vision, the subjects had lower blood pressure and better eyesight. The reaction time did increase.
We concluded that video games do not completely have a negative effect on everyone.
2006 - BE320
PRECONCEIVED STEREOTYPES IN SCHOOL CHILDREN
Meghan Sophia Luther, Veronika Biskis
H.P. Baldwin High School, Wailuku, Hawaii, United States
The purpose of this project was to discover if stereotypes have been formed in the minds of children as young as second grade. We hoped to determine the
age at which they are most vulnerable to the influences of society. Having acquired this information, we can then be able to control their surroundings and keep
them at a stage of innocence until they may form their own opinions. Our hypothesis states that children as young as second grade will already have been
exposed to common racial and gender stereotypes. After a month of research we discovered that children had formed stereotypes in the areas
involving power, athletic ability, crime, possessions, intelligence, personality, social status, and marital status. Stereotypes that had not been formed in the
minds of children included money, and where you live. After examining our results we concluded that our hypothesis was correct in that society has
already swayed the views of children as young as second grade. Through the research we hope to reach out to anybody in contact with a child to protect them
from prejudice at this crucial time in their development. 
2006 - BE319
VIDEO GAMES AND YOUR HEALTH
Helen Terri Ly, Wellis Leung
Josiah Quincy Upper School, Boston, MA, USA
It is common to hear parents say this, “Stop playing video games, it’s going to hurt you more than you think.” That might be true, but that sort of statement is
pretty bold without any evidence supporting it. The purpose of this project is to either find evidence to support the above statement or to prove it
wrong. The experiment tested 37 subjects between the ages of 14 to 18. The subjects played non-violent video games for the duration of thirty minutes. Their
blood pressure, vision and reaction time were measured before and after the game playing. To test the blood pressure, we used a blood pressure
monitor to keep track of the subject’s blood pressure for 30 minutes with two 15 minutes interval. The vision test was taken only twice to see the difference.
Two different hand written tests were given to the subjects before and after the experiment to test their reaction speed. Our hypothesis was that video
games would cause the subjects’ eyes to become worse, blood pressure would be very high after the video game, and their reaction time would be slow. Our
results refuted our hypothesis. Instead of high blood pressure and blurred vision, the subjects had lower blood pressure and better eyesight. The reaction time
did increase. We concluded that video games do not completely have a negative effect on everyone. 
2006 - BE052
LISTENING WITH THE EYES: DOES SIGHT FOCUS AUDITORY LEARNING?
Zachary Scott Mace
Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg, West Virginia, United States of America
The purpose of this project was to explore the connection between vision and auditory learning. As stated in the form of the hypothesis: in a lecture/classroom
setting in the presence of auditory stimuli only, the presence of a visual focal point, the speaker, would improve the retention of the auditory information. This
was tested in a classroom setting by presenting two classes with auditory information and then administering a test to determine retention. One week after the
test was first administered it was readministered in order to test long-term retention. Both sets of data were then compiled in a contingency table. A chi-squared
distibution analysis was used to determine the significance and validity of the results in terms of the hypothesis. Because the analysis revoked the null
hypothesis, the original hypothesis was supported. Thus, there appears to be a direct connection between sight and auditory learning.
2006 - BE021
THE VISUAL GLOVE CONSTRUCTING A LOW-COST HAPTIC FEEDBACK DEVICE
Ahmad Shakir Manshad
Las Cruces High School, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
The goal of this research is the development of a new low-cost haptic feedback device for visually impaired, blind and deaf-blind persons allowing them to
visualize graphical information such as mathematical graphs. This device is a glove consisting of six vibration motors, five are places on top of each finger, and
one is placed on the back of the palm. The vibration from each finger represents a direction to reach a graph on a grid depending on current glove position.
Through constant movement according to given direction, a person is able to reach the graphed function and is able to visualize the graph. The directions are
controlled through the software which I developed to graph pre-algebra functions and uses algorithms to determine directions. This software collects user time,
clicks, and directions to analyze glove performance. The results showed that visualizing a graph through tactile sensation using the glove is much faster than
through acoustic feedback at the 90% significance level. Thirteen visually handicapped students tested and approved the usability of the glove. The visual
glove is significantly less expensive than existing haptic devices.
Scholarship Award of $2,000 and Summer Internship (including housing) valued at approximately $5,000. - Cook Group Incorporated
2006 - BE323
HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS... FUTURE FRESHMEN?
Felix Meineri, Martin Garciarena, Mariana Antonella Nigro
Colegio San Ignacio, Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Due to the high rate of failure to university admission, in 2005 the group decided to investigate about the difficulties that cause such failure. We carried
on the investigation in our hometown, Tandil, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where we have a prestigious National University, “UNCPBA”. Aim:
 “Analyze the opinion of Third Year Polimodal Students (former year to university), teachers, professors and educational authorities on the causes that
bring about the failure to the admission to university in the city of Tandil”. To carry out this research, the group conducted surveys to Third Year
Polimodal students, professors and teachers of all different levels, and interviews to educational authorities. Conclusions: •The students see
themselves as having no difficulties, in contrast to the professors and teachers perception who consider that students do have many difficulties. •
These two different perceptions about the educational preparation of Polimodal Students would show that the provision of shelter is more important than the
pedagogical one. This fact would affect the quality of learning. •As regards the responsibilities of the poor education of the students who attempt to be
admitted at university, it was observed that teachers and professors are less strict when they evaluate their own educational level than when they evaluate the
previous and the subsequent ones. Nevertheless, according to the educational authorities interviewed, the problem has to be analyzed from a systemic
perspective where each level is co responsible. These results give us many clues so as to continue investigating.
2006 - BE016
THE EFFECTS OF RACE, AGE, AND GENDER ON SPATIAL BEHAVIOR AN OBSERVATIONAL PROJECT CONDUCTED ON THE D.C. METRORAIL
Anne Kelly Minoff
Yorktown High School, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of race, age, and gender on human spatial behavior. Spatial behavior is defined by movement in
reaction to surrounding objects or people. Human spatial behavior around strangers is informed by implicit associations and attitudes towards "in-groups" like
race, age, and gender. In this experiment, Metro riders' seating choices were used to represent the characteristic spatial behavior of members of different ingroups towards strangers. It was hypothesized that the races, ages, and genders of Metro riders would have a significant effect on seating behavior, with
passengers of common race, age, and gender choosing to sit together more often than apart. Of the in-groups considered, it was hypothesized that gender,
followed by race and then age, would have the greatest effect on spatial behavior. Ten hours of observation were conducted on the D.C. Metrorail
(Washington D.C.'s subway system) to test the hypothesis. The gender and approximate age and race of each passenger to sit down was noted, in addition to
the characteristics of the person he or she sat next to. Ninety-one interactions were observed. It was shown that the majority of Metro riders preferred to sit with
women, Whites, and riders close to their own age. However, Chi square tests run on the data supported the null hypothesis, showing that associations between
race, age, and gender were not statistically strong. The rejection of the hypothesis could indicate either that Metro riders' spatial behavior is not strongly
informed by implicit associations and prejudice, or that sitting on the Metro does not represent the degree of spatial invasion necessary for implicit associations
to significantly affect spatial behavior.
2006 - BE028
THE DETERMINING FACTORS OF GASOLINE PRICES
Henry Jathuren Neilson
Saint Michael's Academy, Bryan, TX, USA
The purpose of my project was to find which factors influenced gasoline prices in Bryan and College Station, Texas during September and October, 2005. I
examined the effects of amenities, day-of-the-week, competition, traffic volume, and location variables plus daily wholesale prices on retail gasoline prices.
Through this project I was able to test the supply and demand model and find out why some stations have higher gasoline prices than others. My
project consisted of data collection followed by statistical analysis. I collected price data twice daily for two months from 28 gas stations along with station
characteristics and GPS coordinates. I obtained traffic count data from TxDOT and wholesale prices from the internet. I ran panel regressions to isolate the
impact of individual variables on gasoline prices. I hypothesized that stations with brand names, more amenities, better access, increased traffic flow,
and less competition have higher gasoline prices, and that retail prices change in the same direction but not as quickly as wholesale prices. I also tested to see
if day-of-the-week, time-of-day, or location mattered. Restaurants, convenience stores, and distance to the closest competitor had positive impacts on
gas prices at the 90% confidence level or higher. Traffic volume had no impact, but location did. Gasoline prices were lowest on Mondays and highest on
Fridays. The wholesale price coefficient was between zero and one, as hypothesized. Prices tend to rise faster than they fall. My project shows that competition
is a key determinant of gasoline prices. 
2006 - BE304
DOES GENDER AFFECT HANDWRITING ANALYSIS?
Angela Kristine Neslund, Jessica Gamber
Champlin Park High School, Champlin, Minnesota, United States
Titled “Does Gender Affect Handwriting Analysis?” this project focuses on just that. The idea was to identify whether gender has an effect on graphology’s
accuracy (the hypothesis proposed that gender did not make a difference). Surveys were filled out, handwriting samples were written, and each survey was
scored. The surveys were separated into four groups according to personality type, and this was used to check the accuracy of the handwriting analyses.Every
sample was analyzed, and there was no difference between males and females. Seven T-tests proved seven trait comparisons to have scientifically relevant
results. The conclusions drawn supported the hypothesis as close to fully as possible. 
2006 - BE321
FALSE MEMORIES ABSTRACT
Joseph Pak Noh, Styles Smith
Glencoe High School, Hillsboro OR, United States of America
This experiment attempts to answer the question "If a child of ten to twelve years old of age were read a list of similar words to an objective word, would that
cause the mind to saying the objective word although it was not on the list?" The hypothesis is that if a child is read a list of words that were similar to
another word but wasn¡¯t on the list, the child would still say that objective word due to the similarities of the words and cause them to think the experimenters
actually said it. The experimental procedure involved going to a neighborhood elementary school and reciting the words to a class of 6th and 5th
graders individually. Then we had them think about the words for thirty seconds and then recite them back. The results of the experiment confirmed
our hypothesis and showed that if a child were read a list of words similar to another but wasn¡¯t listed, that child would still recite that word when asked to
recite what they could remember. The experiment showed a forty percent success rating. 
2006 - BE014
THE EFFECT OF MUSICAL TRAINING ON THE CEREBRAL LATERALIZATION OF MUSICAL SEQUENCES
Alysha Harper Owen
Dallastown Area High school, Dallastown, PA, United States
The cerebral cortex of the human brain is the site of high processing where sensory stimuli are perceived, processed, and acted upon. There are two cerebral
hemispheres, and each is functionally different. In most right-handed people, the left hemisphere is specialized for linguistic and sequential processes, whereas
the right hemisphere is specialized for spatial and holistic processes, including musical perception. Learning to read and play music may change
musical processing to a linguistic-type task. The hypothesis of this experiment is that musical training will change the discrimination of tone sequences from a
right hemisphere task to a left hemisphere task. Twelve right-handed subjects (six musicians, six nonmusicians) were tested. Two tests were given: a
word recognition test and a tonal sequence test. In the verbal test, two different words were presented by headphone simultaneously to each ear (dichotic
stimulation). After each question, the subject would select an answer from an answer tape. The music test was presented similarly, using the dichotic
perception of two different three-note tone sequences. As expected, on the verbal task there was a right ear/left brain advantage compared to the left
ear/right brain (62% accuracy verses 55% accuracy.) On the musical task, there was no significant difference between musicians and nonmusicians. In fact,
both musicians and nonmusicians showed a slight right ear/left brain advantage for recognizing tonal sequences. The hypothesis was therefore not supported.
 Multiple reasons, including small sample size, unreliable music task, and technical difficulties with tape synchronization could have influenced the
outcome of this experiment. The hypothesis is still felt to be plausible and worthy of further study. 
2006 - BE036
SOCIAL DISORDER CURES ON THE HORIZON? A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF OXYTOCIN AND VASOPRESSIN ON SOCIAL MEMORY
Katie Lane Patterson
Tuscumbia High School, Tuscumbia, Missouri, United States of America
 Social memory allows animals to recognize their parents, siblings, and appropriate sexual partners. Oxytocin and vasopressin are neuropeptides that
have been suggested to impact social memory. Recently oxytocin levels have been found to be low in boys with autism, suggesting a relationship between
neuropeptides and social disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on social memory in male and female
mice. To conduct the study, thirty mice were separated into three treatment groups: control (five males and five females), experimental 1-oxytocin (five
males and five females), and experimental 2-vasopressin (five males and five females). To determine the effects of the neuropeptides on social memory, a
novel mouse of the same gender was introduced and allowed to interact with the test subject. The social interaction and the investigation times were recorded.
The novel mouse was then removed. After thirty minutes elapsed, the same novel mouse was reintroduced. The behavior and interaction times were recorded.
 Based on this study, the following conclusions may be drawn. Both neuropeptides enhanced social memory in mice. Vasopressin was the most
effective treatment. There was very little difference in social memory when comparing male and female mice. 
2006 - BE307
COMPREHENSION ON THE COMPUTER: SEENIOR COMPUTER LATELY?
Jennifer Marie Pelton, Kyle Jurick, Rebecca Adams
Hicksville High School, Hicksville, Ohio, United States
It is hypothesized that senior citizens will be able to understand and use computers more easily with audio-visual aids to increase comprehension than when
the same material is presented without aid. Due to lack of exposure and physical and mental handicaps, senior citizens often fail to comprehend use of
computers. Thus, this project was designed to test the effects audio-visual aids had on teaching seniors computer skills. Twenty subjects over the age of 60
were enrolled in a twice weekly one hour computer class over a period of thirteen weeks. The first four weeks, subjects were taught computer skills without
audio-visual aids. During the second four weeks, the same information was presented using a utility providing auditory assistance. A third, four-week control
period followed to ensure the validity of the variable period. At the beginning and end of each period, subjects rated how often problems occurred and were
tested in four skill areas: logging in, accessing a URL, performing an Internet search, and logging out. Collected data supported the hypothesis;
subjects improved both in their ability to perform tasks and in their knowledge and confidence of the material. Subjects improved in each of the skill areas, and
survey responses showed improved knowledge. Yet, in the second control period, results increased by a statistically smaller interval, confirming that subjects’
improvement was indeed due to the audio-visual aids and not a longer period of learning. It was thus concluded that audio-visual aids helped seniors to better
use computers. 
2006 - BE031
VISUAL ILLUSIONS AS TOOLS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH
Esther Pustil'nik
Israeli Arts and Sciences Academy- Jerusalem, Israel.
Schizophrenia is a devastating illness that affects approximately 1% of the world’s population. Its most striking clinical aspect is psychosis, characterized by
hallucinations and delusions. Even today, there is no comprehensive neurobiological theory of this complex disease. Traditional studies have focused on
certain sub-cortical areas and on the prefrontal cortex. However, motivated by recent theories, I chose a different approach. My work concerns various aspects
of visual perception in schizophrenia. In particular, I focused on perception of stimuli that are usually associated with perceptual illusions. Using a battery of
computerized tests, I characterized the perception of a wide range of visual illusions in schizophrenics compared to control subjects. The tendency to
experience hallucinations and sensory distortions suggested that visual illusions would have a more pronounced effect on schizophrenics. However, the actual
results showed an overall tendency among the patients not to perceive the illusions! Qualitatively, the data indicated deficits in spatial integration, figure-ground
segregation and top-down control. The results of this experiment stimulated a new hypothesis, namely, that the underlying neuronal substrate is
dysfunctional connectivity in certain visual areas. To verify this hypothesis, I performed additional specific quantitative experiments, which corroborated the
previous results. Moreover, one of these experiments suggested that the dysfunction is specific to long-range lateral interactions in the visual cortex. This is
consistent with recent evidence for myelin-related dysfunction in schizophrenia. In addition to providing insights regarding brain functions that are compromised
in schizophrenia, this study can be useful for diagnosis as well as for novel therapeutic strategies. 
First Award of $1,000 and a certificate - American Intellectual Property Law Association
2006 - BE001
CAN ART EXPRESS A PRESCHOOLER'S EMOTION WHEN WORDS FALL SHORT?
Luciana Brink Ranelli
Duluth East High School, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
This study tests whether complex emotions not yet in a preschooler’s vocabulary can be expressed in a drawing. Three-minutes of Rachmaninoff’s Second
Symphony-Adagio were recorded on a cassette tape. The experiment was conducted at two Duluth preschools one subject at a time in a room separate from
other activities; subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Subjects in the drawing category had four crayons (red, blue, yellow, purple) and drew
while listening to the music; subjects in the verbal category verbally stated how the music made them feel while listening. Specific follow-up questions for
subjects in each category included selecting a figure showing emotion (happy, angry, sad) that best represents how they are feeling, and if a drawer, an
explanation of his/her drawing. The sample included 60 subjects (29 drawing, 31 verbal) ages 33 mos.-5 yrs. More drawing subjects than verbal could give
support for their answers regarding color choice and emotion. Twenty-three verbal responders either could not talk about their emotions or what the music
made them think about; all but 5 drawing subjects could explain how they were feeling. Verbal comments were scattered, which illustrated how hard it is to pick
just one emotion and explain it. The content of drawings did not matter as much as the subjects’ focused ability to explain their emotion while referencing back
to their drawing. Results show it is easier for preschoolers to talk about how they feel if they have previously drawn to music.
2006 - BE018
THE ABILITY TO RECALL: MALE VS. FEMALE
Hannah Elizabeth Reid
Upper Sandusky High School, Upper Sandusky, Ohio USA
The purpose of this research is to find if there's a difference between male and female recall. Memory is the brain's ability to store or retrieve events, pictures,
words, etc.The brain codes each memory, then files it away into the hippocampus and temporal lobes or the cerebral cortex: storing the memory.The
hypothesis for this experiment is that when presented with photographs, women will remember more details then males. The approach was to use seven 4"x6"
photos in color, black and white, and with a variety of details to test the memory of an equal qroup of males and females from the ages of 14-60. The amount of
details the person could remember after one minute was recorded onto a sheet of paper. A comparison was made of each subject's entries. At the conclusion
of this research, a majority of the males were found to have only given a general overview of each photograph. The majority of the women gave a more
descriptive entry for each photograph. Based on the results of this experiment, women have a greater memory for detail then men do. However, a small amount
of the men were able to recall in equal proportion to the women. Based on research, there are some males with very good memory ability, but females have a
greater ability to recall detail. In society, this research would prove useful to people and corporations involved with the education and marketing of products and
materials towards certain genders.
$5000 per year for four year scholarships. - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
2006 - BE308
EVALUATING THE USE OF SOFTWARES IN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Carlos Theobaldo Renck, Bruno Diego de Mello
Estadual Technical School Monteiro Lobato Taquara - Brasil
Because of the dissemination of educational softwares in schools the education has been suffering some transformations. However, it can not always provide
an improvement in the quality of teaching. In the case that we studied the school tried to fit in a new tendency of computer introduction in pedagogic activities.
Such enterprise happened through the attemption of create a programmed instruction software which would be put into practice with students. The
focus of our study was the case that happened in the school we study. There has been a project of construction, introduction, and application of softwares in
professional educational courses in the model of Programmed Instruction. In such case the research was formed as a qualitative end quantitative study,
inspired in the Study of Case methodology. The research involved the comparison between groups that had used the softwares and groups that hadn’t
access to the informatic area. At this moment of the work we made a quantitative research which put to use static models in the comparative analysis. It was
also observed the process of construction and application of softwares. This observation corresponds to the qualitative analysis of the research. At
last, the dates indicate some surprises. Some purposes yearned by teachers are reached, however it doesn’t seem to take effect through the mechanisms that
the educators consider to be correct. The process of learning is more efficient when the students elaborate questions and alternatives than repeating the
lessons of the program. 
2006 - BE039
"ON THE COUNT OF THREE YOU WILL FEEL VERY SLEEPY" MYTHS AND REALITIES ABOUT HYPNOSIS
Michael Gabriel Rodriguez
Jose Gautier Benitez High School, Caguas, PUERTO RICO
 This investigation presented a study about the myths and the realities that exist about hypnosis. During many years hypnosis had been considered as
one of the best techniques to treat phobias, bad habits, addictions, and anxiety, among other problems. Nevertheless, at this moment it has a low credibility
because of some incorrect information presented through mass media. Therefore, it was decided to do an investigation to determine the knowledge that a
common citizen has about hypnosis. To do the study, a questionnaire was designed in which the participants would answer several questions related to
hypnosis. A sample of 400 participants older than 18 years was selected to answer the questionnaire. The study was done in schools, communities and public
places in order to have a highly diversed group of participants. After analyzing all the data, it was possible to demonstrate that the hypothesis was
correct. Only 25% (1:4) of the participants really knew what was hypnosis. In spite of it, the majority of the participants (p=0.717) had the desire to be informed
about this technique. That detail is very important because in this study it was also verified that the probability that the people with knowledge about hypnosis
would let themselves be hypnotized is greater than the people without a clear knowledge about it (p=0.535 and p=0.299, respectively). That means that good
campaigns with correct information about hypnosis could help to get people interested in the use of hypnosis for their own benefit. 
2006 - BE051
THE CAPACITY FOR EMPATHIZING AND SYSTEMIZING IN CHILDREN WITH WILLIAMS SYNDROME: IDENTIFYING A COGNITIVE PHENOTYPE
Milan Farrell Satcher
Valley Central High School, Montgomery, NY USA
The capacity for empathizing and systemizing was investigated in children with Williams Syndrome (WS) and typically developing (TD) controls, with all
participants of a mental age between 6-11 years. The experiment tested the hypothesis that the cognitive phenotype of WS correlates with the extreme female
brain, which is characterized by superior ability to empathize and inferior ability to systemize when compared to TD controls. Parents of the aforesaid
populations completed the Cambridge Child Personality Questionnaire in reference to their child. Results showed that subjects with WS scored significantly
lower on the systemizing questions (a= .05; p= .0049; t= -2.67) than TD controls, while no significant difference for scores on the empathizing questions was
indicated between the groups. Despite this lack of statistical significance, a trend within the WS group revealed that each subject with WS mirrored the
“individual” extreme female brain profile: a personally higher aptitude to empathize than systemize. This result, paired with the “typical” ability to empathize in
children with WS, challenges previous conclusions that individuals with WS cannot understand second-order belief tasks. Although they test for empathy,
second-order belief tasks are often presented to participants in a sequenced, or systematic format; however, as this study indicates, individuals with WS cannot
understand such a format due to an incapacity for systemizing. This lack of processing encourages guessing on task questions, which implies lack of theory of
mind, a key component of empathizing.
2006 - BE047
PICTURE THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER: THE POST TRAUMATIC EFFECTS OF CONCUSSION ON THE PROCESSING VISUAL STIUMLI. A THREE
YEAR STUDY.
Johnathan Arnold Schoenhals
Miami High School, Miami OK, USA
Head trauma is among the most common childhood injures. It accounts for approximately 600,000 emergency department visits. There are estimated 300,000
sports related concussions that occur in high school contact sporty. A concussion by definition is a post traumatic impairment of neural status. The effects of a
concussion are mostly experienced during the time in which the concussion has occurred, however, according to the National Neurological Center, the effects
of a concussion can also become a problem later in life. There are many psychological tests used to determine if the brains cognitive process is working
correctly. Among these test is the Stroop Effect, Stroop the compared the naming of colors for a list of solid squares with the naming of colors for a list of words
printed in incongruent colors The purpose of this experiment is to pilot a test containing a Stroop effect which will challenge visual processing. This test will be
used to determine if a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, has a positive or negative effect on visual processing. This test will measure the accuracy of
visual perception in a timed period. This visual perception could then be correlated to visual processing speed. This would be beneficial in monitoring the
recovery process from traumatic brain injuries. The results of this experiment show, with statistical support, that there is a significant difference in how
concussion victims process visual information when compared to non concussion victims, with concussion victims showing a slower processing speed. 
 
2006 - BE026
GAME THEORY AND STRATEGIC BEHAVIOR: A STUDY OF BEHAVIOR IN STRATEGIC SETTINGS
Lucia Seda
Academia del Perpetuo Socorro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
The purpose of this experiment was to determine what game theory could reveal in decision making situations involving limited information. Game theory
principles such as negotiation, positioning, establishing strategic analysis, eliminating indecision and managing complex situations have been thoroughly
delineated and employed worldwide. Each of these five characteristics assisted in evaluating games and its particular information. In order to apply game
theory postulates and confirm the belief that game theory helps in understanding strategic situations, three “games” were designed to measure mathematical
analysis, critical thinking and probability examination by high school students from tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades. These questionnaires were administered
during class time for a limited period of time of five minutes per game, where the player selected his option and explained his reasoning. The results were
grouped according to grade, gender, answer and whether they were left handed or right handed, to prove if there existed a parallelism between answers and a
correlation between variables. The results were analyzed using Paired and Unpaired Student T-Test as well as Chi Square. Significant answers were found in
the Newcomb’s Problem Right Hand Sample and the 99% Accuracy Test in both the Left Hand and Right Hand Samples. In the Monty Hall Problem, the results
were equally paired, in the Newcomb’s Problem the majority of the players chose both boxes and in the 99% Accuracy Test the majority chose to be
concerned. Thus, this study asserts that people do not employ correct mathematical analysis, but rather instinct reaction.
2006 - BE324
THE ANTIGALES OF CORANZULL - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Noelia Armanda Siares, Rosa Arminda Siares
Escuela Nro. 362, Coranzull, Jujuy, ARGENTINA
This research work started after a student school trip belonging to a school located in the plateau region of Jujuy. The idea was to make a survey related to its
landscape. During the trip, the children discovered that the "antigales" were really damaged, and this worried them a lot. This gave rise to the research related
to who were the "old people" (antiguos), the importance they had for the community and who has responsible for its maintenance. The result of the
work shows that the community is aware of its acestral roots that tie them to the "antigales" although they don't know which laws are related to the protection of
the archeological sites. But they also know that these places of the community, not leaving aside the respect they must have for a cultural heritage. 
The project's goal is to get students and through them the local community to the knowledge of our ancestors and how this heritage has come to them, which
nowadays is in danger of disappearing. Key words: Antigales - plateau of Jujuy - heritage - ancestral roots.
2006 - BE306
THE INFLUENCE OF SELF-ESTEEM IN THE LEARNING PROCESS
Alexandre Borges Alves Spindola, Lidiane Leal Andriolla
Fundação Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha
This project is about the influence of self-esteem in the learning process. The main objective is to verify if the self-esteem of a 10th grade student affects his
learning revenue. The beliefs of self-esteem were measured (positive, average and negative) in relation to its own capacity of learning process and the
“learning revenue” it was classified as high, medium or low, starting from the 10th grade students´s average scores during the school year. The
research was made with four teams of 10th grade students at Liberato Foundation. Each student received two questionnaires. One of them would find out
informations about the student´s beliefs and even get information about his learning revenue. The other one would analyse the social-economic context of the
student, to find out his intervinients variables. The project started in 05/20/2005 and finished in 11/04/2005. The results were that the students with the
high learning revenue have remarkable predominance of positive beliefs, reinforcing that they believe that they are able to learn. In the medium revenue group,
the students believe that they have a medium capacity to learn. In the low learning revenue group the negative beliefs present the lowest rate, but comparing to
the negative beliefs' rate of the others revenue groups it's much bigger. The conclusion is that the self-esteem does affect the learning revenue, and
that a tiny increase in the negative beliefs´s rate can have a big influence to the learning revenue.
2006 - BE007
EYEWITNESS ACCURACY
Mariah Lynn Stanley
Titusville High School, Titusville Fl, Brevard
The purpose of this project was to determine if there is a significant difference between males and females with respect to eyewitness accuracy. I conducted a
scenario in 17 different science classrooms at my high school. I ran two different tests with a total of 400 students responding to my surveys. In the first test, I
had the female test subject walk into the classroom and interrupt the teacher at the front of the room. The female test subject would then continue to talk to the
teacher for exactly three minutes. Once the female test subject had exited the room, I would then enter the classroom and hand out the survey form to the
respondents. I explained how the respondents were to fill out the survey forms specifying that they were to still fill out the survey even if they did not see the
test subject. The surveys were collected immediately upon completion to prevent the respondents from discussing what they observed. The process was
repeated with a male test subject. The data from each of the survey questions were statistically tested for significance (95%). I used a two-population z-score
statistics test. The null hypothesis (HO) was that the answers from both the males and females would be the same; the hypothesis (HA) was that there is a
difference between both male and female respondents. The responses were statistically significant for 3 of 7 questions for the male test subject and 4 of 7
questions for the female test subject.
2006 - BE003
COMPARING THE BENEFITS OF A TACTILE MANIPULATIVE VS. A VISUAL AND/OR AUDITORY STIMULUS ON COGNITIVE RECALL, THROUGH
EXPERIMENTATION AND ANALYSIS.
Columbia High School, Lake City, Florida
Would using a tactile manipulative be more beneficial than writing information down, or listening to information? I believe that “writing” in a textured substance
will affect students’ short-term memory in a positive way. The experiment will begin when the student is told that he/she will hear a list of numbers.
The researcher will also explain that she will be using a turntable filled with beads. A calculator will be used to find 6 random numbers. These numbers will be
called out to the student and he/she will “write” the numbers in the manipulative. The researcher will talk to the student for thirty seconds about unrelated topics.
She will then ask the students to recall any numbers that they “wrote” in the beads. The test will be repeated with one exception. The student will be using a
pencil and paper to write the numbers. In the last test, the student will have no form of writing down the numbers that they will be given. The tactile
manipulative was greatly beneficial when in comparison with both the visual stimulus as well as the auditory stimulus. Out of 96 participants, 24% more
subjects recalled four or more numbers in the tactile test than in the visual test, and 59.4% greater than the auditory test. The validity of this study was found
through a statistical hypothesis test. This project will affect all classrooms. It could also be applicable to the armed forces and other government
organizations. 
2006 - BE316
READING, ROTE, AND RUSSIAN
Elizabeth Margaret Sullivan, Alyssa Joy Edlund
John Marshall High School, Rochester, MN, USA
In the project, “Reading, Rote, and Russian,” the researchers attempted to see whether high-school students would learn a second language better through a
phonetics approach, in which subjects learn the pronunciation of that language’s letters before they learn words, or through a look-say approach, in which
subjects are not taught the pronunciation of the letters. The researchers tested this hypothesis by teaching the students twenty words over a period of three
days and by administering a thirty-point standardized test on the fourth day. One researcher taught the words and administered the test; the other analyzed the
data. There were just over 100 students. Half were taught using a phonetics approach and half were taught using a look-say approach. Overall, there was no
significant difference between the scores of students that were taught using a look-say approach and students that were taught using a phonetics approach.
2006 - BE005
NAME AND ITS AFFECT ON PERSONALITY/SOCIAL TRAITS, CAREER, AND ATTIRE
Liesl A Swoyer
F.W. Springstead High School, Spring Hill, Florida, USA
Personalities, careers, and clothing interest many people, but the extent of the effect name has on them remains unacknowledged. The hypothesis states that a
name will affect the personality/social traits, career, and attire of a person. A survey, using information acquired through extensive research of literature,
articles, and the Internet, was made to satisfy the HIPAA laws, ISEF rules, and other applicable regulations. The survey was reviewed and approved by two
psychologists and the SRC to ensure minimal risk. The survey was administered to high school students between the ages of thirteen and eighteen. The survey
focused on name, occupation, personality/social traits, and attire. The hypothesis was proven to be correct. By comparing Kabalarian control names
with the survey results, it was proven that male and female students are affected by their name. In males, it was proven that name affects personality/social
traits by 95.7%, employment by 89.6%, and clothing by 74.3%. In females, it was proven that name affects personality/social traits by 94.6%, employment by
88%, and clothing by 74.1%. Male subjects were 1.1% more affected by name than female subjects. Other statistical analyses were also completed. Over 50%
of the subjects were female, resulting in an uneven balance of sex as well as of age. The results of the experiment could be useful in psychology and
psychiatry, when considering a person for a job, when considering possible career interests, and in naming a child. 
2006 - BE313
THE FAMILIALITY OF AUTISTIC TRAITS IN FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (ASD)
Nathalie Fay Tadena, Alene Georgia Anello
Ossining HS, Ossining, NY, USA; Sleepy Hollow HS, Tarrytown, NY, USA
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder, characterized by repetitive patterns of behavior and impaired social, communicative and emotional processing
skills. Studies suggest a relationship between parental age and autism, a genetic basis to autism, and a greater risk of social deficits in relatives of individuals
with autism. We analyzed the effect of parental age on symptom severity and sex in 586 individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using data that
was collected previously by a research institution. Advancing maternal age appeared associated with decreased severity in social deficits (r=.10, p=.019) and
repetitive behaviors (r= -.19, p<.001) in individuals with ASD. Advancing paternal age was associated with fewer repetitive behaviors (r= -.09, p = .028) and
higher incidence of females in these individuals (p= .03). Additionally, the relationship between the social skills of 113 parents of children with autism and the
social skills of their children was examined, using data from the Personality Questionnaire and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, previously collected by a
research institution. We administered the Personality Questionnaire and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale to a control group of 34 parents with no family
history of autism. No relationship appeared between the social skills of parents and the severity of social deficits in their children with autism (r=.033, p= .736).
Siblings of children with autism appeared to have less developed social skills than siblings of unaffected individuals (p=.04). Brothers of children with autism
appeared to have less developed social skills than sisters (p<.001). 
2006 - BE043
IS MATH JUST FOR BOYS? GENDER DIFFERENCES IN DROPOUT RATES AND ATTITUDES OF ADVANCED HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS
STUDENTS
Christina Chung-May Tu
Roslyn High School, Roslyn Heights, NY, 11577, United States
Many studies have found evidence of a gender gap in mathematics. In the first study, archival data of six graduation classes at a mid-sized suburban high
school were analyzed. Once in high school, girls were more likely to withdraw from (p < .05) and less likely to enroll in (p < .005) the most advanced
mathematics courses than boys. A follow-up study investigated possible explanations for this gender gap. One such explanation involves students’ attitudes
toward intelligence and effort. Incremental theorists believe intelligence can be increased, whereas entity theorists believe intelligence is fixed. During the 20042005 school year, students who were, or had previously been, in the highest level math track were surveyed about their implicit theories of intelligence,
achievement goals, and self-perceptions of effort in order to compare the girls and boys who dropped out with those who remained. Of the students who
remained in the most advanced mathematics courses, male incremental theorists earned higher grades than male entity theorists, whereas female entity
theorists earned higher grades than female incremental theorists (p < .01). Students who remained in the class held more positive self-perceptions of effort than
those who withdrew (p < .05). Most notable, however, was the lack of any gender differences in implicit theory of intelligence. This study suggests that while
boys are more likely to persevere in high level mathematics courses in high school, the reason behind this gender gap is not related to perceptions of
mathematical intelligence and effort.
2006 - BE010
TESTING SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY IN STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED SOCIETIES
Edie Marie Uyesugi
Paoli Jr/Sr high School
Social contract theory is the thought that social orders (societies) have standards, known as morals or ethics that guide behavior for members. These rules,
rights, and responsibilities are implicitly agreed upon by virtue of membership in the society. They are not legislatively determined but behaviors accepted
commonly to be “right.” This project tested this theory in two types of societies. The structured society was a high school and two churches. These
settings were considered structured because members of these groups traditionally have accepted sets of moral guidelines. The unstructured society settings
were a large mall and several public streets. These were considered unstructured because it could not be assumed that people in these settings had commonly
accepted moral behavior codes. The researcher dropped a dollar bill in a society and observed the reaction. Data from this experiment came only by
observation. The money was returned, kept, or left on the ground. Returning the dollar was the only interaction between researcher and society members. 
 The hypothesis was that people in structured societies would return the money more often than in the unstructured. Data supported the hypothesis. One
hundred and thirty reactions were recorded from each society. In the structured society 93% of people returned the money and in the unstructured 15%
returned it. Results were analyzed using a Z test for significance. Understanding human behaviors and factors that influence it is of great value,
because it could help predict how members of society will act in certain situations. 
Tuition Scholarship Award of $5,000 per year for 4 years for a total value of $20,000 - Indiana University
2006 - BE017
THE EFFECT OF INFORMATION ORGANIZATION ON MEMORY RECALL
Alexander Cary Wilkerson
Chantilly High School, Chantilly, VA, United States
This experiment’s purpose was to compare two information organization methods – chunking and hierarchies. These methods were compared with a controlled
standard to show changes due to organization technique. It was believed that greater organization and meaning in information would elicit greater recall.
Subjects in the sample group were randomly assigned into three equal groups. Subjects in group one, two, and three received unorganized information,
information organized by chunking, and information organized by hierarchy, respectively. All subjects received a recall form. Subjects had ten minutes to study
the information. Immediately afterwards, the subjects hid the information forms and recalled the information on the recall form. Forms were collected; recall
forms were scored as a percentage recalled of the total information studied. Differences in sample means showed greater recall for the chunking
organization compared to the unorganized information, but t-intervals with a 95% confidence level were inconclusive about population means. T-intervals
showed a significant difference between hierarchal organization and unorganized information. The three data sets had different levels of variability. Groups one
and three had similar interquartile ranges and similar standard deviations. Group two had an IQR that was about three times larger than the IQR’s of group one
and two and a standard deviation that was nearly twice the size of group one’s. The measures of center showed a trend of increasing percentage recalled with
increasing organization. The data were distributed roughly symmetrically. Group one was slightly skewed right by a high outlier; groups two and three were
slightly skewed left. 
2006 - BE011
IS AGE A FACTOR OF THE STROOP EFFECT?
Jerrica Lynn Williams
Benjamin E. Mays High School, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
The Stroop Effect is a demonstration of interference in the reaction time of a task. When a word such as blue, green or red is printed in a color differing from the
color expressed by the word's semantic meaning, a delay occurs in the processing of the word's color, leading to slower test reaction times and an increase in
mistakes. The purpose of my project is to determine if age is a factor of the Stroop Effect. I hypothesized that age is a factor of the Stroop Effect. I
deem the Stroop effect will have the greatest impact on people between thirteen and twenty-five. Fifteen subjects in each age group were asked to
participate. The subjects were placed in a chair and two stacks presented in front of them so that the cards faced the participant. As the participant named each
color correctly, the index card was removed, revealing the next card. The procedure for "Stack 2" was the same as it was for "Stack 1." The seniors
citizens that participated had the most trouble with the Stroop Effect. The average Stroop Effect recall time for pre-teens was 22.70 seconds, while the average
senior citizen's recall time was 34.48 seconds; this is a difference of 11. 78 seconds. The average recall time for adolescents when asked to name the color of
the random letters was 19.22 seconds, while the elderly, when asked to do the same, had a time of 28.61; this is a difference of 9.39 seconds. 
2006 - BE317
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IQ AND HEMISPHERICAL BRAIN DOMINANCE?
Shanna Erin Wilson, Brett Mayer, Jillayne Pfeifle
Timber Lake High School, Timber Lake, South Dakota, United States
The purpose of this experiment is to determine if there is a correlation between hemispherical brain dominance and intelligence quotients (IQ). The hypothesis
was that there would be no correlation between either left hemispherical dominant people, right hemispherical dominant people and their specific IQ.
Procedures used to conduct this experiment were three tests that determine hemispherical brain dominance and two intelligence quotients tests. In the
experiment there were 15 males and 15 females for a total of 30 subjects all ranging between the ages of 16 and 18. Knowing that each side of the
brain has its own unique and special abilities, such as the right hemisphere being intuitive and the left hemisphere being logical, could increase student
academic performance immensely. Obtaining the knowledge of one's hemispherical dominance may also aid in the work field. Each person could recognize the
weaknesses and strengths he or she possesses due to the specific studies conducted and the characteristics of his or her dominant hemisphere. The
results of this experiment indicated that there is no relationship between intelligence quotients and hemispherical brain dominance. In the tests that were
conducted, there was essentially no difference in IQ between right and left hemispherical dominant subjects. Research also concluded that intelligence does
not depend on gender. Data supported no correlation between gender and hemispherical dominance. 
2006 - BE015
SUBJECT EYEWITNESS MEMORY OF PHOTOGRAPH STIMULUS BASED UPON LONG AND SHORT RESPONSE QUESTIONS POSED
Pioneer Cole Winter
Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, Miami FL, United States of America
This experiment studied efficiency of eliciting information from subjects. Subjects (n=89) were randomly seated and recieved one of two questionnaires: one
had three long response questions (Group L), followed by a fourth long response "critical question" and one with three short response questions (Group S),
followed by the same critical question as Group L. Both Questionnaires ended with a filler task, eliminating one group's finishing first, which potentially
pressures subjects into abbreviating information, or alert them of questionnaire variation. Measurements for groups' first three responses were
disregarded; attention paid solely to critical response word count. Subjects studied the same photograph stimulus for 45 seconds and then responded to the
questionnaire. Originally hypothesized, Group L would have greater word count in the critical question from three-question practice; however, data
displays Group S has higher mean word count (28.65) than Group L (22.93). Two Sample T-Test resports the probability level Group L is less than Group S is
.037583. In gender, Group L has nearly equal word count (females slightly higher), with a 4.257 mean difference. Group S had a mean gender difference of
-1.41 (males higher). Results duggest Group S did better than Group L, who may have experienced memory barrier or confusion of details applied.
Group S may have been primed through the short response questions, perceiving it required to give lengthy responses. This theory of eyewitness memory and
behavior presents efficient ways to minimize misinformation and maximize recall effect, with application to aiding in military and law enforcement interrogations.
2006 - BE040
ATYPICAL VISUAL BEHAVIORS AS EARLY INDICATORS OF AUTISM IN CHILDREN
Maya Nina Wolpert
Hathaway Brown, Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA
This study is designed as a preliminary assessment of the role of atypical visual behaviors that occur in young children (between ages one and two) and
eventual diagnosis of autism or a related pervasive developmental disorder. A previous study by this researcher assessed the frequencies of 100 atypical
behaviors symptomatic of autism in a population of children and found atypical visual behaviors to be the most commonly occurring in the youngest children
(ages 18-32 months). For this study, then, a ten-item, anonymous questionnaire was created containing five questions related to atypical visual behaviors and
five questions concerning other developmental milestones, specifically regarding behaviors included in already validated measures used in evaluating children
with possible autism. It is important to note that the subject sample for this project was completely different from the previous year's study, and all information
collected was new. The subject sample comprised two groups of parents: 1) those with children currently between 2 and 18 years of age who have
been diagnosed with autism or related disorder and 2) those with “typically” developing children within the same age range being seen for medical care in an
outpatient clinic. The results indicate that atypical visual behaviors may enhance the predictive value of a diagnostic tool, when combined with other
non-visual behavior questions. Future research is needed to further refine the role of atypical visual behaviors in evaluators’ complete and accurate diagnosis of
children with autism.
2006 - BE004
THE EFFECTS SIX SIGMA METHODOLOGY HAS ON ONLINE EBAY BUSINESSES
Shiyu Xu
Winona Senior High School, Winona MN, United States of America
Six Sigma Methodology is a process used by manufacturing companies to increase their profits. The basic principle of Six Sigma Methodology is this: increase
consumer confidence (by using DMAIC or other processes) to elevate a business’s Sigma level and to raise a business’s revenues and profits. Since online
shopping has been developing rapidly and has been losing revenues to inefficiency, this study is aimed to find out whether Six Sigma Methodology would
increase an Ebay business’s revenues and profits. First, two Ebay stores were set up. Then, E-store A served as the control to represent a typical Ebay store.
E-store B’s description page was customized by DMAIC to implement the elements of Six Sigma. Finally, they each sold nine products. Once Six Sigma
Methodology elevated E-store B’s consumer confidence level, its revenues were on average18% higher than E-store A’s, and its profits were also relatively
higher. Therefore, Six Sigma Methodology did boost the Ebay store’s revenues and profits because consumers who were more confident were willing to pay
more for the products they buy.
2006 - BE315
MANIPULATION BEHIND THE SCENES
Dawn Chee Zhao, Karen Jennifer Lin
Shepton High School, Plano, Texas, USA
Some people think that subliminal images can influence the viewer’s perception of certain subjects. This is believed to be done by using subliminal images in
advertising or propaganda, but these are only some examples as to how these images are thought be used. So, the purpose of this experiment was to
determine whether or not subliminal images truly have any effect on the viewer. In order to do this, PowerPoints containing subliminal images were created,
and a questionnaire that was used to verify the validity of the effect of subliminal images on the viewers was created. Then, a group of people was gathered for
testing. Each person watched one of the three PowerPoints, then answered the questionnaire. This procedure was done three times, once a week, and each
time the test subject watched one PowerPoint and answered the questionnaire. After the questionnaires had been examined, it was apparent the images had a
marked effect on the viewers. About 33% of the decisions made, were influenced by the subliminal images, while the control group, who were shown one of the
exact same PowerPoints without the subliminal images, did not make the intended decisions that had been predetermined by the authors. Based on this, it was
apparent that subliminal images truly impact and influence the viewer. So, subliminal images were proven to affect the viewer’s decision-making process.
2007 - BE328
ANEMIA: PAY ATTENTION TO IT !
Yamil Joaquin Alali, Luis Costa
Instituto Privado D-124 Colegio San Antonio - Concordia - Entre Rios - Argentina
Anemia is a disease which makes itself evident with a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood what implies a dangerous decrease in the
amount of red blood cells. Our survey is centered in analyzing whether children in school age, between 5 and 7 years old, suffer from iron deficiency
anemia and then evaluate the same group after giving them oral doses of iron. -To determine any existing relationship between this disease and
parasitism. -To develop an awareness of the importance of a well-balanced diet in the affected children’s mothers. -To compare these
children with another group belonging to a different social background.. All this directed to establish the level of incidence of anemia in children’s
schooling and learning. We used several datas done by professionals (laboratory, clinical, psycho motive and of cognitive capability). This
disease does not only affect the individual but the whole society, as human capital is the main richness of a country and if it is damaged, the possibility of
growing as a country in the near future also weakens. The best way of fighting against this disease is basically to provide those people suffering from
it with an adequate diet consisting of red meat and vegetables, and organizing health campaigns accompanied by policies which ensure everybody an equal
access to health services. 
2007 - BE029
WHO'S IN CHARGE? THE EFFECT OF SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES ON THE HUMAN MIND
Chelsea Gail Almany
Herculaneum High School, 1 Blackcat Drive, Herculaneum, Missouri
The question in this study was how much of an influence, if any, subliminal messages have on viewers’ color choice. Subliminal images, signals or messages
below the normal levels of perception, were first tested in the 1950s. The success of the messages eventually led to their ban by the FCC in the 1970s. 
 The initial idea for this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of visual subliminal messages on viewers, and it was hypothesized that the
messages would have a distinct effect on viewers’ choices. Two copies were made of a 30-second color video clip. One video was left alone, and in
the other, a single frame of the word "BLUE" in blue letters was inserted after 15 seconds. 40 viewers watched the first video, and 40 different viewers watched
the second, unedited video. After watching the video once, test subjects were then given a set of five colors (red, green, blue, orange, and yellow) from which to
choose. When shown the video with the subliminal messages, 35% of viewers chose blue. However, in the video without the subliminal messages, only 22.5%
viewers chose blue. The experiment demonstrated that visual subliminal messages do have a small effect on viewers’ color choice; therefore, the
hypothesis was supported. However, these results could change if viewers were chosen from a more varied age group, or if the messages were shown at an
earlier or later point in the video. Backmasking and other forms of audible subliminal messages could also demonstrate different results.
2007 - BE062
SMART SHOE PRACTICAL SOLUTION OF THE BLIND
Ahmed Khaled AlNuaimi
AlAnsar Private School, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
The purpose of the Smart Shoes project is to provide the blind and the visually impaired persons with a practical solution to a fundamental problem that they
face in their daily life. This problem is the ability to move from place to another by navigating through obstacles without carrying a guiding or walking stick. Many
of the blind find carrying a stick embarrassing as it makes them distinctive from the rest of the crowd. This, in many cases, lowers their self-esteem and
confidence. After reviewing existing inventions and published research and literature, the Smart Shoes solution was found to be a practical solution to
the blind’s mobility problem. The Smart Shoes works by using ultrasound sensors connected to audible alarming system that alerts the blind to the
existence of obstacles. The Smart Shoes is fitted with two sensors on its front side with different detection angles. Both sensors detect objects up to 1.5 m
away. The Smart Shoes was tested and tried by selected group of blind and visually impaired individuals who were then surveyed to evaluate
effectiveness of the proposed solutions. The received feedback concluded that the proposed Smart Shoes is effective and helped the blind and visually
impaired persons move safely from one place to another while not feeling embarrassed or sticking out from the crowd. The Smart Shoes is powered
by rechargeable batteries and contains simple circuitry. In addition, it is and is easy to assemble and is inexpensive. Hence, the Smart Shoes proposed solution
is a practical solution. 
Second Award of $500 - Showboard, Inc.
2007 - BE311
MALE VS. FEMALE: SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM MEMORY OF BABY BOOMERS
Holly Sue Barth, Hannah Elizabeth Reid
Upper Sandusky High School, Upper Sandusky, Ohio, United States
The purpose of this research is to find if there’s a difference between long and short term memory of male and female baby boomers. Baby boomer is the
nickname for people born between 1946 - 1964 when soldiers returned home from World War II and started families. Memory is the brain's ability to store or
recall events. The brain stores memory in the hippocampus and temporal lobes. The hypothesis is, when presented with a series of words and tested twice,
once for short and once for long term memory, males will have better short term memory while females will have better long term memory. Subjects were given
a questionnaire asking if they had any memory problems or learning disabilities. They were given twenty words with associated pictures. After two minutes
subjects were to write what they could. After finishing the test subjects were shown the list of 20 words again and helped with techniques that make memories
become long term. Subjects were tested a week later where they again had to write out words they remembered. They were also given a list of 50 words in
which they had to circle the 20 original words. In conclusion, it was found that women overall had better short and long term memory. However, the result of the
test with pictures was close. Also, grouping was the most helpful method. As baby boomers get closer to retirement it’s good for society to understand how the
memory of this population is staying intact. A statistical analysis was done on the data by conducting a T test for independent samples which proved that the
results found are significant.
2007 - BE020
THE EFFICACY OF SELECTED BIOFEEDBACK TECHNIQUES IN MITIGATING SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Michael Joseph Berger
The Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York, USA
I conducted a case study with a human subject (adolescent male) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The study will be carried out with the goal of
helping the subject to “self-soothe” by learning to effectively utilize conventional biofeedback techniques, thereby lessening his need to express frustration
through socially unacceptable behaviors. To evaluate the efficacy of the biofeedback treatments administered to children with autism, a social and behavioral
scale/report (the "Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist” or “ATEC”), is completed by the parent of the subject pre-treatment, periodically throughout the
treatment, and post-treatment. This scale measures any improvements within four categories of specified behaviors, and differs from previous scales/tests
which were instruments primarily designed to diagnose autism rather than to measure gradations of symptom improvement. The outcome thus far has been
that the regimen of biofeedback therapy has helped the subject to measurably mitigate symptoms associated with his diagnosed disorder. This is evidenced by
the pre-treatment ATEC report, which measured the overall score of the severity of the subject’s autistic symptoms to be “28” (the higher the score, the greater
the subject’s impairment), having improved to a “22” by week 4 of the study. Furthermore, the most substantially affected area was sociability, which improved
by 4 levels (“13” to “9”) from the pre-treatment ATEC report to the latest ATEC report. This study’s findings strongly suggest that conventional biofeedback
therapy may be an effective treatment option to mitigate certain symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder (especially symptoms which fall under the
category of sociability).
2007 - BE040
PERSONALITY AND SUCCESS IN EDUCATION
Telena Billie
Wingate High School, Fort Wingate, New Mexico, USA
The purpose of this research is to determine if being right or left-brained and/or personalities affect learning styles. While in the process of doing my
experiment, I found out that being right or left-brained does not affect your learning style as much as personality does. This conclusion was determined as a
result of student surveys. One hundred students, twenty-five from each grade (nine through twelve), took three psychology surveys. One tested personality,
one tested learning style and the last tested whether or not the student was left or right-brained. Results were gathered and compared statistically by grade
level and showed personality type was by far the most influential factor in student learning. The focus of this research suggests that if teachers were able to
identify certain personality types, students could learn more successfully. 
2007 - BE047
HOW DOES TEACHING STYLE IMPACT THE LEARNING OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN SECOND GRADE STUDENTS
Kimberly Alene Blair
Lakeview Senior High School, Lakeview, Oregon, United Stated
I hypothesized that young children learned better through hands on interactions. I tested my hypothesis by studying and testing two classes of second graders.
I began by giving both classes pretests. One class I taught the scientific method only by verbal communication. The second class I taught the same subject, but
incorporated hands on interaction. I then gave both classes a post test to calculate how much they had learned. I compared the class's tests and came to the
conclusion, that children who were taught with hands on interaction incorporated into their lessons learned more, and improved their scores greater from their
pretests to their post tests.
2007 - BE315
FAT FREE? SO YOU THINK!
Clintnisa Broome, Hannah Haralson
Forest Hill High School; Jackson, MS; USA
Our society has been bombarded with media claims concerning fat free foods and the quality of the taste. Every company claims to have the perfect formula
that will fool your taste buds. We decided to test some of the claims by conducting our own taste test. To prove that some fat free foods aren't very tasty, we did
a study with our classmates, ages 15 to 19 years, using brand named chips, milk, candy, pudding, and yogurt. All of the foods used had a fat free or a low fat
counterpart. Our original test involved 10 people who were not blindfolded. We asked the participants to taste each type of food with the fat free or low fat
version. We then asked the participants which version of the food was fat free or low fat. We found that 8 out of 10 people guessed accurately which sample
was fat free, proving our original hypothesis. We then wanted to know if the sense of sight played a role in the ability to taste the difference between the fat free
and low fat foods. We believed that we would obtain the same results as with the original test. We then blindfolded 50 more people and repeated the test. To
our surprise, only 25% of the students we tested were able to taste the difference. We found that the sense fo sight for some people actually does affect their
sense of taste.
2007 - BE041
FACE TO FACE A CROSS ETHNIC OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
Brandy RaeAnn Buchanan
Central Noble High School, Albion, Indiana, USA
All around the world, humans are constantly showing their emotions by the expressions on their faces; but can people of various ethnicities read the faces of
those in ethnic groups other than their own? How well can children determine the emotions behind facial expressions of other races? This project focused on
primary grade, Caucasian children arbitrating these expressions of children their own age from four various ethnicities. Participants were instructed to match set
expressions of happy, sad, scared, surprised, angry, and bored (independent variables) with predetermined photographs (dependent variables) of each of
these expressions for all four ethnicities. Results were analyzed to determine which ethnic group was most accurately verified. I hypothesized that the
Caucasian children would establish the Caucasian group the most precisely, followed by the Asian group. The next legitimate responses would be for the
Latino group, and the children would answer the African American group the most erroneously. Data showed the children's responses varying not only by
races, but by grade (maturation rate) and expression difficulty. The experimental results concluded that the children were able to deduce the Asian group with
the least flaws, with the Caucasian group falling in second. The Latino group was the next most accurately answered, and the African American group was the
most mistaken overall. This experiment also showed which facial expressions were most easily justified, and which ones presented harder concepts for primary
children.
2007 - BE014
SIMULATED AVIATION PERFORMANCE EFFECTS OF AN ENGINEERED ENVIRONMENT
Louis Walter Buckalew, IV
Davidson High School, Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Today's military aircraft cockpits are increasingly complex, as advanced weapons systems and technology are added creating greater demands on pilots. To
"fight and win," pilots must be given every 'edge' possible. Military, medical, and commercial research has explored possibly relevant effects of negative ions on
health, physical, cognitive, and emotional variables with mixed results. This study was to determine is a negative ion environment improved, as hypothesized,
performance related to aviation combat. As paid volunteers, 16 male high school students served as subjects. Primary equipment included a PC, CRT monitor,
and Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator software integrated as a control station and negative ion generator, joystick, sound chair, and plat panel dispay
organized in a plywood 'cockpit.' Before testing, subjects completed an informed consent form and gaming experience questionnaire and received a mission
briefing, joystick training, and practice trial. Each subject had 2 trials in ion-charged and 2 in 'normal' environments, with a break between trial blocks to change
conditions. Trial scenarios were identical, and half the subjects started under normal and half under ion conditions. Measures of simulated combat performance
included mission time, firing accuracy, bombers 'killed,' and efficiency. Results suggested conclusions that, while mission time was less in normal conditions
and accuracy was no different, ion conditions showed better performance for bomber 'kills' and overall efficiency (primary mission goals). While findings are
encouraging in supporting pilot performance, future study should increase subject and task sample sizes and time to allow 'acclimation' before testing in the ion
condition.
2007 - BE308
MAKING THE TRANSITION: PREDICTING HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS
Christopher Lee Canary, Ross Langlitz Hansen
Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville, Oregon, USA
For students, one of the most difficult periods in their educational careers is the transition from middle school to high school. As a result, educators need to
prepare middle school students for this transition. This study analyzed 8th and 9th grade performance to determine what academic factors--if any--will best
determine freshmen year success. Courses were grouped into the 'core' classes - social studies (history), English, mathematics, and science. Since this study
is quantitative, freshmen year success was defined as having a high core GPA. Data from the high school classes of 2008 and 2009 were de-identified and
gathered from a district computer database. Using multivariable linear regression analysis and correlation tables, cumulative middle school core GPA,
science GPA, and English GPA were determined to be the greatest factors contributing to overall freshman success, with correlation coefficients of .861, .827,
and .825 respectively, to high school core GPA. Furthermore, an analysis of the GPAs for students whose middle school core GPAs were below 3.0 showed a
statistically significant increase, whereas the same analysis for students whose middle school core GPAs were greater than or equal to 3.0 showed no change
upon entering high school. The implications of this study are twofold. Middle school educators can use the results to identify the areas in which
students should receive the most help to ensure further educational success; high school teachers can use the findings contained within this study to identify
students likely to struggle in the transition to secondary education.
2007 - BE065
BELL RATS
Ashley Lynn Candler
Delavan High School, Delavan, Illinois, USA
rpose of this research project was to determine whether conditioning has an effect on T-maze completion in female Ratus novegicus. It was hypot
hesized that Rat A, a female R. novegicus that had been conditioned with getting a treat of peanut butter after hearing a bell ring would complete a multi
ple T maze faster than either Rat B, a female R. novegicus that heard a bell ringing during maze completion but did not have any previous conditioning, or Rat C
, a female R. novegicus that was neither conditioned nor heard a bell ringing during maze completion, and served as the control. Three female R. noveg
icus that were pets of the experimenter were used in the conditioning experiment. Rat A was conditioned daily for seven days by receiving a treat of peanut
butter after hearing a bell ring. After the conditioning, all rats were allowed to run a multiple T maze, with Rats A and B hearing the bell ring continuously during
the maze activity. Rat C was allowed to complete the maze without hearing the bell. All rats had a treat of peanut butter waiting at the end of the maze. Each rat
was allowed to run the maze three times. The time required for each rat to complete the maze was recorded. Rats continued to be pets of the experimenter
after experimentation. The hypothesis was proven correct. Rat A, had an average run time of 39 seconds, Rat B had an average run time of 51
seconds, and Rat C had an average run time of 48 seconds. Rat B consistently moved through the maze in a direction that was away from the bell, while rat A
stopped at intersections of the maze and consistently moved in a direction that was toward the sound of the bell. Rat C moved in no particular pattern through
the maze. Conditioning had a positive effect on T-maze completion in female R. novegicus. 
2007 - BE056
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC ON BRAKE REACTION TIMES
Cathy Hsi Chen
Oxford High School, Oxford, MS
The purpose of the experiment was to determine if different genres of music would have an effect on the speed of breaking reaction times. The absence of
music-safety in the Mississippi Driver’s Manual prompted this experiment. A wooden foot break was wirelessly connected to a laptop by a mouse. A
software program written using Kids Programming Language was designed to test three songs. “Frosty the Snowman”, chosen because it is well known,
Mozart’s Concerto in D Major, and a read-a-loud book of The Wizard of Oz with no melody; no music was the control. Subject had to break for 2 specific
objects out of 4. The program timed reaction times and recorded incorrect breaking. It randomized the intervals and order of the songs and objects. A
total of 43 high school students were tested. Results showed that reaction times were fastest while subjects listened to “Frosty the Snowman”, followed by the
Concerto, The Wizard of Oz, and lastly no music. The average reaction time for “Frosty the Snowman” was .598848101 seconds. The average reaction time for
no music was 0.689595707 seconds. No music had the least mistakes with a 5.4% chance, followed by “Frosty the Snowman” with a 5.5% chance. The Wizard
of Oz had the highest chance of mistakes, 24.7%. It can be concluded from this experiment that listening to something is better than nothing when it
comes to speed. Also, listening to a familiar song is the most beneficial to reaction times, keeping drivers aware, but not distracted. 
2007 - BE303
DIFFERENCES IN MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES OF CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS WORKED IN DIFFERENT FIELDS OF LAKE APOPKA
AREA AGRICULTURE: PHASE II
Grant Fabian Chernoby, Shahin Pourkaviani, Francesca Gaete
Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States of America
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if children's abilities were harmed through their parents’ exposure to working in different fields of agriculture
with specific focus on the affects of children whose parents worked in plant nurseries. The null hypothesis stated that there is no statistically significant
difference in mental and physical capabilities of children whose parents had exposure to pesticides through working in different fields of agriculture around Lake
Apopka. The children's mental and physical capabilities were determined through a variety of tests such as a balance or short-term memory test. The children
were then divided into groups based on their parent's exposure to work in a field of agriculture around Lake Apopka. The groups consisted of a control, a 1-7
year exposure group, and a plant nursery group. A two sample t test was used to determine the confidence level of the tests. The results showed
dramatic differences between the children's abilities on many of the tests including hand-eye coordination, balance, and fine motor skills. As the control was
compared to the 1-7 year exposure group, then the plant nursery group, the significance level rose. The null hypothesis was rejected and it was shown that
pesticides from different agricultural fields had different affects on children. The researchers concluded that pesticides associated with working in plant
nurseries produced especially harmful effects to children and that these chemicals were able to be transmitted to the next generation creating a legacy of
pesticide damage. 
2007 - BE012
EFFECTS OF CONTEXT ON INTERIOR SCRAMBLED TEXT
Stefan Joshua Coburn
Fayette County High School, Fayetteville, Georgia USA
The purpose of this experiment is to identify what effect context has on interior scrambled text recognition. The hypothesis presented for experimentation was a
null hypothesis, that context had no effect upon recognition. Twenty-five participants were given two sets of 24 stimuli to distinguish as either interior scrambled
word or nonword in a lexical decision experiment. In one set the twenty four stimuli were each presented in isolation, and in the other set the stimuli were each
presented in the context of a sentence, which was completely interiorly scrambled. Each stimulus was shown via PowerPoint on a slide for 4 seconds. To keep
some control over the stimuli, each interior scrambled word was drawn from a list of the 500 most common sight words to ensure consistent familiarity. In the
context condition the stimuli that had to be identified was always the last word. Each participant was randomly assigned to the isolation set or context set first
and the other second. For each participant the difference in correctly identified stimuli was taken and an average difference was calculated. The mean
difference was 3.88 stimuli. Using a single-tailed T-test a p of 5.34X10^-10 was obtained. This statistical analysis indicates that the data refutes the null
hypothesis. This means the null hypothesis can be reasonably rejected in favor of the alternative hypothesis, that context aids word recognition. In addition, the
data contests the idea that the ability to read interior scrambled text implies that people read words independent of letter order.
2007 - BE051
HOW SWEET IT IS: THE INFLUENCE OF TASTE PERCEPTION AND SENSITIVITY ON FOOD CHOICE BASED ON TASTE STATUS
Dalene Rene'e Cook
Seneca High School, Seneca Missouri, United States of America
Can the number of taste buds (papillae) you have be a factor in your food choices? Is taste sensitivity linked to the development of obesity? These questions
were addressed in this research. Subjects tasted seven different sweeteners and rated them on a Labeled Magnitude Scale, along with 4 genetic taste strips.
Subjects’ tongues were dyed and number of papillae were counted in a 7 mm area to determine their taste status. Subjects BMI was measured to classify them
as overweight or obese. All this information was statistically analyzed to determine if there was a link between sweet, bitter and metallic detection, taste status,
and obesity. There was no relationship found between taste status and BMI. Bitter and metallic tastes of the taste strips were detected significantly more
intensely by tasters. For some sweeteners, the supertasters and tasters detected the sweet taste significantly more than the nontasters. It seems that,
regardless of taste status, it is the detection of bitter and metallic tastes that affected sweetener choice. Implications of this study reveal that taste status affects
food choice and ultimately the health of the individual.
2007 - BE017
THE EFFECTS OF CAPSAICIN ON DROSOPHILA
Ann Simone Cooper
Lafayette Senior High School, Lexington, KY, USA
Capsaicin, the active ingredient in red peppers, might serve as a natural repellent or insecticide. A genetically engineered strand of Drosophila was used that
contains 3 inserted genes which codes for the TRVP receptor (i.e. the capsaicin receptor). The expression was targeted specifically for sensory neurons. The
sensitivity to capsaicin was compared in background strains to the over expresser strain in both larvae and adults. The flies were examined with 4 different
experimental paradigms: (1) adult taste, (2) larval taste, (3) egg laying, and (4) adult smell. Capsaicin was exposed to the flies in its pure form mixed with
cornmeal to compare with ground up red pepper mixed with cornmeal. From these experiments I proved that my hypothesis was not supported in that red
pepper and pure capsaicin did not serve as a natural repellent, but it did act as a insecticide for larvae but not adults in control stains of flies. However, the
adults and larvae in the over expresser strain are very sensitive to capsaicin. This study relates to the potential use of red pepper as means to control insects
from growing in exposed foods prior to the use of refrigeration in old civilizations (i.e., Koreans and their traditional kimchi dishes). This study may also help one
to understand the range of sensitivities to capsaicin in humans and other animals by varied expression levels of the receptors to capsaicin.
2007 - BE019
THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF MUSIC ON SHORT TERM MEMORY
James Patrick Dalton
La Salle High School, Milwaukie, Oregon, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to find how different music genres affect one's cognitive ability, specifically short term memory. The initial idea was to find
which types of music affect memory the most. It turned out that the type of music did not matter as much as I presumed. The subjects responded best to no
music and worst to rap. The subjects were shown sequences of letters then asked to write them down while listening to different types of music. The
subjects were graded by how many they got correct out of seven sequences for each genre. A correct sequence required the subject to remember both the
correct letters and the correct order. The overall average correct was about 3.2 out of 7. The music genres included rock, classical, rap, and slow
music. The subjects also took part in a control (no music). The subjects scored the highest while listening to classical music (3.33/7) and scored the worst while
listening to rap (2.93/7). When they listened to no music they averaged 3.43 out of 7. The data suggests that it is best to listen to no music while doing
something that requires short term memory. Boys and girls also have around the same short term memory ability. However, the statistical analysis was not
sufficient enough to reject the null hypothesis. Therefore, while the data suggests that music affects short term memory, the results of this study do not
conclusively establish that it does.
2007 - BE033
THE CUTTING EDGE OF INTERNET JOURNALING
Belinda Emily Daniel
Niles North High School, Skokie, Illinois, USA
The purpose of this experiment was to study the effectiveness of the internet journaling site, LiveJournal™, in observing correlations of mental health, age, and
suicidal tendency with substance use, suicidal tendency, and posting frequency respectively, among users who post to self-injury communities. In this
experiment, 8 different self-harm communities on LiveJournal™ were randomly selected, and among them, 5 users per community. These 40 users were
profiled for their age, their mental health (whether they had diagnosed medical conditions), suicidal tendencies (whether they have attempted suicide or talked
of ending their life), substance use (drugs or alcohol), and the frequencies of their posts. Then, the data was organized into three separate sets: the first to
observe correlations between the severity of the condition and the severity of the substance use; the second, between age and suicidal tendency; and the third,
between suicidal tendency and posting frequency. The results were fairly inconclusive. The data indicated no observable increase in substance use as
mental health worsened, that the age of suicidal users appeared to be higher than the age of non-suicidal users and that the frequency of posts was higher
among those who were not suicidal. These results were not supported with statistical evidence, so they cannot be deemed significantly higher. 
2007 - BE309
ETHNIC PECULIARITIES OF FAMILY UPBRINGING STYLE (ON THE EXAMPLE OF BURYAT AND RUSSIAN FAMILIES)
Olcha Darmaeva , Maria Zadboeva
Aginskaya High School #2, v. Aginskoye, Chita region, Russia
esearch is a result of experimental work aimed at studying the influence of ethnic peculiarities of family upbringing style on the example of Russian and Burya
t families. Modern tendencies of the world development that are caused by globalization and technology improvement have a great influence on the famil
y as an institute. At this stage of the development of our society Russian families are having difficult times. That is why studying of phenomena that happen to a
person and the influence of it on one’s development raises a great interest in the science. Many researchers define family upbringing as a process of
mutual influence between a child and an adult. This very approach to the system of upbringing takes into consideration not only mutual influence of the child
and the adult but also some external factors, such as parents’ life experience, the whole cultural experience of mankind, cultural examples and social subinstitutes. The influence of ethnic peculiarities on the style of family upbringing is very common nowadays and has not been sufficiently studied. To
reveal ethnic peculiarities of family upbringing style, an experimental research was done. According to the aim several diagnostic methods were arranged: a
survey and a poll. Our experimental research showed that the upbringing style in Buryat and Russian families has no substantial discrepancies but at
the same time there is a certain upbringing style defined by ethno-cultural peculiarities that influence teenagers upbringing. The acquired information will allow
us to enlarge images about family upbringing in ethno-psychological aspect. 
2007 - BE321
PATHOGENIC REMAINDERS... AT HOME?
Lautaro Dentoni Appap, Romina Gisella Blanco Gimenez
Instituto San Juan Bosco, Victorica, La Pampa, Argentina
This project begins in 2006, starting off of the necessity to inform about the risks that the inadequate treatment of the pathogenic dusts carries. The central
problem is that the population of Victorica doesn’t recognize like pathogens dusts certain remainders that it generates. The local homes are generators of
pathogenic dusts, and they don’t know the danger of his incorrect classification. Methodology: Domiciliary surveys to 25% of the local
population. Analysis of specific bibliography. Interviews to health professionals. Presentation the project to the Honorable Deliberative Council of
Victorica and agreements with Municipal Authorities. Implementation of a pilot program of differentiated harvesting in two districts of Victorica. 
 Pathogenic remainders containers at schools. Aid: Clean Gardens = Healthful Life Conclusions: The objectives of the project
have been fulfilled, since the population of Victorica has begun to question the methods used for the elimination of its own remainders. Useful
strategies of diffusion of the problem are being managed. The implementation of a program pilot of harvesting differentiated from remainders in two
districts of Victorica has allowed advancing in the improvement of the conditions in which these remainders are gathered together. The municipal
ordinance number 1173/06, sanctioned on November of 2006 in Victorica, respect to the manipulation, treatment and deposition of pathogenic remainders is
based on this project. 
2007 - BE045
SUBLIMINAL MINDS
R. Mac DeRose
Hilton Head Preparatory School, Hilton Head, SC, USA
A subliminal message is defined as a signal or message embedded in another object, designed to pass below the normal limits of perception. The course of the
experiment tested whether subliminal messages affected the subjects' decision making process. Subliminal messages are usually thought of as an antiquated,
illegal form of advertising for a certain product. For this reason, the subjects were tested with an often marketed product: candy. Five different messages were
placed on a computer using the program Subliminal Mind. Subjects were directed to watch a scene from a movie, as if they were watching it for
comprehension. Then, without their knowledge, they were tested whether the subliminal messages affected their judgment. Each message involved a different
way of telling the viewer to choose a certain color of candy. The subject was not told anything about the candy prior to a tray of candy appearing after the
movie. They chose from this tray of multi-colored candy (containing two of each of the five colors). The subjects were told to choose one piece of candy, without
revealing the reason. The messages seemed to have an effect on slightly over half of the subjects, as 54% chose the color given in the subliminal message.
Many of the subjects may have had a predetermined favorite flavor of the candy and naturally ignored the subliminal messages. The experiment, however, did
determine that subliminal messages do have an effect on many of the people exposed to them. A Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit test was performed and it
provided significant evidence that something must have altered the results. The subliminal messages, overall, affected the subjects' decision making process.
2007 - BE010
THE EYE-WITNESSING PROJECT: HOW IS AN INDIVIDUAL'S BLOOD PRESSURE EFFECTED AFTER EXPOSURE TO A CRIME SCENE?
Shyam Janak Desai
Celebration High School, Celebration, Florida, USA
The problem that was experimented upon is how is an individual's blood pressure effected after exposure to a crime scene? It was hypothesized that blood
pressure will dramatically increase post exposure to the video of the crime scene. Students would be in an environment of stress and anxiety. It is believed that
females will perform much better on the survey than males because they are prone to being more focused and observant. However, they will have higher blood
pressure than the males because they are not used to the rigorous and stressful environment. To perform this project a column of mercury is linked to
an inflatable cuff, which is wrapped around the upper arm. A stethoscope is then used to listen to the sounds of the blood in the brachial artery, at the bend of
the elbow. The first set of blood pressure will be taken 30 minutes prior to the viewing of the video clip to make sure when comparing results there are no
variables. Individuals will be shown the 3 minute and 32 second video clip of the crime scene. Blood pressure will be taken again. Finally, Surveys will be
distributed and individuals will fill out information. The survey will ask questions very similar to a detective seeking information about the criminal. Blood
pressure will be taken again immediately after survey is completed, and then again 30 minutes after the video exposure. This project is critical to
understanding an individual's accuracy on a crime scene report in a state of stress versus a state of normality. The hypothesis was proven incorrect. Girls were
shown to be less precise on their answers, which could be impacted by their increase in blood pressure. The males had a stable blood pressure and answers
closer to what was correct.
2007 - BE031
BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE WHITE GENE AS A PHENOTYPIC MARKER IN W1118 AND CS
DROSOPHILA
Mary Martha Ferrari Douglas
Manhasset High School, Manhasset, NY, USA
The white gene (w) is commonly used as a phenotypic marker in drosophila for studies ranging from behavioral analysis to gene regulation. W is a precursor of
eye pigmentation and produces an easily distinguishable white eye by depleting tryptophan levels. However, recent courtship studies suggest that it could be
playing a larger role on drosophila behavior. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of W on drosophila sleep patterns and memory in two
strains of drosophila, to evaluate the appropriateness of W as a phenotypic marker. Male control red (w+) and male white eyed (w-) drosophila from two strains,
w1118 and CS, were monitored for sleep activity over 24hs. Drosophila were tested for memory in the heatbox learning paradigm. After collecting data from
approximately 220 flies per group (CS w-, CS w+, w1118 w-, w1118 w+), results demonstrate that sleep behaviors, activity and memory all significantly differed
between the eye colors, suggesting that the white gene is not a suitable genetic marker. Furthermore, previously published studies that utilized the marker may
have presented convoluted results.
2007 - BE305
AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENT LEARNING BEHAVIORS AS A PRODUCT OF TEACHER EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION
Andrew Joseph Duchi, Caroline Blosser
Upper Arlington High School, Upper Arlington Ohio, United States of America
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of emotion on learning behaviors of high school students. Surveys were distributed to 200 students and 7
teachers. The surveys included questions focusing on attitude (dedication, perception of ability to succeed), emotional state of the classroom, connection to the
teacher, goal structure, and feigned emotions. Although the teacher surveys did not offer enough variance to provide significant results, the student surveys
generated noteworthy data. A Spearman Rank Order Test was used to determine the correlation between positive emotion and attitude in the classroom,
producing a p-value less than .00001, indicating a significant correlation. This correlation shows that positive emotion is not only important in the social-learning
based elementary school, but also in the more content-based, higher level education of the high school environment. There was also a correlation between
positive attitude and connection to the teacher, but it was not as strong as between attitude and positive emotion. Correlations were also seen between
negative emotion, lack of connection, and negative attitude, but all were less significant than the positive emotion and connection correlations; no other
variables produced significant correlation. These correlations indicate that positive emotions expressed by a teacher can benefit students and motivate them,
establishing a connection to students will help to reinforce positive attitude, and negative emotions have a less significant impact than positive emotions. Thus,
teachers should genuinely express themselves to benefits students and to avoid emotive dissonance, which contributes to burnout.
2007 - BE053
THE COGNITIVE EFFECTS OF VACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM ON MUS MUSCULUS ANTIOXIDANTS: BERRY A"MAZE"ING?
Alison Rae Ficek
Trinity High School - Dickinson, ND 58601 - USA
The purpose of the conducted experiment was to determine whether antioxidants found in Vaccinium corymbosum have a beneficial effect on human memory.
Vaccinium corymbosum is said to be rich in antioxidant properties. I wanted to determine if there was truth to this topic or if the blueberry industry was
exaggerating to promote consumers to buy their berries. During a five-week trial period, forty Mus musculus were used for experimentation. The Mus
musculus were divided into two groups of twenty: a control and an experimental group. Each Mus musculus was marked for identification purposes. The control
group consisted of a strict grain diet and the experimental group received a grain/blueberry diet throughout the five week experiment. At the end of each week,
each Mus musculus was weighed and put through a maze trial. Times and observational data were recorded. My hypothesis stated that the
blueberry/grain fed Mus musculus would have higher performances in cognitive tasks in comparison to the strict grain diet group. Due to male aggressiveness,
I also hypothesized that the male group would perform the maze tasks more quickly and efficiently than the female Mus musculus. Both hypotheses were
rejected. The grain fed Mus musculus had quicker trial times than the blueberry/grain fed Mus musculus. The females performed better in cognitive tasks than
the male Mus musculus. I wanted to determine if there was a significant difference between the control and experimental group. By calculating a statistical Ttest, I found that there was marginal significance at week five. 
2007 - BE064
THE AFFECT OF COLOR ON STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES
Samuel Craig Furman
Spruce Creek High School, Port Orange, Florida, U.S.A
The goal of this experiment was to identify if the color of text has an effect on test scores in standardized tests. This was tested utilizing a mock S.A.T. test that
was compiled using S.A.T. practice material cited in the parenthetical documentation, along with various created questions. The test was administered to 177
high school juniors enrolled in the I.B. program over a two day period. Students were randomly given different color texts on the tests to complete, and were
allotted twenty minutes to answer ten questions based upon two short and one full length passage. The test scores were analyzed using t-tests on
Microsoft Excel to ascertain a statistical difference between the five colors tested (red, orange, green, blue, and violet) and black, the control, based upon its
common use in text today. The mean score of red tests was 5.929 and the p-value compared to black was 0.005 whereas the mean score of black
tests was 4.811. This indicated that red, by an immense statistical margin, had the largest positive difference to black. The mean scores for the remaining
colors, orange, green, blue, and violet were 4.464, 4.357, 4.536, and 4.571, respectively. Also, the standard deviation for red was only 1.804. With
over 500,000 high students failing high school exit exams yearly, the impact of this experiment could have resounding and incredible effects on education.
Implementing red into state and national standardized testing could pass thousands of more students and give them a better chance at graduating. 
2007 - BE318
FALLACIES IN COMMUNICATION
Miriam Elizabeth Gomez, Lucas Martin Dolcemascolo
Experimental School #2 "Puertas del Sol", San Luis, Argentina
The research consist in an examination of fallacies found in graphic means of communication in Argentina. The problem situation wich served as
starting motor for this work is related to the widespread occurrence of fallacies in several daily discourses. The hypothesis that conducted this research
is the assertion that journalistic articles contain fallacies. Evaluation of this hypothesis was done over a corpus of 81 articles from argentinean graphic mass
media characterized as follows: 43 published on Clarín and 38 on Página 12; they all deal with the same news event (settling of foreign debt with the
International Monetary Fund) and were published during the same period of time. This corpus was analyzed by contrasting argumentations found with the
theory on fallacies systematized by Irving M. Copi in Introduction to Logics. After analyzing the gathered data the hypothesis was proved and showed a
high percentage of fallacies’ occurrence in both papers. A comparative analysis of the situation in each means studied was also possible. In this sense,
differences were discovered regarding: the type of fallacies prevailing in each newspaper and discourse (the journalists’ or another person’s) in which fallacies
are included. As immediate projection of the results, the interference that occurrence of fallacies entail in due fulfillment of means of communication’s
ethical responsibilities was evaluated. This is the reason why the main contribution of this research is to urge reflection on the adequate handling of information
by the media and on the need of a more critical positioning by the readers. 
2007 - BE310
DOES SIZE MATTER? IS IT THE BODY OR THE MIND?
Caleb Barlow Gragg, Jordan Farris
Nettleton High School, Jonesboro AR, USA
It is believed that a child who is overweight may not reach his full potential socially and academically. This project is designed to address that issue. 40 local
sixth graders and 39 eleventh graders participated in an experiment by taking a psychological test, self-reporting their Grade Point Average(GPA), having their
height and weight measured for BMI calculation, and completing a reaction test. The students were chosen as volunteers from a sample of convenience based
upon the classes that were available to participate in the study. A mentor who is a university teacher, familiar with the self-perception index, and who has
performed numerous BMI measurements on children supervised the measurements that were performed for this investigation. In each grade, 20 boys
and 20 girls were asked to participate. The data was recorded and analyzed using analysis of variance statistical tests. If significant differences were found
between the BMI groups or the GPA groups, a post-hoc analysis (Tukey's) was performed to determine where the differences existed. BMI did not have any
significant relations to any self-perception domain or to reaction time. However, GPA did relate to five of the self-perception domains. Those domains were
scholastic competence, social acceptance, physical appearance, behavioral conduct, and global self-worth. GPA was not related to athletic competence. The
results of this study indicate that body size (BMI) may not cause children psychological discomfort but their academic performance (GPA) is related to their selfperception in a number of areas.
2007 - BE034
ADOLESCENT TANNING AS DEPENDENT BEHAVIOR
Scott Lee Greenberg
Syosset High School, Syosset NY, USA
In order to better understand adolescent tanning, the possibility that tanning practices among adolescents were similar to Substance Dependence was
examined. In order to address this question artificial tanning and natural tanning behaviors in an adolescent population were evaluated according to the
American Psychiatric Association’s criteria for Substance Dependence. It was found that 8.2% of all respondents qualified for Artificial UVL SSD (substance
similar dependence) and 21.1% of all respondents qualified for Natural UVL SSD within the last 12 months. Females exhibiting criterions one, three, and seven
of the modified APA criteria and whose parent’s either artificially or naturally tanned were seen as the population that was most inclined to have SSD. In
addition, the knowledge of the hazardous effects of tanning prevented significantly less subjects who have SSD from tanning, compared to those who did not
have SSD. The similarity between SSD and Substance Dependence indicate that substance awareness programs can be used as models for discouraging
adolescent tanning.
2007 - BE315
FAT FREE? SO YOU THINK!
Hannah Marie Haralson, Clintnisa Broome
Forest Hill High School; Jackson, MS; USA
Our society has been bombarded with media claims concerning fat free foods and the quality of the taste. Every company claims to have the perfect formula
that will fool your taste buds. We decided to test some of the claims by conducting our own taste test. To prove that some fat free foods aren't very tasty, we did
a study with our classmates, ages 15 to 19 years, using brand named chips, milk, candy, pudding, and yogurt. All of the foods used had a fat free or a low fat
counterpart. Our original test involved 10 people who were not blindfolded. We asked the participants to taste each type of food with the fat free or low fat
version. We then asked the participants which version of the food was fat free or low fat. We found that 8 out of the 10 people guessed accurately which
sample was fat free, proving our original hypothesis. We then wanted to know if the sense of sight played a role in the ability to taste the difference between the
fat free and low fat foods. We believed that we would obtain the same results as with the original test. We then blindfolded 50 more people and repeated the
test. To our surprise, only 25% of the students we tested were able to taste the difference. We found the sense of sight for some people actually does
affect their sense of taste.
2007 - BE043
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Aubrey Lynn Hasvold
Blevins Junior High School, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
The purpose of this project was to examine whether men and women will differ in their willingness to take a short survey from someone nicely dressed and
groomed compared with someone dressed in grungy attire and poorly groomed. It was also investigated whether men's reactions would differ significantly form
women's. To test this hypothesis, a mock survey was given to 25 men and 25 women in a nice outfit one day, and a grungy outfit the next. A TwoSample Hypothesis Test for Proportions was conducted to examine the significance of each gender’s reaction for each outfit. When the survey
administrator was dressed and groomed nicely, 52% of the men and 60% of the women agreed to take the survey; 48% of the men and only 16% of the women
agreed to take the survey when the administrator was dressed in grungy attire. The Test for Proportions revealed a significant difference in reaction to the two
appearances for women and for both genders combined, but no mathematically significant difference for men. From a physiological standpoint, these
results support the theory of behavioral contrasts due to structural differences between the male and female brain, specifically in the corpus callosum. In
women, this part is generally wider and has more connecting fibers between the two hemispheres as well as in the visual and emotional regions of the brain
than in men's, allowing for greater cross talk. The results show the importance of presenting one's self appropriately in order to elicit a desired response. 
 
2007 - BE011
SENSORY INTEGRATION & AUTISM
Lawanya Jeyaselvan
Celebration High School, Celebration, Florida, USA
The Purpose of this project is to see which type of sensory activity will better help children with autism. The Hypothesis is that jumping on a trampoline will
better help the child concentrate on the task at hand versus swinging on a swing and sitting on a core disc. During this experiment ten children diagnosed with
autism were asked to join in this study. The experiment was completed by having a certified teacher lead the children in completing three activities, a simple
shape puzzle, a five piece Peg-board and stringing five beads on to a shoe lace. Each child was timed during the first trial, which followed no vestibular sensory
activity session. After each child completed all three activities they were put through the three vestibular activities, jumping on a trampoline, sitting on a core
disc, and swinging on a swing each for ten minutes. Following the trampoline session was stringing five beads on a show lace, while sitting on a core disc the
child would complete the simple shape puzzle and finally, after swinging they would then complete the five piece pegboard. After the scientist completed the
experiment she observed that after the vestibular sensory sessions the children were better able to concentrate and could complete the task at a faster pace.
When the children first had to complete each activity most of them had many stems that them back from completing the activity at an appropriate pace however
after the sensory session this was no longer a setback for the children. In conclusion, the scientist's hypothesis was correct; jumping on a trampoline helped the
autistic children complete the task more efficiently
2007 - BE304
BRAINBOW IV: CONDITIONED RESPONSE TO COLOR
Emma Katherine Kearney, William Sheppard Kearney
McIntosh High School, Peachtree City, GA, USA
This study examined the effects of color on the strength of a conditioned response. The hypothesis was that a color with more positive valence (blue) will be
more easily conditioned than a color with more negative valence (red). The subjects (N=23), students in college introductory psychology classes, were shown
photographs from the International Affective Picture System. The photographs were paired with blue or red solid color slides. Each subject was randomly
assigned to one of two groups, either red paired with negative pictures or blue paired with negative pictures. After 36 trials of paired stimuli, the subjects viewed
blue and red slides, in random order, for 10 trials. Throughout the study, subjects were monitored on four physiological measurements: corrugator
electromyography, zygomatic electromyography, heart rate, and electrodermal activity. There was a nonsignificant trend of the pairing of color with the valence
of the pictures on corrugator (frown) muscle activity, such that red showed a stronger conditioning effect when red was paired with negative pictures and blue
with positive pictures, F(1,21)=2.34, P=.14. Red was shown to be easily conditioned to negative stimuli, while blue could be conditioned to positive or negative
stimuli but with weaker results. The color blue responds better to conditioning across the spectrum of both positive and negative pictures, supporting the
hypothesis. For future extensions of this study, culturally- different subjects may be studied to determine if the responses to color come from society and
primate subjects may be used to determine if the responses come from evolutionary trends.
2007 - BE326
A STUDY IN CROWD MODELING UTILIZING REAL-WORLD DATA TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC FLOW SIMULATIONS
Adam Kidder, Nicholas Triantafillou
Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, Saginaw, MI, USA
One of the many applications of computer modeling is pedestrian traffic flow. There are two major model types used in modeling pedestrian crowds: the fieldforce model and the social-force model. Both model types have advantages and disadvantages. This project describes the construction of a novel hybrid model
combining both approaches, magnifying the advantages of each model type while diminishing the disadvantages. The goal of this project was to build
an accurate crowd model that could be tested against real-world data for accuracy. Real-world data was collected using a ceiling mounted camera in a public
school, and was compared to data generated by the model using a variety of quantitative and qualitative measurements. Results indicated this
model’s viability. The model demonstrated many features evident in real-world crowds, such as emergent lane formation and realistic clumping distribution
among agents. Quantitative data indicated that the model exhibited characteristics evident in actual crowds as well. As found in the real-world data, the hybrid
model expressed the cyclic pattern in number of agents, as well as a considerable decrease in speed of agents after a high increase in density. Agent clumping
was also observed. The engineering goals of this project were completely realized. Through adjustment of the model using data from real-world crowd
simulations, the model was improved until holistic crowd trends were reproduced. The resulting data supports the viability of this novel, hybrid social-field force
model in pedestrian crowd situations. 
2007 - BE036
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN HYPERSENSITIVITY BEHAVIOR IN A RAT MODEL OF AUTISM
Sarah Kirsch
Ward Melville High School, Setauket, NY, USA
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder, with language, cognitive and social impairment, often accompanied by hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity
interferes with the ability to learn, reach one's full potential, and enjoy a typical quality of life. Injecting rats with 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT), a serotonin
agonist, has been used to produce a hyperserotonemic model of autism. This animal model can facilitate discovery of the etiology of such behaviors in humans.
Human autistic females are more cognitively impaired than males. There is a dearth of research on autistic symptoms in females. This study utilizes the
hyperserotonemic rat model of autism to analyze male and female differences in hypersensitivity to tactile, auditory and olfactory stimuli. Rats were tested in an
open field, from postnatal day 137 through 147. Atypical behaviors in rats can be compared to atypical behavioral indicators of autism in humans. During the
tactile test, hyperserotonemic female rats exhibited a stronger reaction than hyperserotonemic male rats. The former kept their tails off the floor a longer time.
In the auditory test, hyperserotonemic female rats crossed more grid lines than hyperserotonemic male rats. The former demonstrated more escape behavior in
the presence of the auditory stimuli. In the olfactory test, hyperserotonemic female rats held their head directly over odors for more seconds than the
hyperserotonemic male rats, indicating an increased self stimulatory behavior in the former. Hyperserotonemic female rats were found to be more
hypersensitive than males to all three stimuli tested.
2007 - BE004
ANIMAL CARING - AN EDUCATIONAL PROPOSAL II
Anelise dos Santos Klein
Fundacao Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha - Novo Hamburgo - RS - Brasil
In order to create an active Animal Caring Association several aspects must be observed mainly the local community's effective participation to stimulate the
interest in a society where it doesn’t generally note a familiar, educational or governmental participation. From this observation, there was formulated a
method of playful and informative teaching that stimulates the children to have a good relationship with the domestic animals. In parallel, an information CDROM was created with the project and its methodology for to application in local schools. So a new question was formulated: is it possible to implement
and to test the applicability of this method in school environment? Then, workshops of study were carried out with engaged teachers, in way to enable
them the application of the method among their students. Like the form of the approximation between project and teacher, a site was created with
relevant contents and making possible contact with the investigator. After the application, it was executed a quantitative, subjective study about the use of the
method by the school community, comparatively with the results obtained in the preliminary application. The project was developed through a
descriptive inquiry of field and the report made inside the specific standards. The data were obtained through teachers’ reports. With the conclusion of
this stage, it was observed to be possible to insert in the school environment contents that, from the childhood, wake in the human being a feeling of care with
the animals and the interdependence between the elements of the nature. 
2007 - BE046
CATEGORY SPECIFIC SEMANTIC DEFICITS OF OBJECT RECOGNITION IN ADULTS WITH NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE
Mounir Ahmad Koussa
Tucson High Magnet School, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
The question of impairments in object naming in patients with brain damage being category specific, living vs. non-living, is unresolved Most studies exploring
the concept have been individual case studies where data were not significant. This project sought to answer the question of whether category specific double
dissociation occurs and if it does, to determine which regions of the brain are associated with specific category naming. Twelve patients with damage and
twelve controls were tested with images from the Snodgrass and Vanderwart picture set. The tests consisted of sixty-four pictures; one test evaluated naming
ability and the other evaluated comprehension. After the number of correct answers for each test were determined, the living scores were subtracted from the
non-living scores generating an effect size. Results of the testing show that there was a double dissociation, the four patients who showed the double
dissociation either did more poorly in naming living or non-living objects. All information was statistically analyzed using T-Tests and Chi-Squared yielding Pvalues of .0004 for the Naming test and .029 for the comprehension test. These data were correlated with the patients’ MRI scans. Impairment in the naming of
living things was associated with damage in the anterior inferior temporal cortex; impairment in naming non-living things was correlated with the left frontoparietal cortex. These regions are dedicated to interpreting visual/sensory information and object use/functional information respectively, therefore supporting
the hypothesis that a double dissociation occurs due to the brain interpreting living objects visually and non-living objects functionally.
2007 - BE314
SYSTEM FOR THE DOWNS
Christopher Steven Lagerlef, Janesh Patel
Clark High School, Plano, Texas, USA
If a child with Downs Syndrome is taught through a visual learning style, they will score the highest on a comprehension test. Using various books, recording
devices and testing environments, children were tested to determine which learning method allowed them to achieve the highest score possible, and if a blue
background could also increase the score. the results were that using visual aides had the highest success rate of 82% in the normal learning environment. The
lowest learning method was the audio with 44%. the blue environment completely enhanced the results. In fact the level of isgnificance between using the blue
room versus using the normal room was 99% statistically significant. Not one average in the blue environment was under 75%, with the visual method scoring
the highest percentile once again with an average 94%. These reults could very well change the face of schools in the world, leading to an increase in the
scores using the blue learning environment. This information could easily lead to a brighter future for the handicapped children of America. Future applications
for this information could be using the various learning styles and learning environments and discovering which is the best for non-handicapped children.
2007 - BE327
NO CHILD LEFT CHALLENGED THE EFFECT OF THE AMOUNT OF FORMAL EDUCATION ON SOL SCORES
Bridget Kelly Little, Mary McClellan
Potomac Senior High School, Dumfries, Virginia, United States of America
This project in its present form is the result of the evaluation of the amount of formal education of ninth graders on their ability to interpret the eleventh-grade
English Standards of Learning test. The initial idea was to determine if ninth graders could pass the SOL because of the Virginia standards that require
teaching to the test. An overall pass rate would have indicated that students are taught the subject matter beforehand and are capable of higher standards. 
 The English End of Course Writing Exam from 2005 was obtained and distributed to 267 ninth graders in Prince William County high schools. There was no
differentiation between socioeconomic class, ethnicity, or skill level. To ensure objective grading, the tests were scored by a scantron machine and given a
score of pass or fail based on a standard scoring rubric. The resulting 73 percent pass rate was only 12 percent lower than the Virginia’s public school’s official
pass rate for 2005, as obtained from the Virginia Department of Education. The contributions of this project are applicable in demonstrating the
uselessness of standardized tests. The ninth graders that passed the SOL now have three unnecessary years of English education ahead of them. This
indicates that there needs to be a greater number of bench mark tests or another way to evaluate students’ abilities. The SOL is due to come up for review in
the year 2011; hopefully this project will be a precursor to the changes that need to be made. 
2007 - BE035
THE IMPACT OF VISION-RELATED BEHAVIORAL FACTORS ON MYOPIA DEVELOPMENT ACROSS LEVELS OF PARENTAL MYOPIA
Tina Liu
Ossining High School, Ossining, NY, USA
Although parental myopia has been positively associated with myopia, it is unclear what factors prevent some children with two myopic parents from becoming
myopic and what factors cause other children with no myopic parents to become myopic. Public awareness and attitude concerning myopia and behavioral
intervention methods are also largely unexplored. This study investigated the differences in visual activities between myopic and nonmyopic adolescents within
the three levels of parental myopia (zero, one, and two myopic parents) and evaluated their awareness of myopia’s etiology and good eye care habits. Twohundred-sixty-eight high school students voluntarily completed a questionnaire. Results showed that the proportion of myopes increased as the level of parental
myopia increased (chi-square=16.7; p=0.002). Myopes with no myopic parents performed 32.2 more weekly diopter hours of nearwork (p=0.051) and 10.7
fewer weekly hours of outdoor/sports activity (p<0.001) than corresponding nonmyopes. Conversely, nonmyopes with two myopic parents performed 43.3 fewer
weekly diopter hours (p<0.05) and 6.6 more weekly hours of outdoor/sports activity (p<0.05) than corresponding myopes. Most subjects attributed myopia to
both heredity and environment (72.7%) and were positive toward good eye care habits (68.8%). The results suggest that having myopic parents, performing a
high amount of nearwork, and performing a low amount of outdoor/sports activity are three accumulative risk factors for myopia. Therefore, children with all
three risk factors were identified as a high risk population that may be most sensitive to methods of myopia intervention. These results may ultimately contribute
to combating the rising prevalence of myopia.
2007 - BE313
PROGRAMMING AN EMOTION-BASED ORIGINAL MUSIC GENERATOR THROUGH CONVENTIONAL MUSICAL PATTERNS
William Alexander Locke, Jack Murphy
St. Charles West High School, St. Charles, Missouri, United States of America
The first objective of the project detailed is to create a music generator capable of writing original songs based upon standard musical conventions. To this end,
a random note generator has been programmed to put out a sequence of notes with random pitch values and durations; this random note generator is then
given rules and parameters restricting and patterning its output so that the undefined, almost accidental sounds can be arranged into harmonious, structured,
and, ultimately, musical compositions. The random generator ensures the notes are arranged in an original format; the musical parameters ensure that the
arrangement conforms to structures of key, meter, and chords. The second objective of the project detailed is to determine the music generator's
output along certain emotional content. To this end, the rules and the parameters employed by the generator are specified by selected emotional commands:
happy, sad, soothing, restless. The emotional command entered will determine the use of certain rules, particularly of key (happy/sad) and meter
(soothing/restless). This project is tested through the participation of volunteers who listen to a selection of musical pieces generated by this program
and complete a survey in which they rate the "listenability" of each piece (determining the effectiveness of the overall musical structure) and the emotional
content, if any, they detected in each (determining the effectiveness of the specified emotional commands). The end result is an original music generator
capable of writing music with a specific emotional content, as validated through human response.
2007 - BE066
MULTICREAMATHEMATICS GAMES
Hernan Arroyo Lopez
Colegio Militar Gran Mariscal Ramon Castilla, Trujillo, PERU
esent investigation project, title multicreamathematics games, has an obj tives increases learning on the students of the high school, using games. The preent
AND-TO it is an activity and exchange: professor - student, student - student and student - it sets, in which puts at stake a series of intellectual activit
ies, dexterities motorboats and the professor's so much attitudes that it assumes the list of orientador of the learning, like on behalf of the student that is who lea
rns. The probm is ¿ in which degree influences the use of the multicreamathematics games in the lea ning of the mathematics area, in the studnts of the fifth d
egree of secondary education of the Gran Marisca
Ramón Castilla military scho l? The hypothesis is the learning t e mathematics
areaby the students w o are
exposed to the muticreamathematics games is increased in greater degree than in those that are not exposed to the multicreamathematics games. The method
is experimental, cuasi-experimental design, the of techniques to collect the information were the observation, survey and evaluation(pretest
and postest), using the techniques of statistic for the information processing: arimethic average, design standar, variation coefficient and T test for two tests
samples. The conclusions is : We compared the learning of mathematical area, in the fifth grade students of secondary education by the use of statistics of the
test T for two average samples where the positive influence could be verified that had the multicreamathematics games in the learning., We elaborated and
applied the MULTICREAMATHEMATICS GAMES promoting the learning of the “trigonometrical functions”, in the fifth Grade students of Secondary school.,
We measured the learning level of the “trigonometrical functions” in the fifth grade students of Secondary Education, using the statistical of the test T,
comparing the positive influence that has the MULTICREAMATHEMATICS GAMES in the learning. 
2007 - BE324
STEREOTYPES FROM YOUNG TO OLD
Meghan Sophia Luther, Veronika Biskis
H.P. Baldwin High School, Wailuku, Hawaii
Stereotypes From Young to Old The purpose of continuing our project was to determine if middle aged to senior citizens of Hawaii possessed
stereotypes. Not only stereotypes, but also, those in common with that of the younger generation (second graders). In last year’s project, we discovered that
stereotypes had formed in the minds of children as young as second grade. We hope to be able to discover if common stereotypes are being passed down
through generations. We realize that the senior citizens, having gone through life, have obtained their own opinions as well as that of those around them. They
have created stereotypes, and been stereotyped against. After examining our results, we realized that multiple stereotypes seem to share a common
result. These areas include, “Who robbed a bank”, “Who has the cooking pot?” and in “Who has the gun?” However, in other areas, senior citizens were
stereotyped when second graders were not, most likely due to more maturity. For example, in terms of marital status, the children weren’t as understanding as
those who had already gone through marriage itself. Even throughout the mental differences, there were far too many similarities to be just a coincidence.
Gerome Kagan said in the Harvard Education letter in 1998, "telling parents they have little influence on their children, is like declaring on a foggy September
morning that all the trees have disappeared because you cannot see them." 
2007 - BE306
A STUDY OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND ACADEMIC ABILITY IN TEENAGERS
Brett Lesley Mayer, Jillaine Renee Pfeifle
Timber Lake High School, Timber Lake South Dakota, USA
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a relationship exists between executive functioning of the brain and academic ability in teenage students in
Timber Lake High School. Twenty-six students, ranging in age from 14-18, from Timber Lake High School were given the Stroop test. From the Stroop
test, the researchers used the intereference score to determine the subject's ability to screen out interference and focus on the task at hand. The same
subject’s results from the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) were provided by the Timber Lake School Guidance Counselor. The counselor matched the
OLSAT scores to the corresponding subject’s Stroop test interference scores and concealed the subject’s identity for confidentiality purposes. Statistically,
scores from the Stroop test and OLSAT were analyzed for correlation. This pilot research study shows that there is no correlation between executive
functioning of the brain and academic ability. When each subject’s interference score was graphed against their OLSAT score, the correlation coefficient of the
scatter plot data was -0.02381. 
2007 - BE001
THE EFFECT OF GENDER ON PHYSICIANS' AND PHARMACISTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD PAIN AND THE USE OF NARCOTIC ANALGESICS
Mark H. McKenzie
Eastside High School, Gainesville, Florida, USA
There are no studies in the medical literature that examine gender of physicians and pharmacists related to opiophobic attitudes (fear of using narcotics) to
treat pain. The purpose of this project was to determine if the gender of 200 physicians and 403 pharmacists in Florida affected the degree of opiophobia as
demonstrated in a survey to assess attitudes toward pain and the use of narcotic analgesics. The survey instrument consisted of 37 statements that
assessed attitudes in four categories: knowledge of pain/treatment, fear of patient addiction to narcotics, apprehension of drug regulatory agencies, and
reluctance to prescribe/recommend narcotics for pain. Respondents indicated strongly agree to strongly disagree across a seven-point Likert scale. 
Results indicated a high degree of opiophobia with statistically significant differences between physicians’ and pharmacists’ attitudes in the above categories
except knowledge of pain. A correct response was designated for each of the 37 statements. Correct, incorrect, and neither agree/disagree responses were
given scores of 1, -1, and 0, respectively. The scores were summed within each of the four categories of the survey. The category means were analyzed using
analysis of variance for gender alone and gender interaction by physician and pharmacist groups. The analysis revealed that gender was not a statistically
significant factor. Therefore, the gender of physicians and pharmacists does not influence their opiophobic attitudes toward patients with pain.
Patients are at high risk for inadequate pain management with narcotics whether they receive care from male or female physicians or pharmacists. 
 
2007 - BE007
VISION AID II
Ricardo Wagner Melero
Fundacao Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brasil
In this project I developed two new prototypes of vision aids to help the visually impaired, use their remaining vision in a more effective way. I also present a
planning for the insertion of the Vision Aid in the market. According to the world health organization from 70 to 80% of the people considerate as blind
are not really blind and their remaining vision are not being used. That happens mostly because people don’t know of the existence of vision aids, perhaps
because those devices are very expensive and are of difficult adaptation. The objective of this project is to provide social insertion trough constructing
and providing low-cost vision aids to visually impaired people that can’t afford the ones that exist on the market, making the vision aid accessible for a large
number of people. I projected and constructed a innovator ring-monocular based on the principles of the Galileo telescope, which allows the
monocular to be constructed based on the needs of each person. I also constructed an ergonomic support with a magnifying lens attached on it, so the person
can read and write whit out having to bend its back and having to hold a magnifying lens, which was a very uncomfortable position that is now solved. The
prototypes were tested and proved to be efficient and low cost being able to introduce in the society and help a huge number of people increasing their quality
of life, self-esteem and giving them accessibility to the work market and education. 
2007 - BE032
INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR AND SPACING ON PUBLIC BENCHES: AN OBSERVATIONAL PROJECT CONDUCTED IN DC METRORAIL STATIONS
Anne Kelly Minoff
Yorktown High School, Arlington, VA, USA
A significant factor influencing human behavior in public spaces is a desire to defend one’s personal space from encroachment by strangers, and oneself from
unwanted attention. One method for preserving personal space and decreasing the chances of interaction is to increase physical distance from strangers. It
was hypothesized that people would consider strangers of the opposite gender to be more threatening than strangers of the same gender, and that this
difference would be reflected by greater seating distances between those of opposite genders in public places. Fifty-two people were observed
choosing seats beside strangers on public benches. Each subject’s gender and relative distance to his or her bench-mate was recorded. Distances were
approximated using a 10-to-one scale. Any behaviors exhibited by subjects, including reading, talking on a cell phone, etc., were recorded in observations. An
ANOVA test run on the distance data supported the null hypothesis, revealing no statistical difference in seating distances between those of the same or
opposite gender. However, an analysis of observational notes taken on each seating interaction suggested that subjects sitting at closer distances were more
likely to display “avoidance behaviors,” including reading, listening to music, using cell phones, and angling their bodies away from their bench-mates, than
were those sitting farther apart, regardless of gender. An ANOVA test run on this data revealed statistically significant differences in seating distances between
people exhibiting avoidance behaviors and people not exhibiting such behaviors, suggesting a correlation between seating distance and the use of avoidance
behaviors. 
First award of $1,000 - Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
2007 - BE063
ON THE WAY TO OUR ANCESTORS HOME: INCA WELTANSCHAUUNG OF A CAPACOCHA, IN THE SANCTUARY OF THE SUMMIT OF THE
LLULLAILLACO VOLCANO
Mauricio Isaias Montoya
Escuela de Comercio Republica de Panama - Concepcion, Tucuman, Argentina
In the Llullaillaco volcano (Salta, Argentina) 6.739 m high, three Inca children were offered to the gods, more than five hundred years ago. The research
objectives are to disclose features of their ritual deaths, to diffuse their Weltanschauung and to spread their scientific and cultural value . The 79% of
interviewed people ignore the attributes of the naturally frozen mummified bodies . 21% acknowledges the received cultural inheritance. Interviewed
specialists inform that the Capacocha, (ceremonial ritual death of The Maiden , 15 years, offered to Inti; the boy ,7 years, and the girl ,6 years, perhaps offered
to Viracocha and Illapu), began with a procession from Cuzco together with their parents, priests, inspectors and attendants, and lasted one year to arrive to
the Volcano. Ethnohisstoric and archaeological sources indicate the offerings and worship were carried out before sunset. In the altitude and cold,
sleepy with chicha and coca, they were packed and buried alive or suffocated, to become " malqui " (seed). Observation and analysis of trousseaus
and offerings allow to revalue gears, decorations, shoes; figurines of spondylus ,gold and silver; bags with foods, wood and ceramic objects, showing their
Weltanschauung : the certainty of continuing growing in heaven, of transferring nutritious essences to the spiritual beings, to propitiate rain and fertility,
becoming their own people’s messengers to the gods, reaffirming the Inca’s deity as son of the Sun. Diffusion Workshops of the material testimonies,
beliefs and customs will revalue the discovery. 
2007 - BE025
THE EFFECT OF PHENOTYPIC VARIATIONS ON A BISPECTRAL INDEX LEVEL DURING SLEEP
Adare Marie Morell
Okaloosa Walton Collegiate High School, Niceville Fl, United States
Research has demonstrated that persons with red hair require more anesthesia during surgery. This known fact about a practical difference that this phenotypic
characteristic may play a role in led me to my investigation. I obtained a machine called the BIS monitor. The BIS is a processed Electroencephalography
(EEG) parameter, derived from measurements which are then represented in a single number. The BIS has been shown to be a continuous measure of a
person's hypnotic state, with numbers from 100 when the subject is wide awake, to 0 when brain activity is absent. I measured the Bispectral Index Level (BIS)
during natural sleep and hypothesized that phenotypic variations of the individual being tested would affect the BIS reading. I studied 19 persons who
each spent a one hour period monitored by the BIS. Their lowest Bispectral Index Level was recorded. All reported achieving natural sleep during the
monitoring period. The BIS readings were then evaluated to determine if phenotypic differences within the population had an effect. Hair color and
gender did not demonstrate that they statistically influenced the BIS levels in my study. The non-phenotypic variable of age also failed to statistically show
differences in the BIS levels recorded during my study. However, a higher power study with a larger sample size and a more evenly distributed number of red
heads vs. non red heads is highly recommended. In my study, it is also indicated that anesthesiologists may want to re-evaluate the BIS level they keep
patients suppressed at during surgery due to an indication by my research that shows that humans can enter a significantly lower BIS level during natural sleep
than they are suppressed at during surgery. 
2007 - BE039
PSYCHO-SOCIAL EFFECTS CAUSED BY PATERNAL ABSENCE ON CHILDREN BETWEEN 7-11 YEARS OLD WITH SOLUTION BY MEANS OF
EXERCISES THAT STIMULATE DIALOGUE
Scott Miguel Munguia
Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus Guadalajara, Zapopan Jalisco, Mexico
The project has as objectives to determine the psycho-social effects caused by paternal absence (PA) on children between 7-11 years old, and to determine if
the exercises that stimulate dialogue can improve their social skills. An own measurement instrument was designed for this project with the purpose to give an
approximation to the development of 12 social skills on children. This instrument has 86 items and was applied in 2 stages by using a non-probabilistic
sampling method. First stage: n=140 children between 7-11 years old were divided in 2 equal parts; half with PA and half with paternal presence (PP). Social
skills of both groups were observed and analyzed on normal class work, and they were compared. Second stage: exercises that stimulate dialogue were
created and applied to n=10 children between 7-11 years old with PA. The development of the social skills of these children were registered and evaluated 5
times during 20 days. Results: children between 7-11 years old with PA have less development in all evaluated skills than children with both parents. Coyness
and apathy were the social conflicts that appeared more (27% and 24% respectively). Children of 7 years old with PA have a bigger conversation skill (73%)
than children with PP (66%); however, this skill diminishes significantly on the following years. The exercises that stimulate dialogue improved 32% the social
skills of children with PA. According to the results exists a problem with social behavior on children with PA. Exercises that stimulate dialogue could solve it.
 
Second Award of $1,000 - American Psychological Association
Full Tuition Scholarship Award - University of New Mexico
2007 - BE313
PROGRAMMING AND EMOTION-BASED ORIGINAL MUSIC GENERATOR THROUGH CONVENTIONAL MUSICAL PATTERNS
John Thomas Murphy, William Alexander Locke IV
St. Charles West High School, St. Charles, MO, USA
The first objective of the project detailed is to create a music generator capable of writing original songs based upon standard musical conventions. To this end,
a random note generator has been programmed to put out a sequence of notes with random pitch values and durations; this random note generator is then
given rules and parameters restricting and patterning its output so that the undefined, almost accidental sounds can be arranged into harmonious, structured,
and ultimately, musical compositions. The random generator ensures the notes are arranged in an original format; the musical parameters ensure the
arrangement conforms to structures of key, meter, and chords. The second objective of the project detailed is to determine the music generator’s
output along certain emotional content. To this end, the rules and the parameters employed by the generator are specified by selected emotional commands:
happy, sad, soothing, restless. The emo9tional command entered will determine the use of certain rules, particularly of key (happy/sad) and meter
(soothing/restless). This project is tested through the participation of volunteers who listen to a selection of musical pieces generated by this program
and complete a survey in which they rate the “listenability” of each piece (determining the effectiveness of the overall musical structure) and the emotional
content, if any, they detected in each (determining the effectiveness of the specified emotional commands). The end result is an original music generator
capable of writing music with a specific emotional content, as validated through human response. 
2007 - BE329
ACCIDENTAL COLOR
Raymundo Navarrete, Prido Polanco
Bisbee High School, Bisbee Arizona, United States
This project is designed to test how humans react to different colors, and if those reactions could increase or decrease our chances of getting in an accident. A
computer program was used to test the reaction time of certain students to different colors. The computer program suddenly changed a background color into a
different one in a computer monitor and measured the time it took each student to press a mouse key once the change was made. The reaction time procedure
was repeated a number of 576 times during the experiment. It was found that the color with the fastest reaction time is white. Hot Colors tend to have
faster reaction times than Cold Colors. An interesting pattern found is between the gray-scale colors. If arranged from darker to lighter in a reaction time vs.
color graph, a sine wave that passes through these colors is represented. The sine curve reappears when colors are graphed. If the color circle order is use
(blue, purple, red, orange, yellow, green; repeats), then a whole repetition of the sine curve is found in the color-reaction time graph. The contributions
of this project can be really benefitial in the future. If more experimentation is done, the exact mathematical sine curve that explains how each individual reacts
to different colors can be establish. This will not only help us to chose a safer car color, but could be used in other fields were color distinction and fast reaction
times are require. 
2007 - BE301
THE EFFECTS OF CHALLENGE ON VIDEO GAME QUALITY
Kyle Anthony Neblett, Cody Fields
Aloha High School, Beaverton, Oregon, U.S.A.
The Effects of Challenge on Video Game Quality The purpose of our project was to gain a better understanding of how willing people are to
overcome a given challenge (in the form of a video game), and how that degree of challenge makes a game more or less fun. Before our experiment we
hypothesized that given an increasingly difficult game, players would become more determined to beat it. We also believed that most players would eventually
beat the game after repeatedly playing it. To accomplish this, we created a hand-held video game that tested people on 3 different levels of difficulty. The
project was divided into two main parts: programming and graphics. Each was designed separately at first, and finally combined to create a playable game. Once a demonstration level was completed, it was given to 13 human subjects to test. The length of time needed by a subject to either complete or give up on
each difficulty level was recorded. The change in the amount of time spent on each progressing level of difficulty gave us the amount of time each player was
willing to spend at each stage of the game. Although all but 2 players spent more time on the game as it became harder, most reached their limit on the hardest
difficulty, and stopped playing. From this we concluded that while players were indeed willing to play longer, most would have been more comfortable playing a
game that could be beaten without too much trouble.
2007 - BE316
YOUR HANDS CAN GIVE YOU AWAY
Jade Breanne Northrop, Savannah Kay Croy
Ennis High School Ennis Montana United States
By observing a person's hand and body gestures, can certain personality traits be revealed, such as being an introvert or extrovert? Our
predictions were that people's gestures give away their personalities. We anticipated people with extroverted personalities would use many hand and body
gestures and people who are introverts would use few hand and body gestures. We used five human subjects for our experiment. First, we gave
them an eight-question response form to help us get an idea of their personalities. After that we determined whether they were introverts or extroverts. Next, we
asked them a set of seven questions that would require thorough answers. While the subjects answered the questions, we marked a checklist of body and
hand gestures the subjects might use during the experiment. The interviews took place in a quiet area to reduce distractions. We recorded all gestures the
subject made and also made note when one was used repeatedly. After the experiment we compared the results of the interview to our
predictions to determine if our hypothesis was right. The experiment proved correct. Our subject with the introverted personality did not use many hand or body
gestures. The subjects with extroverted personalities always used their hands and told us as much as they possibly could. After going back over our results, we
found that one of our subjects displayed both personalities. We came to the conclusion that people can have both introverted and extroverted tendencies; it just
depends on their surroundings. 
2007 - BE325
A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF DISPOSITIONS IN TEENAGE AFFFINITY AND PHYSICAL INTIMACY INSPIRED BY SOCIOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
DISPARITIES
Stephen Harper Odanovich, Ian Maya Panchevre
Tom C. Clark High School, San Antonio TX, USA
Darwinian theory argues that the most defining characteristics of a person are their attitudes towards love, family, attraction, and physical intimacy. A project
which seeks to capture the correlation between the identity of a person and their attitude to the aforementioned would help shed light on the behavior of people
and their societies. This project surveyed 6096 teenagers through an online survey. Prior to the survey there was a request for parental consent. The study was
blind and maintained confidentiality by not asking any identifying information. The participants were categorized in eight different ways: age, gender, ethnicity,
sexuality, wealth, religion, and social/political views. They were then asked questions which addressed the aforementioned areas. Statistical analysis showed
various correlations. The results confirmed the hypothesis regarding age, gender, and sexuality. The older the subject, the more comfortable he/she becomes
with sexual activity. Men are more driven by sexual desires whereas women are more driven by familial desires. Homosexuals desired popularity and family
less than heterosexuals. Furthermore, Hispanics and Blacks had a strong sense of family unity. It was found that the wealthier desired qualities that could be
used in further pursuit of wealth. In regards to religious, social, and political views a dichotomy between liberalism and conservatism became clear. Though the
results varied, it was clear that views are influenced by sociological and biological identity, which not only further identifies the population but also makes it
possible to predict the future course of societies.
2007 - BE006
EDUCIRE: GETTING A NEW MEAN OF TEACHING AND LEARNING ON THE INTERNET
Evandro Augusto Oliveira
Fundacao Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha - Novo Hamburgo - RS - Brasil
The purpose of the project Educire is to research on new means of teaching and learning processes on the internet, using a methodology based on an
education philosophy, to develop an interdisciplinary environment to enlarge didactic resources for teachers and to value the need of learning. Based
on researches, the project proposes a new sight of education through one of the greatest genius of humanity, Leonardo Da Vinci, this sight consists on the
development of an educational methods that links education and technology in order to improve the experience of teachers and students on the development of
knowledge. This new methodology will have as support a teaching environment directed at students’ needs, using new generation internet resources (web 2.0).
 This initiative will bring great benefits to the school community because it will promote the digital inclusion of teachers and students in the qualified use
of the internet, based on a new methodology of teaching that aims to improve the experience of students in the search of knowledge. The basis of the
philosophy takes into account that no advances in the teaching technology will solve the problem of education if it does not consider a method that develops
each student’s potential. 
2007 - BE058
VIOLENCE AND ADOLESCENT
Juan Carlos Ortiz-Velazquez
Fermin Delgado Diaz Middle School, Naguabo, Puerto Rico
The purpose of this research is that people get real information related to violence and its effects in adolescents.The problem established was: is violence
affecting the social, emotional and intellectual growth of adolescents? The hypothesis was that most of the surveyed adolescents were going to indicate
violence affects them emotionally and intellectually. To do this research, an eleven question questionnaire was prepared. It was administered to fifty
(50) students (thirteen to sixteen years old) from Fermín Delgado Díaz Second Unit Middle School in Naguabo. The answers to each questionnaire were
organized into tables. The data was analyzed using graphs. After analyzing the data it was found that 100% of the surveyed females considered
violence a big problem in school. On the other hand, only 50% of the surveyed males considered violence as a problem that affected the school. It was also
found that 90% of the respondents believed that violent persons’ behavior can be associated with poor academic performance. This research has increased
awareness of the violence that exits and has existed for a long period time in society. The results confirmed the hypothesis under study in this research. 
 
2007 - BE009
THE EFFECTS OF CONSUMING SNACK FOODS ON READING COMPREHENSION
John William O'Shea
Bagley High School; Bagley, Minnesota USA
My experiment was designed to test if eating while reading helps improve reading comprehension. I tested 8th grade students in a classroom setting. The first
day (control) the students read and tested on a reading selection. The following ten days students were provided with a variety of snacks while they read the
stories and completed the accompanying tests. I thought this experiment would exhibit that some foods should show improved reading
comprehension while reading - these are licorice, fruit snacks, and Slim Jims. I believed these foods would show positive results because they are chewy, as
studies present that chewing or sucking while reading show increased levels of concentration. The average percentage on the control day was
56.12%. My results showed that on Days 2, 6, and 9 the students scored the highest overall percentages. Day 2 had a score of 76.2% (licorice), Day 6 was
83.52% (Slim Jims), and Day 9 had 81.58% (pretzels). The days with the lowest overall percentages were Day 7 with 56.14% (trail mix) and Day 10 (Goldfish
crackers) with 61.25%. All days after the control day presented nearly the same, and in most cases higher percentages. I completed a rank-sum
statistical test to determine if the mean scores for each set of tests (control and experimental) were significant. The z value on the rank-sum test fell within the
acceptable range, and therefore I concluded that consuming snack foods can have a positive effect on reading comprehension. 
2007 - BE061
IDENTIFYING PATTERNS OF PREFERENCE IN DIFFERENT AGE AGROUPS APPLYING CLUSTER ANALYSIS: IS IT POSSIBLE TO QUANTIFY
BEAUTY?
Raissa Orlando Tavares Paes
Escola Americana de Campinas- SP Brazil
Throughout history, the concept of beauty has changed drastically. The apparel modified, following the transformations of the feminine body ideals. What
determines if a person is beautiful? What determines if an attire is pretty or not? These questions are still in open and are probably very complex to be totally
resolved. To answer some of these questions, an experiment was done using sketches of feminine dresses. First, fifteen gala dresses were drawn. Thirty
interviews were performed within three age groups varying from fifteen through eighty years old, where each person ranked the dresses according to ones
taste (interview matrix). Thirty variables were then created to characterize the shape and the accessories of the dresses. The data was then standardized due
to the numerical scale differences between the continuous and binary variables utilized (variable matrix). The two data matrixes were analyzed using
hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis. The metric resemblance between the dresses and variables was the simple Euclidian distance and the clustering
method was UPGMA. The matrixes data were compared between themselves using Mantel test using ultrametric distances. The result was that class 1 (15-25
years) had no relation with class 3 (60 and above). The features that class 3 preferred were those that class 1 most disliked. Class 2 was in between having no
relation with both of the other classes. The most coherent was class1 that presented the lowest average standard deviation. Definite patterns were identified
correlating age and preference, demonstrating that it is partially possible to quantify beauty.
2007 - BE022
DOES THE BRAIN COMPUTE MATHEMATICAL RISK? THE INFLUENCE OF RISK AND REWARD ON THE ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR OF HUMANS
Aditya Maruti Palepu
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Tech., Alexandria, Virginia, USA
The purpose of this experiment is to determine how reward values impact perceived risk by humans. Human risk analysis plays a major role everyday as they
operate on perceived risk and not on mathematical risk. Since perceived risk deals with several computations through the brain’s higher cognitive areas, we
explored the effects of age in this experiment. A computer based java Roulette game was devised for subjects in three age groups: 12-20 (Children), 21-25
(College kids), and 26-50 (Adults) years. The game involved two wheels with distinct number of sectors and a preset bet value, each of which were varied
between trials. The choices of the subjects (i.e. playing certain wheels over others based on their perceived riskiness, chances of winning, the bet value, and
potential earnings) are captured for each subject. The average risk taken by the subjects is evaluated at all reward values using the weighted pairwise
comparison method. The shape and nature of the graph (i.e. flat, linear, sigmoid) allowed us to evaluate the two system hypothesis. The pooled results show
no significant difference between children and college kids, however showed significant differences between adults and the other two groups. The younger age
groups tended to play the game with lower risk at all bet values compared to the adult group. The two system hypothesis acts slightly differently in this scenario
by not having both systems collaborate to make an “intermediate” decision, but rather the subject used either one or the other.
2007 - BE314
SYSTEM FOR THE DOWNS
Janesh Rajesh Patel, Chris Lagerlef
Clark High School, Plano TX, USA
If a child with Downs Syndrome is taught through a visual learning style, they will score the highest on a comprehension test. Using various books, recording
devices and testing environments, children were tested to determine which learning method allowed them to achieve the highest score possible, and if a blue
background could also increase the score. The results were that using visual aides had the highest success rate of 82 % in the normal learning environment.
The lowest learning method was the audio with 44%. The blue environment completely enhanced the results. In fact the level of significance between using the
blue room versus using the normal room was 99% statistically significant. Not one average in the blue environment was under 75%, with the visual method
scoring the highest percentile once again with an average of 94%. These results could very well change the face of schools in the world, leading to an increase
in the scores using the blue learning environment. This information could easily lead to a brighter future for the handicapped children of America. Future
applications for this information could be using the various learning styles and learning environments and discovering which is the best for non handicapped
children.
2007 - BE055
CONTEXT NOT CONTENT: AN FMRI STUDY ON CATEGORICAL RESPONSES IN THE HUMAN BRAIN
Sophia Ariella Porrino
Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ, USA
The degree of functional specialization in the brain is not well understood. The fusiform face area (FFA) and parahippocampal place area (PPA) are two brain
regions that have been implicated in the selective processing of faces and places, respectively. When making specificity arguments, however, it is crucial to
realize that images of faces and places differ on more dimensions than solely content. For example, specialized brain activity could be due to differences in eye
movements, predictability, familiarity, or the salience or attentional load of the stimuli. I used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine if
activity in the PPA can be modulated by changes in attentional load rather than solely by changes in content. By creating images of standard faces, unusual
faces, standard buildings and unusual buildings, I was able to pair two sets of stimuli in various arrangements and determine which brain areas most active
during which conditions. Although I determined that activity in the PPA can be explained by neither changes in attentional load nor by oculomotor processes, I
discovered that the presence of diverse stimuli within one run creates powerful contextual changes. In fact, large contextual changes result in shifts in functional
specificity. Specifically, the FFA loses sensitivity to place stimuli and the PPA gains sensitivity to place stimuli in the presence of contextual changes. This type
of plasticity suggests that individual brain regions can adapt their functionality to different situations and that holistic context is indeed more important than
content. The power of context to override content information may well be a general mechanism that operates throughout the entire brain in addition to the
visual cortex. Furthermore, this discovery lends insight into improved neurosurgical fMRI procedures and greater accuracy in localizing enemy location during
security or combat operations.
2007 - BE038
A GAME OF THEORY
Willie Tenell Reaves, Jr.
Muskogee High School, Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA
The purpose of this project was to determine if the “uniqueness factor” of game theory influences the selections that students make on exams. Published
research indicated that interior options are often chosen over exterior options, and therefore Survey 2 was used to verify the validity of my hypothesis. An
interior option indicates options two or three on the survey, because they are on the “inner” section of the page, while the first and fourth options are external,
being at the top and bottom of the page. The surveys were administered to a random sample of fifty Muskogee High School students. After locating a
willing participant, the project and its associated Consent Form were explained to him/her, and his/her understanding of both were ascertained. The participant
completed the surveys and Consent Form, which were numerically organized according to each participant, and the data was recorded in a data log. 
 After conducting data analysis, it was determined that the majority (56%) of students chose the most unique option on Survey 1, and that 30% of students
chose the most unique option on Survey 2. Survey 1 was designed to test distinctiveness, and Survey 2 to ascertain the accuracy of results. The
conclusion of this experiment was that there was not enough evidence to support my null hypothesis, and thus that uniqueness of options does indeed affect
students’ exam choices. 
2007 - BE002
A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN TWO COMPUTER PLATFORMS AND THE PAPER/PENCIL VERSION WHEN USED BY NURSING STUDENTS TO
DOCUMENT PATIENT RECORDS
Brian Michael Rollman
SESO,Mayaguez, PR
Nurses must spend a considerable amount of time documenting the care they give to their patients. Failure to do so may result in the reduction of quality in
patient care. Studies have shown that computers allow healthcare workers to improve communication processes. Yet most of the literature used for these
studies is descriptive writing rather than comparative writing. This research investigated`` if there is any significant difference between the charting time,
number of errors and number of tasks completed by nursing students when charting in two electronic platforms (laptop and Tablet pc) vs. the paper –based
one. Fifteen 3rd and 4th year nursing students were provided with a 15 and 8 minute tutorial sessions and practice time on the 3 documentation platforms.
Later students were required to perform 8 charting tasks in each one of the platforms. Students were also required to complete a satisfaction survey at the end
of the testing activities. Analysis of variance at a .05 alpha level showed that there was enough evidence to: a) accept that there is a significant difference in the
overall time nursing students took to do their documentation(F = 6.84) and b) in their preference over the 3 platforms under investigation (F = 4.71). No
significant variances were found for the number of errors (F = .014) and completion of tasks (F = .098). Findings from this study suggest that electronic
documentation applications provide nursing students with a time saving tool to implement documentation. Nursing programs nationwide must consider
enhancing nursing education by introducing electronic platforms within the content of their courses. Such changes will help train nurses to be able to improve
the quality of patient care and help to contain the cost of health care services in the future 
2007 - BE027
WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO BECOME SERIAL KILLERS?
Samantha Paige Elizabeth Rowe
Marion Harding High School, Marion, Ohio, USA
eve that childhood experiences can be linked as a factor causing people to become serial killers. This is because childhood experiences play a major role in ad
ult life. If the child does not learn how to deal with stress and abuse properly, then this could cause negative effects on the child in their later years. I
gathered data from a database, which gave a list of a little over a hundred serial killers and mass murderers. The mass murderers were separated from the s
erial killers and were not included in my research. I also received from the internet several profiles. I did a factor analysis that used 33 serial killers and 10 varia
bles. I could only use 33 serial killers because they were the only individuals that had information available for all 10 variables. The variables I included were:
 Childhood risk factors; Age of 1st sexual experience; Military history; Triad (animal torture, bed wetting, and fire setting); Psychological risk facto
rs; Birth order; Number of victims; Behavior during crime factors; After death behavior; and Age when arrested. In the factor analysis I looked at four f
actors because I had four eigenvalues that were above 1.00. I concluded from my loading values that the four different factors were: Psy
chological Risk Factors Environmental Factors Genetic Factors Sexual/Deviant Behavior I found that there are several factors
as to what makes people kill. Childhood experiences do play a major role but so do several other factors, such as genetics and experiences throughout life.
 
2007 - BE044
EFFICACY OF THE MODIFIED CONDITIONED DEFEAT MODEL IN ODOR RECOGNITION
Rajasree Roy
Chamblee Charter High School, Chamblee, Georgia, USA
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder causes severe psychological consequences subsequent to highly stressful events. Since competition for necessary resources
and agonistic interactions determine an animal’s longevity, many animal species experience social stress. One method for examining the physiological and
behavioral effects of social stressors is known as conditioned defeat. In this, an experimental animal is defeated by a larger, more aggressive animal. After
initial defeat, the animal shows submission even to a smaller, non-aggressive intruder. A previous model presented variability in the behaviors of nonaggressive intruders. Thus, the goal of this study was to elicit submissive behavior in the experimental animal when exposed to a caged-stimulus animal twentyfour hours post-defeat. Hamsters rely heavily on their olfactory systems and display good fear responses. For these reasons, they are viable experimental
subjects and enable odor recognition to be used to determine how hamsters respond when exposed to the same or different stimulus animal post-defeat.
Defeated animals actively avoided the caged-stimulus animal and were submissive. However, undefeated animals were highly social. The effects of
conditioned defeat elicited anxiety in subjects in an elevated plus maze twenty-four hours following testing. Naïve animals spent the longest time in the closed
and center arms, followed by the defeated group and undefeated group, respectively. Therefore, by studying the effects of stress in hamsters, a better
understanding of stress in humans and other organisms can be gained, and steps can be taken to lessen the detrimental consequences. 
2007 - BE015
DIFFERENTIATING EARLY-ONSET BIPOLAR DISORDER FROM ADHD, A TWO-YEAR STUDY
Zachary Adam Rubin
Canterbury School, Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.A.
Childhood bipolar disorder is one of the most disabling forms of mental illness and a major challenge has been to differentiate children with early-onset bipolar
disorder from those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The purpose of this two-year study was to differentiate symptoms of early-onset bipolar
disorder, symptoms of ADHD, and behaviors of normal childhood and adolescence so that children can be properly diagnosed and appropriately treated for
bipolar disorder. The first year of experimentation determined symptoms that are associated with early-onset bipolar disorder. Using these results, the second
year of this experiment sought to differentiate symptoms of early-onset bipolar disorder from symptoms of ADHD and from behaviors of normal childhood and
adolescence. I hypothesized that there would be a statistically significant difference between the Bipolar group and the ADHD group as well as the Bipolar
Group and the Control group for positive bipolar disorder symptomatology. A questionnaire containing 27 questions concerning prominent symptoms of bipolar
disorder revealed by the first part of this research was used. The questionnaire and informed consent form were given to 15 teenagers diagnosed with ADHD
and to a control group of 15 teenagers without this diagnosis. Neither group had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Statistical analysis supported the hypothesis
and revealed that 19 of the bipolar symptoms used for this experiment were not typically found in those with and without ADHD. This focused group of
symptoms would be useful in differentiating children with bipolar disorder from children with ADHD and those with typical child and adolescent behaviors.
2007 - BE042
ASSOCIATION OF SIBLING RIVALRY ON PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOMES OF MOTIVATION AND EMOTION
Arthi Satyanarayan
Hamilton High School, Chandler, Arizona, USA
Sibling rivalry is a type of competition or animosity among brothers and sisters, blood-related or not. Healthy family environments could lead siblings to motivate
each other, whereas family environments with family conflict could have a more negative effect on the relationship between siblings. The ability to regulate
emotions entails modulating emotional experience to attain desired affective states and adaptive outcomes. Family conflict is associated with negative
psychological outcomes in children, such as aggression and hostility, anxiety, depression, and poor self-efficacy. Thus, sibling rivalry was tested against
personal mastery, depression and anxiety, hostility, achievement motivation, and family conflict. Participants from higher-conflict families reported more sibling
rivalry (R=.420, p<.01). It was found that higher sibling rivalry was correlated with increased hostility (R=.229, p<.01) and depression (R=.306, p<.01), but lower
sense of personal mastery (R=-.115, p<.05), and achievement and grade point averages (R=-.097, p<.05). There was no evidence that the relation between the
psychological variables differed based on family conflict. Even in low conflict families, more sibling rivalry was associated with more psychological distress.
Furthermore, it was found that families with married parents and families with divorced parents tend to have similar amounts of sibling rivalry, differing only by a
.02 correlation. Thus, parental arrangement may not be as significant to sibling rivalry. However, the degree of competition— motivating (in low conflict), or
degrading (in high conflict)— may be a possible explanation why parental arrangement was not statistically significant to sibling rivalry. 
2007 - BE320
BRAIN LATERALIZATION: GETTING A HAND ON LEARNING AND HOW THE BRAIN WORKS
Katy Fay Schramm, Abbielee Gardner
Academy for Math, Engineering & Science, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
In this study, possible connections between cognitive abilities and hemispheric dominance were tested. Two questions were considered: oCan tests
be created and used to classify individuals as “left” or “right” brain dominant? oDo math, reading and visual learning abilities differ according to which
side of the brain dominates? It was hypothesized that the mathematical, reading and visual reasoning skills of students differ according to the
dominant cerebral hemisphere. Two experiments were performed, one at the Academy for Math, Engineering & Science (AMES), and the other at a
local College. Forty-one subjects, ages 15 to 18, participated in the AMES study. Twenty-nine subjects, ages 18 and older participated in the study involving
college students. Test results were compared to a Right Brain Dominance questionnaire (RBD), which was used to scale preference for the right hemisphere.
Regression analysis and Pearson Correlation tests were used to compare tests results and RBD scores. Testing materials were modified and improved to
pursue testing on college age subjects, which were considered more reliable. For these data, there were no correlations between math, reading and optical
illusion test scores compared to RBD scores. A tangram activity was added to enhance visual testing. These data support a correlation between visual abilities
and RBD scores. RBD scores tended to increase in subjects with faster Tangram completion scores (P<0.05). Data also showed an increase in RBD scores
when subject’s data were grouped by the number of tangrams solved (0, 1, 2, 3+) (P<0.01). 
2007 - BE052
ATTITUDES, EXERCISE AND STRESS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF DENTAL STUDENTS-YEAR 3
Sarah Tamar Silverstein
Patrick Henry High School, San Diego, CA, USA
Dental school is stressful, but few studies examine factors that can mitigate stress. This longitudinal study tests the hypotheses that positive attitudes and
exercise will be associated with lower stress in dental students, and that the amount and sources of stress will change over time. Dental Environment
Stress (DES) scale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Stress Rating were completed by dental students during their third year (Year 3) when life satisfaction,
optimism, happiness and exercise were also assessed. Stress had been assessed during each of the two previous years. Data was available for 234 students
(142 men, 92 women) from Years 1 and 3; 202 from Years 1, 2 and 3. Life satisfaction, optimism, happiness (ps<.0001) and exercise (ps<.05) were inversely
associated with DES, PSS and Stress Ratings. Life satisfaction, optimism and happiness increased with exercise. Men, married and older students had more
positive attitudes and lower stress. Men, single and younger students exercised more. Stress increased between Years 1 and 3 (ps<.0001 for DES and PSS;
p=.048 for Stress Rating), but changes in stress varied by school mirroring changes over time in exercise. Stress from schoolwork was high at Year 1,
increased at Year 2 (ps<.01) but decreased at Year 3 (ps<.01). Stress from school atmosphere was low at Year 1 and increased over time (ps<.0001). 
 Positive attitudes and exercise were associated with lower stress suggesting possible interventional strategies to benefit dental students. Stress increased
and sources changed over time; variation between schools reflects differences in exercise patterns. 
2007 - BE005
"CACHAZA : WASTE OR FERTILIZER"
Adolfo Luis Soraire
Escuela de Comercio La Trinidad - La trinidad -Tucuman - Argentina
The purpose of “THE SECOND STAGE OF THE PROJECT” is to show the benefits that the installation of a dehydrator and pelleter plant of cachaza would
produce in Trinidad and its surrounding areas .This would give the town a genuine labour alternative through the creation of sources of jobs and in this way,
unemployment would decrease. The principal objective are: - to improve the social situation that was generated by the bad use of the
subproduct “CACHAZA” from a long time ago. - To avoid pollution and decrease the costs of production, this would allow the producers to acceed to a
fertilizer and a soil improver of excellent quality. Bibliographic investigation and interviews were made and the results are the following: The
installation of the plant would improve the social background, solve an environmental problem and allow the producers to use the dehydrated cachaza which
would determine a progressive increase of the production capacity of the cultivated soils obtaining in this way a high quality product. The benefits of
the dehydrator plant would permit to solve a social problem and the employment of the subproduct “cachaza” by small and big producers. 
2007 - BE030
HUMAN PERCEPTION OF MISSING FUNDAMENTALS IN MUSIC AND SPEECH
Karl Matthew Speer
Central Virginia Governor's School, Lynchburg, Virginia, United States
As technology allows for smaller and smaller audio devices—mp3 players, cell phones, radios—the diminishing size causes certain portions of the reproduced
frequency spectrum to be omitted, thus coloring the sound. This research was conducted to determine whether humans perceived missing fundamental
frequencies with more ease in either music or speech. Forty pairs of audio tracks consisting of either music or speech were played to a college-age student.
Half of the music pairs and half of the speech pairs had a fundamental removed from one member of the pair. Nine subjects were instructed to listen to the
audio pairs and responded whether they perceived a difference in the pairs. The study was conducted at a local women’s college at scheduled times from
December 12 to December 15 of 2006. It was discovered through a Chi-squared test that missing fundamentals in music were perceived with more ease than
in speech (p < .0001). A significant relationship (p < .02) was found between missing fundamental perception and the instrument producing the perceived note
through another Chi-squared test. A third Chi-squared test revealed a significant relationship (p < .005) between missing fundamental perception and the pitch
of a note.
2007 - BE302
THE INFLUENCE OF SELF-ESTEEM IN THE LEARNING PROCESS II
Alexandre Borges Alves Spindola, Lidiane Leal Andriolla
Fundacao Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brasil
roject is the result of a research on the influence of self-esteem in the learning process. The primary objective was to verify if the self-esteem of a 4th grade
student would affect his learning revenue. For such, self-esteem was measured through the beliefs the student had about his own capability of learning. After
that, it was analysed the linear correlation between the measured self-esteem and the learning revenue of the students. The research was carried out w
ith 4th grade students from two schools. For the quantitative research, each student received a questionnaire, with 20 items, to measure his “schoolar selfesteem”. This Questionnaire has already passed by an exploratory factorial analysis after being applied on 133 students, for measuring their “school selfesteem”. Besides, it was made a qualitaive analysis through interviews with six students from each group, their respective parents and teachers. Thus,
a triangulation was made between the quantitative and qualitative methods, which is, according to DENZIN (1989), “the most reliable way of making social
researches”. With help from the SPSS 14.0 software on the statistical analysis, the results obtained have shown a significant linear correlation (r>0,7;
p<0,05) between self-esteem and learning revenue. Therefore, it was concluded that self-esteem has influence on the students’ learning revenue. Besides, it
was verified that the idea the parents and teachers have about the child reflect directly on the idea he has about himself. Before such conclusions, the idea is to
develop a permanent work at the schools to improve the students’ self-esteem. 
2007 - BE057
THE EFFECT OF FACIAL EXPRESSION ON ALTRUISTIC HELPING IN YOUNG CHILDREN
Sara Kate Spiro
Central Bucks High School West, Doylestown, PA, USA
Altruism has been defined as unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others, and has been found in children as young as 18 months. This study
specifically evaluated the effect of facial expression on altruistic behavior in young children. It was hypothesized that a smiling facial expression would increase
the likelihood of young children to exhibit altruistic behavior. A total of 22 subjects from the ages of 16 to 51 months were randomly divided into a
control and an experimental group. All children underwent two tests, designed to quantitate altruistic behavior, which involved picking up a dropped object and
retrieving a missing object. Exactly half of the subjects showed altruistic behavior on at least one of the two tests. Four of the ten subjects in the
control group (40%) exhibited altruistic behavior in at least one test. Seven of the twelve experimental subjects (58%) exhibited altruistic behavior. Subjects in
the experimental group were 45% more likely to exhibit altruistic behavior in comparison to subjects in the control group. With this data, the approximate value
of a smile in terms of altruism was found as increasing the likelihood of altruistic behavior 1.45 times. A positive correlation was also seen when the extent of
altruistic behavior was plotted against subjects’ ages: all altruistic behavior was seen in children of 32 months and older. This study confirmed, using the
scientific method, what parents and child development experts have always assumed- a smile increases the likelihood of altruistic behavior in children. 
 
Alternate Scholarship winners - University of New Mexico
2007 - BE049
A DERMATOGLYPHIC STUDY OF AUTISTIC TWIN PAIRS
Derick John Stace-Naughton
Robert M. LaFollette High School, Madison, WI, United States of America
Dermatoglyphic variables are markers on the skin, formed during early intrauterine life, from the 7th to 21st weeks of gestation. Because of the embryological
linkage of neurological and dermatoglyphic development, the analysis of dermatoglyph variables can help determine the abnormalities of intrauterine life that
may have affected neurological development (Wolman et al., 1990). Though many dermatoglyphic studies have been conducted on a variety of populations,
the current literature is inconclusive in terms of the heritability of dermatoglyphic variables. Furthermore, no conclusions can be drawn regarding the validity of
dermatoglyphic variables as determinants of autism spectrum disorders. This study analyzes the dermatoglyphs, and in particular the palmar a-b ridge count, of
both monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs, in which at least one child had an autism spectrum diagnosis. The sum left and right hand a-b ridge counts, as well
as left versus right hand asymmetry counts, were calculated for each twin. Examination revealed no significant relationships between dermatoglyphic variables
and the autistic population studied, and a heritability analysis suggests an almost purely environmental basis for autism spectrum disorders.
2007 - BE050
QUINOLINIC ACID INDUCED NEUROTOXICITY AND THE PROTECTION OF COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN PLANARIA USING TAURINE
Lacey Nicole Stansill
Seneca High, Seneca, MO, US
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly and is not curable or reversible. Recent research has shown that the build up of
quinolinic acid may be a contributing factor in the development of AD. The purpose of this research was to determine if the supplement taurine can prevent
neurotoxicity caused by quinolinic acid. To answer this question planaria were first trained to turn opposite of their preference then placed in solutions
containing both quinolinic acid and taurine to see if the learned response was retained. Results showed that only 10% of the quinolinic acid group retained their
memory compared to 45% of the taurine and quinolinic acid group. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the quinolinic
acid and the taurine groups, meaning that the taurine acted to protect the planaria’s memory from the neurotoxic effects of the quinolinic acid, thus proving that
taurine could used for Alzheimer’s patients to help protect them against neurotoxicity.
2007 - BE008
SHORT-TERM AND WORKING MEMORY IN CHILDREN: A COMPARISON OF VISUAL SEQUENCES AND PATTERN RECALL
Columbia High School, Lake City Florida, United States of America
This project is assessing short-term and working memory in children. Four different tests were used: Picture pattern and picture sequence tests, a Corsi Block
Test, a Digit Span Test, and the Visual Patterns Test (Feltham, Suolk: Thames Valley Test Company, 1997). The first two questions tested short-term memory,
while the other three tested working memory. Five different questions were asked: is pictorial recall better when presentation is in patterns or sequences, does
age have an effect on this picture to sequence ratio, does age have an effect on the VPT score, does age have an effect on the ratio of Corsi to Digit test
scores, and does age have an effect on the ratio of Corsi to VPT scores? Participants amounted to 67 total, ages 5 to 18. Each was given either version A or
version B of each test, and every student received the same information before and after each test. Total testing time equaled fifteen minutes per student. My
results showed statistical data to accept the following: pictorial presentations are equal in effect, this ratio is equal among age groups, age does affect the VPT
score, age affects the Corsi to Digit ratio, and age affects the Corsi to VPT ratio. Full analysis of the data suggests that students are affected by pattern
presentation (based on VPT scores), when assessing working memory. It also suggests that we are underutilizing our teaching resources for presentation
though out the age groups. This data is also applicable for further scientific study.
Tuition Scholarship Award in the amount of $8,000 - Office of Naval Research on behalf of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
2007 - BE018
A SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS: THE PERSONAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN A SECONDARY SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT
Eric Russell Stipe
West Salem High School, Salem, Oregon, USA
In any given place--be it a school, an office building, even a community--a social network is present. These social networks provide an interesting insight into
the connections and interactions that are being made within a system. The purpose of my research and experimentation is to construct a Social Network
Analysis within the confines of West Salem High School. I hypothesize that with the current architecture of the school, the face-to-face interactions among
faculty will be departmentally oriented; that cross-building communication will be very limited and the system as a whole will be somewhat segregated. This
Social Network Analysis (SNA) which I shall construct will offer visual representation of the interactions taking place within school. With the given information,
this question is addressed: What variables within the system could potentially be altered to provide a more connected network; a network where face-to-face
communication between faculty and students is facilitated and encouraged?
2007 - BE021
EVEN FOOTING: THE EFFECT OF PERSONALITY TYPE ON PERFORMANCE IN MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTING
Erika Elizabeth Swartz
West Potomac High School, Alexandria, Virginia, United States of America
This research study examined the effect of MBTI personality type on performance in multiple choice testing. It aimed to determine qualitatively whether or not
the format of multiple choice testing rewards the intuitive thinking style to the detriment of sensates.. Some literature suggests that timed multiple choice testing
favors the intuitive type. Based on this study, the researcher hypothesized that intuitives would outperform sensates on a general multiple choice test. Thirty
two subjects were given a General Knowledge Multiple Choice Test designed by the researcher and a personality inventory. The subjects, 11th grade AP US
students, were 40% intuitive, 50% sensing, and 10% type inconclusive. The subject’s test performance was analyzed by questions correct out of completed,
number of questions completed, and scored PSAT-style. t-tests determined that there was no statistically significant difference between the performance of the
types in any category. However, the 75th percentile of test scores was 60.2% intuitive. Upper percentiles in general contained more intuitives than sensates
and the general subject pool. This phenomenon merits further investigation. A large national test pool of PSAT and SAT takers already exists. Standardized
testing and testing in general are of critical importance to student’s careers. Strategies of the successful type could be used to help the less successful type
perform to potential on tests. This study also has implications for the test preparation industry.
2007 - BE048
CIVILIANS VS. THE MILITARY: PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON THE PERSONALITY USING NAME ANALYSES
Liesl Anne Swoyer
F. W. Springstead High School, Spring Hill, Florida, USA
This project explored the personalities of two populations, military and civilian, with the hope of creating a military database that would identify personality traits
to better categorize recruits. The two populations were surveyed to find any differences in their personality traits and to determine the predictability of said traits
in each group using name analyses. It was predicted that the civilian population would be consistent with the name analyses, and the military population would
show different traits than the civilians. A survey was used to collect information on the personality of every subject. Each survey was compared to a controlled
name analysis, which describes the subject’s personality based on their name, to confirm the predictability of personality characteristics. The answers given by
the civilian population were compared to those of the military population to determine which traits were evident in one group and not the other. Separate
statistical analyses were completed to determine the results of this two-part experiment. Binomial distribution and a bell-shaped curve were used in the first
analysis. The results of the test revealed that there was not enough evidence to prove that the Kabalarian’s philosophy of name analysis was true at the five
percent (0.05) significance level. A large sample statistical test for the difference between two population proportions was used to analyze the results of the
second part of the experiment. The outcome of this test demonstrated that there were not significant differences at the five percent significance level to indicate
that civilians and military personnel differed in their levels of emotion, extroversion, and/or procrastination. 
2007 - BE312
EXAMINING SOCIAL SKILLS, BEHAVIORAL ADJUSTMENT, AND REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS IN PARENTS AND SIBLINGS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH
AUTISM
Nathalie Fay Tadena, Jessica Palmer
Ossining High School, Ossining, NY, USA
s provide evidence that autism is a genetic disorder placing siblings of individuals with autism at a greater risk of developing social deficits and malad
aptive behavior. This s dy examined trends of social impairment, maladaptive behavior, and repetitive behaviors in multiple incidence autism spectrum disorde
r families. The samp
e consisted of 88 unaffected (non-autistic) siblings and 72 parents of children with autism and 86 siblings and 46 parents of normally
developing children. One parenfrom each family was administered the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale to assess the social skills and behavioral adjustmen
t of children, the Personality Questionnaire to assess the respondent’s social skills, and the Personal Need for Structure Scale, to assess level of repetitive
behaviors. Results found unaffected siblings of individuals with autism to have less developed social skills (p= .033) and higher levels of repetitive behaviors
than siblings of normally developing children (p=.002). No significant differences were found between the behavioral adjustment of unaffected siblings of
children with autism and that of siblings in the comparison group (p>.05). In both groups of siblings, there were significant inverse relationships between the
development of social skills and maladaptive behavior and between child’s age and development of maladaptive behaviors (p<.05). Parents of children with
autism had significantly less developed social skills than parents in the comparison group (p<.012). In autism families only, aspects of children’s socialization
skill levels were correlated with socialization levels of fathers (p<.05). In families without a history of autism, children's level of repetitive behaviors was
significantly correlated with mothers' and fathers' level of repetitive behaviors respectively (p<.01).
2007 - BE026
EFFECTS OF PLAYING DIFFERENT VIDEO GAME GENRES ON GEOMETRIC, SPATIAL, AND VERBAL REASONING SKILLS OF ADOLESCENTS
James Edward Thompson
Oak Grove High School, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
The study attempted to determine the effects of playing different types of video games on geometric, spatial, and verbal reasoning skills of local adolescents.
The video games compared were puzzle, strategy, and role-playing games. The study also proposed to determine any gender differences in performance in the
three cognitive abilities. Each participant completed a five-minute pretest in a cognitive reasoning category, played a video game for fifteen minutes, and
completed a structurally identical, but somewhat different posttest. On the test, the participant noted his or her gender and the average number of hours the
participant had played video games over the previous two-month period. All video games were rated appropriate for everyone by the ESRB and contained no
emotionally stressing material. All testing was conducted at approximately the same time of day in similar physical surroundings. There was also a control
group that did not play any video game. The control group had highly restricted behaviors to prevent any use of the cognitive abilities in the study; the data of
this group provides a useful standard of comparison with that of the experimental groups. The results of the study indicate that there are no significant effects of
playing any game on any of the reasoning abilities. Furthermore, the data also suggests that there are no significant gender differences in performance in
geometric, spatial, or verbal tasks. Finally, the results indicate that most high school students play little or no video games.
2007 - BE060
ETHNOMATHEMATICS IN THE GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN WOVEN FABRICS OF THE INDIGENOUS KALINGAS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Hester Mana Docasao Umayam
Philippine Science High School,Bayombong Nueva Vizcaya,Philippines
This study dealt mainly on finding the frieze patterns applied on the derived patterns acquired from the Kalinga woven fabrics. Addition to this was determining
the Kalinga native name and symbol for the Kalinga people or the Kalingas of the derived patterns including if a derived pattern is for the low, middle or high
class of Kalingas. The assistance of the Kalinga weavers was sought for this project. Microsoft Paint was used to derive the patterns into strips of black
and white form from colored woven fabrics. This study showed that Kalinga weavers based their patterns from what they can see from their cultures,
beliefs, practices, and surroundings but not by the use of mathematics specifically the idea of transformations and frieze patterns. The symbol, rather than the
complexity and size of a certain pattern, was the main basis of social stratification. There were also patterns that were applicable to all the groupings of
Kalingas. Moreover, the derived patterns were related to each other not only from their symbol for the Kalingas but also from their appearance and the
transformations applied to these patterns. In addition, the results implied that Kalinga weavers are partly conscious or unaware that they possess a
very high sense of symmetry, regularity and order because frieze pattern F7 (translation, horizontal and vertical reflection and rotation) was more frequently
seen and used by Kalinga weavers compared to the other frieze patterns. The weavers were designing more patterns for low class Kalingas compared to the
other classes. 
2007 - BE016
UPON THE ANALYSIS OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S HANDWRITING, WILL GRAPHOLOGY DERIEVE AN INTERPRETATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT
COINCIDES WITH THE INDIVIDUAL'S INTERPRETATION OF THEIR SELF
Evelyn Velez
Edgewater High School, Orlando Florida, USA
The extension of the experiment was intended to find out if peers of a student will say the same things about a student that their handwriting says about them.
 I hypothesized that peer views will match analysis reports more accurately than writers' views. This relationship was researched
using computer created analysis reports compared to answers. Students in grades 9-12 were studied and split into two groups. (Grades 9/10 =
lower classmen, grades 11/12 = upper classmen.) Using computer software and an analysis kit created by myself, lower classmen showed 25%
variation and 8% significant. In upper classmen, use of software and kit led to 17% variation, with 0% significant. I concluded that
older students were more likely to have handwriting that shows the way they see themselves, and the views of peers are consistent throughout the age groups.
 
2007 - BE322
THE SAN FRANCISCO PASS, AN OPEN DOOR TO THE WORLD
Jose Daniel Vera, Carrafiello, Mara Virginia
Municipal School No.1 Catamarca Capital Argentina
The investigation is centered in the commercial development and the regional integration through the San Francisco's Pass located in the mountain range of
the Andes county of Catamarca, which meant a transcendent impact for the north region of Argentina and Chile. The present work has these
objectives: Exchange opinions about the importance of the San Francisco’s Pass with the social main characters involved in the thematic that join us (Govern,
Private sector and Population of our county and of the Republic Argentina),know the strategic reasons that give power to the use of the San Francisco’s Pass,
spread at local, regional, national and international level the advantages that this cordilleran pass has with regard to other passes located to the north and
south of Argentina. The hypothesis of work maintains that the San Francisco’s Pass will allow the regional integration and the economical ascent of
the macro region ATACALAR and it will compete with aspirations of supremacy over other cordilleran passes located in the north and south of Argentina,
keeping in mind the strategic reasons that give power to its use. After these considerations we conclude: The international San Francisco’s Pass
states a way to a structural change of the macro region ATACALAR with the incorporations of the Argentinian counties of Córdoba, Santiago del Estero,
Tucumán y Santa Fe. This pass represents the key for the integration and the development of the ZICOSUR (Zone of integration of the south cone), admitting
its advantages in relations to other geographical regions. 
2007 - BE054
THE EFFECTS OF VIDEO GAME EXPERIENCE ON LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY PROFICIENCY
Mark A. Vitale
duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
This study determined whether video-gamers are more proficient at learning laparoscopic surgery than non-gamers. The hypothesis was that video gamers
would be more proficient at laparoscopic surgery than non-video gamers because of the dexterity, understanding 2D visuals in a 3D manner, hand-eye
coordination, and ability to use a video screen effectively learned from videogames. Subjects were asked to fill out a survey about general information
and video game usage. An equation was created to determine the “gamer” level of a subject. Subjects were tested on the SZABO-BERCI-SACKIER
laparoscopic trainer. Three skill sets created specifically for this study were used to gauge a subject’s skill in laparoscopic surgery. Proficiency was measured
using time taken to complete the skill sets. Twenty-seven subjects were tested. The average non-gamer took 5:28 minutes to complete the test, casual
gamers took 5:01 minutes, frequent gamers took 3:37 minutes, and average extreme gamers took 3:20 minutes. The data collected in this study
support the hypothesis that video-gamers are more proficient at laparoscopic surgery. There was a strong negative correlation between skill set completion
speed and gamer score. The results were subjected to multiple tests of statistical significance all of which supported the hypothesis.
Second award $350 - Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
2007 - BE317
WITH DIGNITY "MAMA COLANZULENA"
Nahuel Avelino Viveros, Nelson Emanuel Yujra.
Nº 4113"Aeronautica Argentina". Colanzuli. Iruya. Salta. Argentina.
Abstract The following research has been carried out in the subject called Social Studies, taught in a primary school in a rural area in Iruya, in the
province of Salta, Argentina. This town is situated in the Andes, at 3,lOOm aboye sea level, in a Kolla reservation. The region has certain distinctive features
because the population has kept their own cultural patterns and values inherited from their ancestors. This is why education has strong family roots. “Colanzuli”
mothers play an important role in sociaiizing chiidres, which have conserved and transferred the culture of the ancestors to the new generations . This is the
reason why we thought it was important to investigate about their siient and not always recognised job. Reflecting on the practices related to children
upbringing implies understanding the factors that trigger the social agents that produce such practices within a span of time and a definite context. This work
aimed at inquiring, describing and analizing oid upbringing practices, regarding them as sources of wisdom for human growth,in an ecological scope in which all
this closely related.We work with the oral sources: grandmothers mothers, healers and professionals who work in the zone. 
2007 - BE028
INATTENTIVE BLINDNESS: DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?
Nicholas Ryan Waggy
Upper Sandusky High School, Upper Sandusky, Ohio, United States
Inattentive blindness is what occurs when an individual is trying to focus on a particular event in an environment where there is an excessive amount of stimuli.
The brain acts like a filter and ignores what is not relevant to the task at hand. This allows for very obvious events to go unnoticed. Teachers face
many dilemmas in the classroom today. One is the basic problem of how to get students to focus on the topic at hand without becoming distracted. 
 Students were administered a short learning styles quiz, and a pre experimental survey. The experiment was explained, tasking the subjects with counting
how many times a basketball was passed during a short video. The students were not told that an unexpected event would occur during the video. Following
the movie, a post experimental survey was administered and collected. Of 220 individuals who participated, those that saw the unexpected event had
three characteristics in common: visual learning style, right handed, and uncorrected vision. Four females (2.8 percent of the population) and one male (1.8
percent of the population) noticed the unexpected event’s occurrence. Due to the small number of participants that noticed the unexpected event, it does not
support the hypothesis that individuals who are visual learners would be most likely to see the unexpected event. 
Scholarship Award of $20,000 - Department of Homeland Security, University Programs Office
2007 - BE307
RED BULL GIVES YOU WIINGS
Victoria Amanda Wheeler, Michelle Angelique Wheeler
Greenwood High School, Greenwood, MS, U.S.A.
rpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of caffeine, Red Bull energy drink, and Sobe energy drink on Mus musculus. To det rmine which energy
drink to use and how much, surveys were completed by one hundred college students to determine the most popular energy drinks consumed. This study
analyzed the effects of both Sobe energy drink, Red bull Energy drink, and caffeine on the pulse rate, amount of fluids excreted, and addictiveness on Mus
musculus (mice). This project had four phases. To analyze the pulse rate, the mice were given amounts of Red Bull, SoBe Adrenaline Rush, and caffeine by
way of a micropipette in proportion to their average mass, and then the pulse rate was recorded using a pulsimeter. For phase two, which recorded the reacton
time of the mice when the optimal level of energy drink performance was reached, the mice were introduced to mazes. Their finishing times were recorded. For
phase three, which recorded the amount of fluid excreted after consumption of the energy drinks, the same mice in phase one were used. For phase four,
which tested the addictiveness of the energy drinks, five mice were selected for both the Red Bull and the Sobe energy drink, making it ten mice in total. Their
water bottle was replaced with one filled with the energy drink. After two days, the regular water bottle filled with water was then placed into the cage opposite
the water bottle filled with energy drink. The number of times the mice visited either bottle was then recorded. The results showed that both energy drinks
increased the pulse rate of the mice, and kept it high for a substantial amount of time. There was a negative correlation between the amount of energy drink
consumed and the amount of fluids excreted. Both energy drinks showed the ability to be addictive. The data was analyzed descriptively and statistically to
determine the effect it would have on humans.
2007 - BE013
SIX SIGMA AND THE CHANGE OF HUMAN BEHAVIORS: THE CREATION OF SIX SIGMA BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROCEDURE (SIX SIGMA BMP)
Will Xu
Winona Senior High School, Winona MN, United States of America
After the attacks of 9/11, the amount of money contributed to a charity organization for local use declined. However, the declining trend persisted year after
year, resulting in cuts to local charity services. This study aimed to stop the steady decline in the amount of money a local charity organization received from its
fund-raising campaigns by changing the behaviors of contributors. Six Sigma BMP, a new Six Sigma procedure based on the DMADV model, was created to
design efficient fund-raising processes. The model followed five steps: define, measure, analyze, design, and verify. Two hypotheses were tested at a regional
private university, which were that fund-raising campaign using Six Sigma BMP would receive a larger number of contributions and that fund-raising campaign
using Six Sigma BMP would receive more money per contribution. Results showed that while it may not increase the number of contributions, Six Sigma BMP
would increase the amount of money received per contribution. It is concluded that Six Sigma BMP can be used to modify human behavior and create efficient
fund-raising processes. Limitations exist and further testing is needed.
2007 - BE037
LEARNING OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS OF THE MATTER THROUGH AN INTERACTIVE MUSEUM WITH CBTIS 119 STUDENTS.
Karen Isabel Yada
CBTis 119, Victoria City, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Biology teaching has been developed at the CBTis 119 through traditional classes. This teaching model omits didactic or alternative science teaching factors.
Influences in the correct understanding of Biology class topics, in particular with the organization levels of the matter topic which is the main idea of this
research. The main aim of this project is do evaluate a methodological strategy for Biology teaching; which will allow to explore the possibilities of an
interactive museum for the teaching innovation of the topic already mentioned. In addition, it will create a learning environment were students will develop their
social and cognitive areas. AVIKI is a prototype done from recyclable materials. It has a tree form, because it is the image of Biology. It also has a
spiral order in which the 19 levels of the organization of life are represented. This form allows to construct a mental map and to organize the information. 
 The experimental hypothesis is based on the achievement of a significant learning through the use of the interactive museum AVIKI (auditive, visual and
kinesthetic). This is developed through a constructivist didactic sequence with the aim of facilitating knowledge construction, achieving significant learning. 
 The data analysis was carried out with the hypothesis T-Test for related samples. The time punctuations in the pre-test were (0.9283<1.6783) and in the
pos-test (2.3173>1.6733) with a liability of 95% and 5% of margin of error. These results allow accepting the experimental hypothesis and null hypothesis.
2007 - BE023
PHER OR UNPHER? PHEROMONE INFLUENCE ON HUMAN PREFERENCE AND THE EFFECT OF CIGARETTE SMOKING.
Christian LeeAnne Young
San Jacinto Christian Academy, Amarillo, Texas
This study evaluated the effect of synthetic human pheromones on the preference of humans for inanimate objects. The study was double-blinded with all
variables controlled. Synthetic male pheromone validated by published research was obtained. 100 female subjects were presented with two pieces of gauze in
plastic bags with unique identifiers: one had one drop of pheromone. Each gauze was evaluated by feel, visual inspection, and smell for 60 seconds and
subjects were asked to choose a preferred one. Recorded data included age, infectious symptoms, allergy symptoms, history of smoking, ability to smell,
menstrual history, and the reason for their choice. 57% of all subjects (p=0.03) and 63% of non-allergic/infected (p=0.011) chose the pheromone gauze. 44% of
women chose due to smell; 70% of these women (p=0.003) and 76% 18-40 years (p=0.001) chose the pheromone gauze. 57% of women 18-30 years
(p=0.113) and 61% of women 31-40 years (p=0.029) chose the pheromone gauze; women over 40 appeared to choose randomly. Male pheromones influenced
the preference of females in an age-related fashion. Ten smokers were originally evaluated -- they chose the pheromone gauze only 50% of the time
consistent with random chance. Fifty additional smokers were tested. Only 37% of the 60 smokers (p=0.00035) chose the pheromone gauze with no age
differentiation. Less than 3 pack-year smokers chose randomly; higher exposure induced a negative response. Smoking was able to negate or reverse the
positive effect of human pheromones. Smoking-pheromone response knowledge may be beneficial for anti-smoking campaigns. Subjects continue to be
evaluated. 
2007 - BE323
THE STUDY OF INFANT COGNITION AND ITS EFFECT ON "THEORY OF MIND"
Anisha Zaman, My Nguyen, Cherie Noymany
Dunbar High School, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
The purpose of this study was to research infant cognition and its effect on “Theory of Mind”. Most people believe babies from 1 to 12 months don’t have good
cognition and high perception yet; it is assumed that infants’ brain development will not allow it to be similar to that of adults. This experiment will allow people
to understand the many similarities between adults and infants, by testing their reactions towards common objects and actions. Twenty infants were
observed and tested; 10 of which were males and the other 10, females. The experiment was taken place in an undisturbed room. The infants were sat on
adults’ laps, ones they were comfortable with, and were shown five objects and five actions. Each of the displays were shown for 2 minutes and were displayed
a foot away from the infant. The objects were placed on the floor, while each action was performed by the experimenter. All observations and the time of the
infant’s period of distraction and attention were recorded. Once finished, the procedures were repeated with other infants. The overall average number
of seconds focused for the objects and actions were higher than the number of seconds distracted. The objects and actions that they did focus on were of the
“Theory of Mind” group. All observations and results showed that infants DO share common reactions to common objects and actions as do adults. Thus, the
experiment was successful and contributes to other infant cognitive studies in the world.
2007 - BE024
STATE STRUCTURE FEATURES OF MONGOL EMPIRE DURING THE REIGN OF GENGHIS KHAN
Arsalan Zhambalov
Aginsk Okrug Gymnasium, v. Aginskoye, RUSSIA
The role of an individual plays an important role in history studies because it was strong-willed people, who determined – at crucial moments – the ways of the
development of their people, state and epoch on the whole. This work is devoted to studying the activities of the second millennium man, the founder
of Mongol Empire – Genghis Khan. The purpose of the work is to reveal the peculiarities of the Mongol Empire state system, which will help to reveal the role of
Genghis Khan as a great state figure. The analysis of relevant popular-scientific literature was performed during the work. On the base of the analysis
the author outlined the peculiarities of the Mongol Empire state system with the position of Mongolian tribes before the state foundation. The grounds of the
essence of the state military and administrative system are given, the peculiarities of officials selection are revealed. Attention is paid to the development of
Law and the importance of judicial power. On the basis of the research the author concluded that, besides the popularly known features, Genghis
Khan had an outstanding intellect, a gift for organizing, and foresight, which allows to define him an outstanding state figure of the Middle Ages. 
2008 - BE069
ROBOMASK: ROBOTICS SOLUTION FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Moath Nabeel Abu-Aysha
Deffi High School, Jubail industrial, SAUDI ARABIA
This research project studies the possibility of allowing individuals with complete paralysis disability to be able to control their movement using Artificial
Intelligence (Robotics Technology) without needs for continuous assistance Individuals with complete paralysis disabilities are deprived from their
ability to control their movement and transportation as they are usually led by assistant due to their inability to move hand or foot muscles. This results in low
self-esteem and low sense of confidence. Such problems could lead to long term psychological problems. RoboMask research studies the applicability
of using a mask (built using Lego NXT Smart Brick) that utilizes tongue muscles to operate touch-sensors and translate them to commands to control
wheelchairs used by people with full paralysis disabilities. A survey study was done on 5 individuals with paralysis disability who are currently using
electronic wheelchair. RoboMask system was installed on the wheelchair and the system operated successfully. All individuals expressed satisfaction to the
performance of the prototype device. RoboMask opens the door for young researchers to explore available robotics kits to help people with
special needs. It also emphasizes how proper and intelligent utilization of one muscle (i.e. tongue) can help people with special needs go along way.
2008 - BE306
ALCOHOL DISRUPTION: ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING PARADIGM AND DECISION MAKING TEST IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER
Hector E. Acaron, Juan R. Deliz,
Academia del Perpetuo Socorro, Miramar, San Juan, PUERTO RICO
The Global Health Organization reported in 2002 that 69 percent of the global population consumes alcohol. In this study, the associative learning processes
were defined by three stages: acquisition, integration, and retrieval. The British Journal of Addiction stated in 1990 that no study has demonstrated a
relationship between conditioned responses and alcohol-related cues. This innovative empirical study used 1,420 Drosophila melanogaster as a model of
human behavior to explain how ethanol interacts with the associative learning process. The fruit flies were introduced to determined ethanol concentrations
along with an olfactory stimulus. They were submitted to a Pavlovian model of classical conditioning, where the flies made an association between the olfactory
stimulus and a conditioned response. The flies were then transferred to a decision making test, in which observable behaviors identified perceptual responses.
It was expected that this exposure during the training paradigm would limit consolidation and block memory access in the retrieval stage, suggesting possible
learning relapse. T-tests were used to prove that ethanol did not affect the associative learning processes or decision making in low concentrations (0-3%).
Nevertheless, high concentrations (3-6%) prolonged the physical recognition of the conditioned olfactory stimulus. Concentrations higher than 3.0%
demonstrated a negative influence over the D. melanogaster’s behavior. There was no significant evidence that ethanol provoked learning relapse. Short-term
exposure to ethanol places associative learning at risk of disruption. Ethanol exposure interrupted the first two stages of the associative learning process;
nevertheless, once the olfactory information is integrated, its usage cannot be interrupted.
2008 - BE068
BEXPLORER
ELECTRONIC FLEXABLE SOLUTION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Ahmed Khalid A Alnuaimi
Alansar Private School, Dammam, Eastern, SAUDI ARABIA
This research project (BExplorer) aims to find an alternative solution for traditional methods used for assisting the visually impaired people to move from one
place to another safely and confidently. Being visually impaired could, in many cases, restrict individuals' mobility. This limitation has a great negative
impact, specifically on young visually challenged kids. BExplorer is an electronic flexible device that uses set of well-coordinated ultrasound sensors
controlled by electronic circuit to alert the visually impaired people (using different tones through headphone set) of the presence of any potentially dangerous
obstacle. The BExplorer device uses three ultrasound sensors. The first sensor aims to discover objects that are low (less than 30 cm high from the
ground). The second sensor aims to discover low grounds and holes. The third sensor aims to discover low hanging objects or low ceilings. After
planning safe experiments and testing procedures, the BExplorer trials results showed that the device was preferred over traditional assisting methods and was
accepted by wide range of ages of visually impaired individuals. A major advantage of the BExplorer is its simple operating procedures and that it can
be mounted on cloth and can be adjusted for different heights and ages. In conclusion, BExplorer device was found to increase confidence and allow
individuals to be more engaged in sports and social activities. In addition, BExplorer allows visually impaired kids to be more mobile and be able to interact
more in a safe manner with their environment, increases their chance for learning and growing their personal experience. 
2008 - BE023
THE AUDIOVISUAL INFLUENCE TO THE SOCIAL EXCLUSION: USING THE AUDIOVISUAL RESOURCES AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTRUMENT
Guilherme Antwarg
Escola Brasileira Israelita Chaim Nachman Bialik, Sao Paulo, BRASIL
A very common criticism is that the school being a learning institution and space for the construction of knowledge, shouldn’t allow audio-visual means such as
television and cinema assume a role as a shaping tool for young individuals. However, we can’t deny the fact that the audio-visual Medias have influence over
individuals in general. The school would be denying the reality in which young people live considering the audio-visual society in which we live. This type of
Media reflects as the main reference which young people have to form their way of understanding the world. Admitting the role of cinematographic
pieces (the main focus of our theme) as source of historic knowledge (due to it’s production context), may be used as an educational instrument, if the school
knows how to use it, and may guarantee that the student will be able to absorb the context and take a standpoint from what is displayed. This may guarantee
that the student insert himself as a member of society, since he is instinctively discriminating due to his capitalist system. The goal of this report is to
verify the existence of a new category of exclusion based on the fact that individuals end up not being able to analyse the facts which he/she sees and hears,
becoming unable to assume a respectable position within an ever-growing capitalist and audio-visual society. For this, the questionnaires
used in the 8th grade students of EMEF Lorenço Manoel Sparapan, in Sao Paulo, will serve as a basis for our comprehension about how the schools see the
importance of this issue.
2008 - BE050
ATTENTION: EDUCATION CAN HELP PREVENT THE UREMIC HEMOLITIC SYNDROME
Maira Leonela Arganaraz
Escuela de Comercio "Republica de Panama", Concepcion, Tucuman, ARGENTINA
Globalization pushes us to fast food prepared in big amounts without any kind of quality and health control. Bibliographical investigation and field
survey show that UHS has become an endemic disease in Argentina. UHS is an infection caused by the Escherichia Coli type 0157:H7 in the digestive organs
that produces a toxin called verocytotoxin that affects the kidneys. UHS keeps on spreading due to environmental reasons as well as the lack of
Hygienic Dietary Regulations on the Handling, Manufacturing and conservation of food. Interviews to specialists show that this disease causes high
fever, vomit, stomachache, and complications such us kidney malfunctioning, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, placket deficiency, coagulation
malfunctioning, and unstable neurological signs, causing even the death to children under five. Blood biological tests data (provided by biochemists) have
shown anemia levels, high rate of lymphocytes, and creatinine. Urine analysis date reveal the presence of blood and protein. Research show that 60%
of the population are unaware of the existence of this disease, 68.3% ignore how it is caught , 48% point as contagious sources at undercooked meat, raw milk,
fruit and vegetables badly washed. 73% ignores the complications. Housewives do not check the expiring date, and the general state of the food they buy.
Dealers and costumers claim that the government should keep control. The evidence gathered keeps us alert and make us hope for the best
prevention to defeat UHS Workshops, radio and TV programs on Hygienic Dietary Regulations will contribute to prevent the spreading of this disease.
2008 - BE305
FROM AN ART TO A SCIENCE: IMPROVING THE SUBJECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS THROUGH AN ANALYTICAL METHOD TO
OPTIMIZE DIVERSITY
Robert Weinstock Bamberger, Ari Sprung,
Nicolet High School, Glendale, WI
One of the stated goals of colleges is to admit a highly diverse set of students based on criterion that go far beyond race and ethnicity. Colleges presently use a
wide variety of techniques to select students for admission. These methods involve a degree of subjectivity. The purpose of the project was to create an
analytical method, which would optimize diversity for a given set of eligible applicants. An analytical method was developed and fifty trials were run.
The analytical method went through a process in which it selected ten students from the hypothetical eligible set of thirty students. These results were
compared against two control groups 1) a completely random selection and 2) a subjective selection process called the student test. The results were
compared using two diversity measurements, Simpson’s Index of Diversity and the USA Today Method of Diversity. The analytical method was superior to the
random control group using both measurements, and was superior to the student test using the USA Today’s Method of Diversity. However, a weakness to the
analytical method was, although it generally improved diversity, it did so at the expense of maximizing student involvement. A second analytical method called
the involvement method was then developed and tested to optimize diversity and involvement simultaneously. This method proved superior to both control
groups in terms of diversity and the analytical method in consideration of student involvement.
2008 - BE037
DOES TETRIS MAKE YOU SMARTER?
Julian Lyles Bass-Krueger
Clinton Senior High School, Clinton, NY
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if playing computer games primes subjects for taking intelligence tests. The video game Tetris was used to
see if it enhanced performance on a spatial intelligence test. It was hypothesized that people playing Tetris before taking the test would score higher than those
who had not played. The results support earlier research on what is called “mental set”—the process by which a person adapts his or her thinking to a particular
challenge. The experiment also provides intriguing data for researchers studying the Flynn effect. Could computer games be one reason why IQ scores have
increased markedly in the last few years?
2008 - BE016
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND MATH CLASS PLACEMENT
Annalee Grace Beaver
Perham High School, Perham, MN
In many schools today students are placed into two different categories when placed into math classes: advanced and non-advanced. This study was done to
see if cognitive development of students in advanced math classes was more formal than students in non-advanced math classes. It was hypothesized that the
people in advanced math classes think more formally than those who are not. An evaluation test to determine a student’s level of thinking called the Karplus,
Lawson, and Renner cognitive development placement test, based on Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, was obtained and distributed to eight classes
of 9th and 10th grade students. The data was gathered, coded to protect identity, and analyzed. Each of the student’s answers to the different puzzles in the
test was analyzed and the student was placed into one of the following groups: pre-operational, concrete, transitional, or formal. It was concluded that students
in advanced math classes are at a higher level of cognitive development than students in traditional math classes.
2008 - BE013
IS A PICTURE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS?
Sarah Beatrice Bellingham
Santa Catalina School, Monterey, CA
The ability to memorize new words is key to learning a new language. This study tests how a person’s memorization skills depend on the presentation of new
material. Studies have suggested that different teaching methods must be used to teach different language students, for example, teaching using pictures
versus teaching using words. This was tested in this experiment by using two sets of flashcards on a test group of students in order to compare two methods of
memorization. One set had a word in English on one side and the same word translated into a foreign language on the other side. The second set of flashcards
had a picture representing an object on one side and a word in a foreign language on the other side. My subjects came from the 3rd through 6th grade classes
of All Saints’ Episcopal Day School, and their ages ranged from 8-12 years old. A total of 76 students were tested in all. My results showed a large degree of
variability in the performance of my subject group, although some trends are clear, for example improved performance with age. Neither picture nor word
flashcards could be considered the “best” method of teaching for all students, as 53% of the students scored higher using words, 39% scored higher using
pictures, and 8% scored the same on both tests. However, the results also show that some students performed much better with either picture or word
associations. This suggests that the optimal sort of teaching styles varies depending on the individual.
2008 - BE009
STEREOTYPES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Shannon Lee Biagi
Eau Gallie High School, Melbourne, FL
This experiment sought to identify the major source of criminal stereotyping in modern day society. When an individual reads about a crime, they create a
mental picture of the suspect. More often than not, what they see is not the most likely criminal, but a stereotype that is rooted in the identifier's background.
 A private internet-based survey was created, which consisted of 20 hypothetical crime scenarios ranging from speeding and petty theft to bombing
and hijacking. Participants were given an unlimited amount of time to read the scenarios one at a time, and when done, were given 7 seconds to choose who
they believed was the criminal from a lineup of six mug shots. Using information gathered from a questionnaire taken beforehand, commonalities between the
participant's backgrounds and responses were analyzed. It was found that an individual's gender and military relationship had no affect on the
amount of stereotypical responses received, age had an inconsistent effect, and amount of television watched per week had strong influences on an individual's
bias. Participants who watched zero to nine hours of television per week gave 153 correct (statistically valid) responses and 135 incorrect (stereotypical)
responses. Those who watched ten to nineteen hours of television per week gave 124 correct and 128 incorrect responses. Startlingly, participants who
watched twenty or more hours of television per week only gave 118 correct and 164 incorrect responses. This experiment demonstrates that first
impressions may be tragically wrong, influenced by factors an individual has the ability to control.
2008 - BE316
STEREOTYPES: AS SEEN ON TV
Veronika Nicole Biskis, Meghan Luther,
Henry Perrine Baldwin High School, Wailuku, HI
rpose of this project was to determine whether common stereotypes are taken seriously and found offensive by high school students. The various gende
r and racial stereotypes differed in how they affected males and females. The clips used all came from a public site, and reflected the contemporary media
. As such, many of the teenagers had been exposed to these particular clips or similar ones prior to experimentation. The clips used respectively were
as follows: a skit from the Dave Chappelle Show, a segment from Jay Leno's Tonight Show, an American Idol season III audition, a Mad TV sketch, two scene
s from South Park, Miss Teen USA's response to a misunderstood question, the music video for "White and Nerdy" by Weird Al Yancovic, and a Fox News
debate. The survey distributed to students had two control questions for each clip. They were, "On a scale of one to ten," how funny and how offensive
were the clips? Also, questions were formulated around the nature of each individual clip. For example, after showing the Dave Chappelle sketch, which
depicted common stereotypes about Middle Easterners, African Americans, Caucasians and Native Americans, the question followed, "How accurately does
the clip reflect modern day depiction of American society?" Statistical analysis showed that in most cases there was a significant difference between
male and female answers. Also, as seen in the charts, many questions veered toward a specific end of the spectrum, given as 1-4, 5-6 or 7-10. It was found
that teenagers thought stereotypical and racial humor was not offensive, and therefore shouldn't be taken seriously.
2008 - BE311
AN ANALYSIS OF REWARDS VS. PUNISHMENT SYSTEMS
Emily Jeanne Brinker, Rachel Kery,
Northern High School, Owings, MD
In order to make students succeed in the classroom a number of classroom management strategies have been tried to increase student motivation and overall
success. Of the myriad of methods tried, most rely on one of the three basic systems of operant conditioning: positive rewarding, negative rewarding, and
punishment. In a positive rewards system, students are given the opportunity to win prizes (generally small trinkets or candy) in exchange for good behavior
and academic success. In a negative rewards system, students are given the opportunity to “win” something negative taken away (i.e. a homework assignment,
or a missed problem on a quiz), in exchange for academic success and general motivation. Finally in a punishment system the students are punished (with
extra assignments, or harder quizzes) to prevent the repetition of the negative behavior. In this experiment, four high school U.S. history classes were assigned
a system (positive, negative rewards, punishment, and control) and their overall academic success was surveyed over the course of several weeks. Our
experiment found very little difference between the four methods (negative rewards, positive rewards, punishment, do nothing), and concludes that further
research needs to be done to verify that any of these methods are the least bit effective in behavioral enhancement of high school students.
2008 - BE044
THE EFFECT OF NASAL BREATHING AND FOREHEAD COOLING ON THE INCIDENCE OF CONTAGIOUS YAWNING
Sarah N. Bui
Battlefield High School, Haymarket, VA
The purpose of my experiment was to investigate the function of yawning in relation to brain temperature. Since the only difference between contagious and
spontaneous yawns is its triggers, I used a depicting people yawning because I used contagious yawns as a proxy for my experiment. The video was played for
two minutes and thirty seconds while subjects manipulated their forehead temperatures with a warm, cool, and room temperature pack, or changing their
breathing methods; nasally, orally, with a nose-plug, and normally. After testing 100 subjects in each scenario; one manipulating breathing methods and the
other forehead temperature, I found that my hypothesis- if the temperature of the body (specifically the brain) increases, then the number of times a person
yawns will also increase; was supported by my data. Since breathing through the nose and holding a cool pack to the forehead are the best ways to reduce
brain temperature, the subjects did not have to yawn and was not affected by the contagious yawning in the video. The participants in the nasal breathing group
had brain temperatures which were already in homeostasis and did not need to yawn. As the temperature of the brain decreased, so did the number of
contagious yawns. Ninety-two percent of the subjects holding a warm pack to their foreheads yawned. This supports my assumption that yawning serves as a
thermoregulatory function in order to maintain mental efficiency and the vigilance of an individual or of an entire group.
2008 - BE032
THE DEVOLUTION OF COOPERATION: AN EXAMINATION OF EXCESSIVE NOISE IN THE ITERATED PRISONER'S DILEMMA
Thomas McLean Burr
South Fork High School, Stuart, FL
The Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma, a simulation of competition among a group of rational opponents, has been the focus of game theoretical and economic study
since its development by Robert Axelrod in 1984. The use of replicator dynamics to simulate evolution and “noise” to simulate real world interactions has drawn
the attention of both biologists and economists alike. In an age of increasing globalization and access to the world stage, minimal levels of noise may not
accurately represent the disturbances caused by splinter groups of political movements. In this study, the effects of abnormal levels of noise, approaching
twenty percent, are taken into account in order to reflect this increasingly evident situation. The question posed, therefore, is to find at what point cooperation
begins to break down as a rational course of action for the player in the evolutionary form of the Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma The Iterated Prisoner’s
dilemma was run through UNIX on the ICE server at Harvard University. The results achieved reflect the expected hypothesis. At noise levels approaching ten
percent in the non evolutionary game, and twenty percent in the evolutionary game, non cooperative strategies such as Grim Trigger and Always Defect
become dominant in the locality. Although the results achieved through this experiment are unique to this locality, the massive scope of the trials as well as the
number of competitors show confidently a trend that can be applied to not only other simulations, but real world simulations as well.
2008 - BE038
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FOOT USAGE ON PEDAL REACTION TIMES AND ACCURACY
Cathy Hsi Chen
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the best way to control car pedals. Contradicting opinions regarding the optimal foot usage prompted this
experiment. Two foot pedals were wirelessly connected to a laptop. A software program written using Kids Programming Language was designed to
test the reaction time and accuracy of three foot combinations: right foot only, left foot only, and both feet. Subjects would respond to colored prompts in the
middle of the computer screen. The program recorded all reaction times and accuracy. The order of testing was randomized. A total of 52 high
subjects were tested. Results showed that there was no significant difference in the right foot only and left foot only reaction times. However, using both feet
turned out to be significantly faster with an average of 0.6671 seconds. There was no significant difference in the accuracy of all three combinations. Also,
subjects who drive manual cars, have significantly faster left foot reactions times because of their constant use of their left feet, as do left handed subjects.
Subjects with driving experience make significantly more mistakes when switching to using both feet. It can be concluded from this experiment that
controlling car pedals with both feet is significantly faster and does not make more mistakes than using only one foot. It can also be concluded that experience
has a big effect on accuracy.
2008 - BE312
AUTISM
Tabassum Haider Chowdhury, Anika Tasneem Nabila, Shanjida Ahmed
Viqarunnisa Noon College, Dhaka, BANGLADESH
Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a
child is three years old. Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is poorly understood. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their
child's life. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. There is no cure. Few children with
autism live independently after reaching adulthood, but some become successful and an autistic culture has developed, with some seeking a cure and others
believing that autism is a condition rather than a disorder. Most recent reviews estimate a prevalence of one to two cases per 1,000 people for autism
The number of people known to have autism has increased dramatically since the 1980s.In USA approximately 1.5 million children are Autistic and the yearly
rate of increase is about 17% , which is highest in the world. Now a days world wide Autism is a burning isuue and a big challenge for our society. That
is why this year UN has decleared 2nd april as World Autism Day. We belive that as our social resposibility we should address this issue and work for
the awareness to support their comfortable living and to establish right in the society. This sorts of participation obviously would be beniffiting for the
Autistic children , their paretnts as well as our society. There are more occassions to address this issue and if we get the opportunity to participate in those
ocassions then obviously we can contribute more for the affected group.
2008 - BE024
THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THE INFORMATION-PROCESSING OF SOCIO-CULTURAL NORMS ON THE LEVELS OF BODY DISSATISFACTION AND
THIN-IDEAL INTERNALIZATION
Joyce Dhawon Chung
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, Great Neck, NY
Prior research supports that body dissatisfaction and thin-ideal internalization are risk factors in the emergence of eating disorders among adolescents and
young adults. This experiment sought to analyze whether the information-processing of socio-cultural norms would alter cognitive constructs of participants,
leading to changes in body dissatisfaction and thin-ideal internalization. Males were hypothesized to form different cognitive constructs from females, resulting
in different changes in the levels of body dissatisfaction and thin-ideal internalization. The Body-Image Assessment Software (BIAS), a computer
program that uploaded a virtual silhouette of the participants’ bodies onto the computer screen, assessed the level of body dissatisfaction of participants. The
Multidimensional Media Influence Scale (MMIS) assessed the level of thin-ideal internalization of participants. After their levels of body dissatisfaction and thinideal internalization were measured, participants in the experimental group were exposed to socio-cultural norms. Participants in the control group were
exposed to neutral stimuli. Their levels of body dissatisfaction and thin-ideal internalization were measured again. Sixty-seven participants volunteered
for the experiment (n=67). There were 25 male, 25 female, and 17 control participants. The female experimental participants experienced a great increase in
body dissatisfaction and thin-ideal internalization, while male experimental participants experienced a slight increase. Both experimental groups yielded
statistically significant results (p<.05). Females were affected to a much greater extent than males after exposure to socio-cultural norms. Results suggest that
females developed different cognitive constructs than males after construct intervention, leading to different changes in levels of body dissatisfaction and thinideal internalization.
2008 - BE064
A STUDY INTO THE CORRELATION BETWEEN MUSICAL LITERACY AND LINGUISTIC ACUITY
Sarah Elisabeth Clayton
Jefferson County International Baccalaureate, Birmingham, AL
This study offers an analysis of the idea of a direct correlation between music instruction and language development. The research presented involves study of
the brain regions involved with both language processing and music instruction and the relationship between the two processes. Analysis extends primarily into
phonemic awareness but also heavily emphasizes spatiotemporal awareness and the transfer theory of learning, as measured through high school and college
students’ ACT scores in the areas of reading and English. After the study was conducted, the data supported the hypothesis that musicians would
have a greater aptitude for language. The conditional hypothesis, that men would be more affected than women, was also upheld. All tests of significance were
conducted using right tailed t-sample tests at the 0.5% level of significance, showing that men were significantly affected but there was no significant change in
the women’s scores. The conclusion of this research implicates many other scientific questions, such as those related to the near-transfer hypothesis,
and many political and social comments as well, especially those concerning arts funding in public schools.
2008 - BE022
PREPRO: PROSPECTING EMPRENEURS, A SOCIAL INCLUSION PROPOSAL THROUGH ENTERPRISING EDUCATION
Camila Dahmer
Fundacao Escola Tecnica Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, BRASIL
oject aims at characterizing an experience of enterprising education, as well, the steps to plan and build a company, developing skills and competences that
could not be reached through regular processes of the school subjects, such as the developing of enterprising spirit, the ability of working and planning in group
, creativity, innovation, organization sense, among other capacities and professional skills that are currently valorized at the market and that also contributes to
the formation of the citizen and to the social inclusion. To accomplish the project, data has been raised through bibliographic researches and
interviews about the meaning and the importance of developing enterprising practices at schools and also, analyzing the experiences that have been carried
on. The results showed that this concept improves students’ qualification, as citizens and as professionals, favoring the development of the competences to life,
as a political man, able to interfere in the social reality, improving people’s life quality and allowing the students insertion in the market. It has been
concluded that this project does not finish with this study, but it is ratified that the evidences raised, allied to font-people and to the analyzed experiences,
allowed the elaboration of a proposal of enterprising education to schools. It is believed that the built experience may be extended as a suggestion to other
schools, as an initial methodological proposal, aiming at qualifying the student as a citizen and as a professional, favoring the social insertion.
2008 - BE008
THE AUTOMATIC SPEECH TRANSLATOR FOR DISABILITY (DEAF AND BLIND)
Mahmoud Emad Darawsheh
Modern Systems Schools, Amman, JORDAN
The is project produce the way to create software helps deaf people to communicates in there life by using computer to translate the normal people speech to
deaf language , the software use the DirectX ,Speech SDK library and the VB 2005 to write the program The project algorithm is : import the
recognized speech recorded by microphone from system recognizer using speech library -> Analyze the words -> draw the word shape in deaf language 
 The project is effected: by the microphone quality ,Listen Place, Recognizer version, OS , Computer skills and VGA Size after testing different
value the results was: -Noise decreases the quality of translation . - OS effect the setting of speech recognizer -VGA size increase
the speed and quality of viewing on screen -Quality of microphone effect in the quality of speech recognizing -Training sessions increase the
skills of understanding the spoken words - recognizer Version effect in the quality of analyzing and converting speech to text The project
there is a lot of benefits and application from project like The blind can talk to deaf direct The project can be used in the airports on a large
screen The project can transform speech in network and internet Can be used in the TV channels to translate there speech Can be
used in the deaf daily life(Education , Job , communication with other) A new graphical library can be easily used to draw the graphics using DirectX
Library
2008 - BE303
VISUALIZE AND MEMORIZE
Jesse Jon Davila, Mark Salas,
Del Rio High School, Del Rio, TX
Our project began essentially to test the effectiveness of visual aids on memory retention. This project is comprised from eight basic tests. We randomly
composed twenty-five color items for eight tests and then introduced different visual aids and organizational patterns to see how they helped or distracted the
test subject. Upon administering the test, we gave the subject one minute to view the study sheet, and an additional minute to record as much of the
information they could remember on a blank answer sheet. Our hypothesis was proven correct when the memory retention results show an increase over the
results from the control group, which was a set of colors in black ink. The visual aids, which included color text, physical aids, and organizational patterns,
raised the scores.
2008 - BE042
A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR FADED MINDS: A LINK BETWEEN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, THE SENSES AND MEMORY RETRIEVAL
Elyse Marie Doherty
Taunton High School, Taunton, MA
Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss can be tragic on many levels. Memories are essential in defining our experiences, our relationships and who we are.
Memories of our youth, our education and our families are just some of the many experiences that make an individual who he or she is. The loss of these can
lead to changes in personality or even loss of sense of self. Memory loss can disrupt one’s ability to perform everyday tasks. This experiment was designed to
determine whether the senses of Alzheimer’s patients could cause recollection of past experiences. It hypothesized that the patients’ memory
retrieval and contentment status will be increased after this experiment. Three Alzheimer’s Scales (Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Mini Nutritional Assessment and
the Montgomery Asberg D Rating Scale) were used to measure contentment and memory recall. The patients were visited four times a week over a period of
twelve weeks and objects from patients’ pasts were presented to them using a shadow box in an effort to recover memory. Changes in patients’ memory or
contentment status as determined by the Alzheimer’s scales were recorded. The three tests given to each patient showed numerical data which in
turn proved that memory and contentment were enhanced as a result of the experiment. Each patient improved in these areas each week. These results have
supported the hypothesis. According to the three tests given to each subject, it was proven that sensory stimulation was a factor in recovering memory and
creating contentment for patients with Alzheimer’s.
2008 - BE055
THE FAMILY GETS BIGGER
Leticia Mabel Dominguez
Escuela Normal Superior "Republica Oriental del Uruguay", Colon, Entre Rios, ARGENTINA
This project start when problem came up due to the observation of a drastic population increase in this city in the last 10 years. The initial idea was to explore
some growth indicators, and if it was possible, to formulate patterns of composition and location. Due to the lack of official data, it was decided to take
a sample of the downtown and suburb as universe, choosing two streets by neighborhood at random. Data registered in forms, by polling every person with
permanent housing. The inhabitants had to be living in the city for 10 years or less. 548 homes were interviewed. 77 of them were home of new
inhabitants, and had 287 people living in them. In the remaining 471 lived 1681 people, that had been living in the city for more than ten years. 
 After data analysis was complied, it was found that 14,58% of the people were living in this town for 10 years or less, 46% of them coming from Capityal
City. The new inhabitants didn’t distribute homogeneously in the city, and important differences were noticed according the area.Taking into account as
analysis axis the space location, it was possible to establish 3 composition and location patterns. This project aim is to contribute to a better urban and
architectonical planning of the town community.
2008 - BE061
DIFFERENTIAL RECALL OF COLOR AND BLACK AND WHITE IMAGES
Anthony Richard Douglas
HomeLife Academy, Memphis, TN
The purpose of this study was to determine if color attributes help create stronger memory recall. Also, comparisons of gender, object type, and order of image
presentation were compared to see if they had any effect on the short term ability to recall images. Color images might increase attention, give more
information about the object, and better link the image with memories already created in the brain. Therefore, it was hypothesized that a person who studies
color illustrations would recall more of them than if that person studied either black and white illustrations or a page with both color and black and white
illustrations. Each subject was given one minute to study twenty illustrations and then asked to verbally recall as many as possible. The procedure
was used for three types of illustration pages. The pages had 1) color illustrations, 2) black and white illustrations, and 3) color images alternating with black
and white images. The sheets were presented in random order. Two sets of sheets were used, one with animal images and one with illustrations of household
objects. The order of the sheet presentation did not make a difference, nor did the use of animal images compared to the use of illustrations of
household objects. Females recalled more images from the black and white sheet and the color sheets. On average, both genders recalled the most images
from the sheet of color images, and fewer from the sheet of black and white images. The fewest images were recalled from the sheet of mixed illustrations. 
 These results supported the hypothesis that more images would be recalled from the sheet of color illustrations than from the sheet of black and white
images or the sheet of mixed images.
2008 - BE019
IS IT SAFE TO DISH AND DRIVE? THE EFFECT OF CELL PHONE USAGE ON REACTION TIME
Amelia Joann Eads
Blevins Junior High School, Fort Collins, CO
The problem I am trying to solve is whether the usage of a cellular phone affects a person’s reaction time. To decipher the answer to my question I
first found a reaction time test online. I then proceeded to find a video of traffic online that was used for visual stimulation. In addition, I wrote a list of simple
questions and acquired two cell phones. To test one of my volunteers I first had them take the reaction time test without the use of a cell phone, though the
visual stimulation of the video was present. This acted as my control and the average time was taken from five trials. After recording those results I then had my
assistant call my volunteer on a cell phone. The volunteer then proceed to repeat the reaction time test while talking to my assistant on the cellular phone. In
this second experiment the visual stimulation of the video was still present, and five trials were also taken. To assure that my volunteer was paying attention to
the “conversation” in the second test, my assistant asked them the simple questions while talking on the phone to my volunteer. The results of my
data agreed with the opinion of my hypothesis. It was evident in my results that the use of a cell phone does increase a person’s reaction time.
2008 - BE018
THE ABILITY TO LEARN: LEARNING AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COMET GOLDFISH
Kaleigh Anne Eichel
Strongsville Sr High School, Strongsville, OH
This project examines whether goldfish have the ability to learn to perform a simple task and then transfer this learned information to unlearned members of the
same species. Firstly, the largest goldfish from a group of five was separated into an isolated aquarium with identical environmental conditions. The
environment was then altered through the introduction of a maze and the lone goldfish was trained to swim through the maze using food as a stimulus and
positive reinforcement in operant conditioning. The fish was able to successfully complete the maze in an average time of thirty-two seconds. 
Secondly, two fish were randomly selecting from the original group and introduced into the aquarium of the trained fish. Without a stimulus from human
intervention, the newly introduced fish partially learned the maze through the deliberate actions of the trained fish. The larger trained fish would repeatedly swim
forward and backward through the opening of the maze to encourage the others to follow its behavior and it would coral the others towards the maze opening.
 Thirdly, the two fish were removed and a new untrained fish was introduced into to the aquarium of the trained fish. This case found that the transfer
of learning was more pronounced for a single unlearned fish compared to two unlearned fish. This project found that fish learn through mimicking the
behavior of a learned fish and that there is a tendency of the learned fished to actively influence the learning of the unlearned fish.
of the Nobel festivities. Valid passport required for travel. - Seaborg SIYSS Award
Third Award $150 - Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
2008 - BE020
AIM TO WRITE
Taylor Hanna Fitch
Belton-Honea Path High School, Honea Path, SC
The purpose of this investigation is to discover whether or not a child's accuracy at hitting a target has a direct correlation to his handwriting skills. I predicted
that a child's hand-eye coordination could give the examiner some direct insight to how the child could complete a handwriting task. Handwriting is an
activity that each of us uses everyday. In order to achieve high-quality handwriting, several elements must be present. Visual acuity is key to the success of
both handwriting and well-developed hand-eye coordination. Visual acuity includes: visual fixation, accommodation (focusing), convergence (eye aiming),
binocularity (eye teaming), and the overall eye movement ability. If each of these components is functioning correctly, the child will develop good hand-eye
coordination and be able to achieve higher handwriting scores. If any one of these components is off, it could drastically hinder the child and his ability to
succeed. To prove this theory, children from grades K3 through first grade were asked to hit a target at a distance of ten feet with10 beanbags. The
number of accurate hits was recorded. Each child was then asked to write a word or phrase. Their handwriting was reviewed by the examiner with pre-set
criteria. A handwriting score was given. The child's accuracy and handwriting score were compared. The results of this comparison revealed that the hypothesis
was indeed correct. Thus, these results could be used to encourage teachers to use a new teaching method involving hand –eye coordination activities.
2008 - BE063
SOCIODOMINANCE AND SEXUAL SELF-SCHEMA AS MODERATORS IN SEXIST REACTIONS TO FEMALE SUBTYPES
Alyssa Frielle Fowers
Maritime Science and Technology Senior High School, Key Biscayne, FL
Sexism both benevolent and hostile is detrimental to young people of both genders. Young women are forced into stereotypes, thereby limiting their social and
academic potential. Young men are limited because their relationships with women are distorted by sexism. Sibley and Wilson (2004) studied men's benevolent
and/or hostile sexist reactions in response to a "chaste" woman and a "promiscuous" woman. The "chaste" woman elicited strong benevolent sexist responses
and weak hostile sexist responses, while the "promiscuous" woman elicited weak benevolent sexist responses and strong hostile sexist responses. In this
study, the reactions of both men and women to one of two vignettes were gauged using the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory and a similar expiremental method to
Sibley and Wilson. In both vignettes, a female character, Kate, is described as either promiscuous or chaste before having a few drinks, dancing with an
acquaintance, and then refusing an offer of casual sex. Sex of respondent, sociodominance, dispositional envy, and sexual self-schema were tested as
moderators in this study. I predicted that both women and men wold have reactions that mirrored those in Sibley and Wilson. Additionally, I predicted that
reactions would be moderated by sociodominance, dispositional envy, and sexual self-schema. The results of this study indicated that women reacted on
average with lower hostile sexism and higher benevolent sexism than men, and the chaste character in the vignette was greeted with lower hostile sexism and
higher benevolent sexism than the promiscuous character. Sociodominance and sexual self-schema moderated the levels of hostile and benevolent sexism.
2008 - BE045
DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, PERCEPTIONS, AND SPENDING SUPPORT
Katherine M. Fredieu
St. Joseph's Academy, Baton Rouge, LA
When social problems arise, citizens develop different attitudes towards supporting a government solution if they perceive a problem. Because citizens'
opinions affect policy, it is important to understand (1) how they think, in this case regarding the accuracy of their perception of school performance, (2) how
that affects their views on policy, particularly willingness to spend on education, and (3) how trust in government mediates this relationship. A data analysis was
completed to study these questions and ideas relating to political trust. Independent variables were controlled for to permit me to understand the reasons a
person might have had a certain attitude towards one of the main questions. Although these questions are applicable to other states, Louisiana is an ideal state
to study, since school performance differs greatly from parish to parish and there are varying levels of trust for the government due to past corruption.
Questions from the 2002 Louisiana Survey judge the citizens' perceptions of schools in their parish and policy views, and the state's LEAP test scores measure
each parish's school performance. I confirmed my research hypothesis that most citizens perceive school performance correctly and are more
willing to spend on education as school performance worsens. A striking difference appeared between respondents who have low-trust and high-trust for the
government along with other significant factors stated in the analysis. The framework of the analysis can be applied in other states and on other spending
issues to understand the citizens' attitudes toward spending to solve policy problems.
2008 - BE031
EFFECTS OF GENDER CONFORMITY ON THE VOCAL PATTERNS OF PREPUBESCENT CHILDREN
Angela Marie Frisk
Mankato West Senior High School, Mankato, MN
What are the effects of gender conformity on the vocal patterns of prepubescent children? Basically, I want to know if there is a distinguishable difference
between the voices of young females and males before their voices physically change. My subjects are children between the ages of four and ten. I
will be going to a public place and asking families with children in this age group if they would like to volunteer. Once a subject has parental consent I will record
the child speaking for about fifteen seconds. Each child will be numbered and information on their gender and age will be recorded. Adult volunteers will listen
to the tapes and, on a form, will be asked what they believe the child’s gender to be and how confident they are in their guess. Their responses will be
compared to the actual information on the gender of the children. The accuracy of the responses against the age of the children will be graphed. 
 Subjects were able to guess gender with an average of eighty-two percent accuracy. Though there was an overall positive relationship between both
confidence and age and accuracy and age, there was a great amount of deviation from this pattern. As I plan to continue with this experiment, it will be
necessary for me to interview a greater number of subjects. This should make a more definite pattern emerge.
2008 - BE314
MATERNITY IN A CONTEXT OF UNSATISFIED BASIC NEEDS
Jesica Daiana Gonzalez, Barbarita Maria Garaycochea,
Instituto Privado D-124 Colegio San Antonio, Concordia
This is an exploratorian research in Victorino Simón neighbourhood in Concordia city, province of Entre Ríos, Argentina. It searches the social representation
about maternity among women in poor areas, with “naturalized” and “fatalistic” character in relation to the attention to health they demand for the pregnancy,
birth and puerperium stages and for the woman and child in general. Through it, we intend: -To get to know the life conditions of low class people and
the influence on their daily lives. -To inquire into the social representations women have about maternity. -To inquire into the type and
frequency of the women’s visits to health centres. We used as our method the interview in the depth to women with unsatisfied basic need and a semistructures interview to women in the control group. We conclude that this not-discerned maternity we had found along the investigation, we must
recognize that poor women give, into their possibilities, medical attention to the pregnancy, birth and childhood. The strength from a cultural command
force women to have children and to be mothers. It’s an obligation the elements which have negative effects: a general disinformation, cultural distances from
health professionals and economic obstacles, and administrative. On the contrary, in the control group belong to another social level, the maternity vision is not
“naturalized” women demand and receives a more integral and coherent medical attention, according with her view. We suggest overcoming strategies
to problematic situation detects, suggesting an interdisciplinary work, from the resilience approach.
2008 - BE048
VIDEO GAMES: THE NEXT GENERATION'S ADDICTION
Ethan Garrett Guinn
Moore High School, Moore, OK
The purpose of the study is to determine if video game addiction is present within our society and to examine the effects it may have on participants. This was
studied using a survey created to evaluate addiction level based on an American Medical Association recognized survey to asses gambling addiction. A
numerical rubric was created to assess level of addiction. Personal information was also surveyed to examine the change in public opinion regarding gaming,
find evidence of various affects of gaming within the participants’ lives, and to look for personal characteristics that might correlate to higher levels of addiction.
Results showed that 69% of male participants and 44% of all female participants showed addiction ranging from borderline to severe. Evidence also indicates
that the addiction level is higher at the junior high grade levels, implying that younger age groups are developing the addiction at a higher rate. A few of the
negative effects observed included 24% of participants lying to others to play, 24% reported playing resulting in fights with friends and family, 31% reported a
reduced productivity level in school, 27% reported choosing gaming over spending time with family or friends, and 47% reported poor eating habits during
gaming. This study indicates an increasing level of addiction to games and negative effects as a result of gaming. This demonstrates that video game addiction
is an increasing psychological disorder that should be recognized and addressed within our society.
Second Award $1,500 - National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
2008 - BE014
A NOVEL THERAPY FOR NICOTINE DEPENDENCE
Miranda Phoebe Hajishengallis
duPont Manual Magnet High School, Louisville, KY
Substance abuse has developed into a recurring societal crisis over the years. Surprisingly, one of the most addictive drugs is nicotine, a substance primarily
found in tobacco. In medical terms, a tobacco user is chemically dependent on the stimulant effects of nicotine, and thus, cessation becomes extremely
challenging. Current therapies for smoking cessation have high relapse rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel nicotine antagonist, N, N'Decane-1, 10-diyl-bis-picolinium Diiodide (bPiDi) as a pharmacotherapy for nicotine dependence in a rodent model. The experiments examined the acute effect
of bPiDi on locomotor activity, as well as the acute and repeated effect of bPiDi on nicotine self-administration and sucrose-maintained responding. Firstly, the
rats were sensitized to nicotine with subcutaneous nicotine injections; thus, they were assessed for nicotine-induced changes in locomotor activity following
pretreatment with bPiDi in a locomotor chamber. For the self administration experiments, rats were first trained to respond for either intravenous nicotine or
sucrose pellets using a two-lever operant conditioning procedure. Then, they were pretreated with various doses of bPiDi or saline 15 minutes before each
session. Results showed that bPiDi attenuated the hyperactivity produced by nicotine. Furthermore, bPiDi dose-dependently decreased acute and repeated
nicotine self-administration, but not sucrose-maintained responding. The specific decrease in nicotine self-administration by bPiDi suggests that this nicotinic
receptor antagonist may be a novel approach in the pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence.
2008 - BE049
IS THERE A GENE WHICH INFLUENCES BOTH IRIS MORPHOLOGY AND PERSONALITY-RELATED BRAIN DEVELOPMENT?
Cameron Hansen
Carbon High School, Price, UT
This project investigated whether there is a correlation between ocular iris morphology and personality characteristics. Subjects completed the Keirsey
Temperament Sorter-II personality inventory, and then their eyes were photographed. The photographs were categorized based on the presence or absence of
iris Fuchs' crypts and the presence or absence of iris contraction furrows. Subjects with four or more iris crypts were more likely to be classified as
"introverted" and were more likely to be classified as "tough-minded" compared to people with fewer crypts. Subjects with zero to three iris crypts were more
likely to be classified as "extroverted" and were more likely to be classified as "friendly" compared to people with four or more crypts. Subjects with contraction
furrows longer than 1/4 of the iris circle were more likely to be classified as "observant" compared to people with smaller furrows. Subjects with furrows less
than 1/4 of the iris circle were more likely to be classified "introspective" compared to people with longer furrows. These associations were found to be
statistically significant at a p<0.05 using Chi-squared statistical analysis. I conclude that statistically significant correlations exist between iris
morphology and personality characteristics. It is possible that these correlations reflect genetic factors which influence the development of both the eye and the
brain. Further research in this area may help us understand human neurodevelopment and psychological development.
2008 - BE011
THE CHRONIC EFFECTS OF GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY ON QUALITY OF LIFE AND LEVELS OF DAYTIME DROWSINESS
Michael Andrew Fairchild Harding
Lake Highland Preparatory School, Orlando, FL
The experiment was designed to determine the effects of growth hormone on quality of life and daytime sleepiness. This was achieved by first measuring the
blood serum levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1, the marker protein of Growth Hormone. The patients were given the Epworth sleepiness scale and the HR
Quality of Life Scale during routine visits with their health care providers. The results of the experiment did support the hypothesis; that if the blood serum
concentration of biological marker of Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1, is at least two-thirds of a standard deviation below the median of the
population for an experimental group, then their quality of life shall be lower than that of a control group, and their daytime sleepiness shall be higher than that
of the control group. The results of the experiment showed that the control group having the experimental mean of 10.642+/-8.482 HRQoL score points,
9.785+/-5.833 Epworth sleepiness score points, and 41.6+/-23.9 Harding Overall QoL score points while the control group had the experimental mean of
1.857+/-3.485 HRQoL score points, 5.714+/-2.498 Epworth sleepiness score points, and 15.6+/-9.3 Harding Overall QoL score points. The null hypothesis of
N0 treatment effect is supported because the P-Value of N1 is P¡Ý0.0064 for the combined Harding overall QoL score, a P¡Ý0.0086 for the HRQoL score, and
a P¡Ý0.048 for the Epworth sleepiness score.
2008 - BE012
COLOR ME HAPPY: THE EFFECTS OF COLOR ON MEMORIZATION TASKS
Stratton Elizabeth Haywood
Holy Savior Menard Central High School, Alexandria, LA
This project was designed to determine the effect of color on sensory input, specifically if color can help students with memorization tasks. This idea was
developed after hearing a teacher’s concern that her students were having trouble memorizing vocabulary. The hypothesis is that colored paper does not affect
student memory. A total of 80 fifth and sixth grade students, all performing below grade level, were chosen to participate in the study. Five lists of 15
words chosen from second and third grade spelling books were printed on five different colors of paper, including white. The students memorized the words on
one color of paper and recorded as many words possible on a sheet of white loose-leaf paper. This process was repeated for each color of paper. 
Overall, students performed similarly using both white and colored paper. However, the fifth graders scored 11.2% higher using pale green paper than with any
other color, while the sixth grade class scored 8.2% lower using pale green paper. This is noteworthy because on all types of paper, except pale green, the
sixth graders scored higher than the fifth graders. The results have raised several questions that will be addressed in future research: 1) Why is there
such a discrepancy in scores using pale green paper? 2) Would allowing students to record words on the same color of paper from which they were memorized
increase scores? 3) What is the ideal color to aid memorization, and is it different for different ages?
2008 - BE060
A NOVEL LOW COST DESIGN OF TIC TAC TOE BOARDGAME FOR VISUALLY CHALLENGED
Vishakh Hegde
M.E.S Kishora Kendra High School, Bangalore, Karnataka, INDIA
I have created a low-cost, specially-designed version of Tic-Tac-Toe for the visually challenged. Apart from providing entertainment, the project also helps in
observing changes in their behavior and mental ability. Instead of traditional X and O’s there are two types of pawns which they can touch, feel and identify.
This game box consists of a simple circuit on the baseboard. It has some gaps in the circuit, which are bridged appropriately when the pawns are inserted. The
circuit works purely electromechanically, there is no complex logic circuits/ICs etc. that are used, and can hence be made at very low cost. This is the main
innovation of this project. I recognized the disability of visually challenged to play normal Tic Tac Toe and have been experimenting with various
designs. In the latest (6th version) prototype, the circuit is made on a Printed Circuit Board, an improvement from the other 5 designs which contain thin copper
sheets as conductors. Unlike the other 5 prototypes, this circuit includes 4 buzzers (i.e. 2 buzzers to indicate win of 2 players, 1 to indicate drawn game and
one when each player inserts a pawn). I have used a monostable circuit for the latter, to reduce the continuous buzzer sound into a beep. I have used stronger
magnets for better contacts. I have made small notches around the central slot. It serves as a reference point for other slots. An instruction manual has been
provided in Braille and English to enable them to play independently. I tested the game box with the visually challenged students and gave them a
questionnaire and obtained their feedback. I then left one of my prototypes at the school for their use, visited them a week later and again obtained their
feedback. I noticed a lot of improvement in their confidence level and mental strength in matters of defense and approach. According to the teachers, it has
improved their alertness, enthusiasm, memory, finger dexterity, eye-hand and ear-hand coordination. This is a low cost and portable game-box affordable to
everyone. This gadget runs off standard low-voltage DC batteries and is completely safe and rugged. It has thus succeeded in converting the paper-pen format
into board format and simultaneously has helped them to learn concepts of rows, columns and diagonals.
2008 - BE033
DO YOU HAVE SYNESTHESIA? PHASE II
Alexandra Christine Hummel
Florence High School #14-1, Florence, SD
Synesthesia is a neurological condition, which multiple senses are stimulated to combine into a single perceptual experience. The purpose of this project was to
see if and who Synesthesia transpires in, within a projected amount of people. Also, the project was intended to spread the knowledge of Synesthesia. 
 It was hypothesized that, females more so than males, would project more of a Synesthetic outcome and that more people would show Synesthetic-like
tendencies than not. The equipment used during the testing process included: a computer, the MATLAB Texsyn Toolbox Program, a questionnaire,
and a pencil. There were six different types of Synesthesia tested: Grapheme-Color, Color-Number, Lexical Gustatory, Mirror Touch, Personification, and
Sound-Music Synesthesia. The subjects were first explained what Synesthesia was, and were then asked to complete a questionnaire of Synesthesiabased questions. Once completed, the data was reviewed to distinguish whether subjects projected tendencies, and if so, further testing was required. All data,
was plugged into MATLAB until testing was complete. Then, data was converted into graphs and a Chi-square analysis of the study was made. In
conclusion, Synesthesia does occur in a vast amount of people. While, partially supporting the hypothesis, females did project a larger outcome than males in
most of the categories, although, not completely. Though, further testing would be necessary for the Synesthetic certainty. As a whole, the project was
succesful by showing that Synesthesia does exist regularly in people.
2008 - BE059
ANALYSIS OF VOCAL LEARNING IN FOXP2
Omar Waqqas Hussain
McArthur High School, Hollywood, FL
Language is a uniquely human trait likely to have been necessary for the development of the human culture. Most vertebrates communicate acoustically, but a
few among them such as humans, dolphins and whales, bats, and three orders of birds, use vocal learning as a means and method of communication. FOXP2
is the first gene linked to human speech and has been the target of specific study during recent primate evolution (Haesler, 2004). During
this experimentation the researcher used a bioinformatics database to acquire nucleotide sequences for 22 organisms which would be divided into subclasses
of vocal and non vocal organisms. From there 1452 microsatellites were determined to target di, tri, and tetra nucleotide sequences. Microsatellites are a good
indicator of determining evolutionary links or kinship. Out of 42 different microsatellites approximately 62.6 percent of all microsatellites occurred in the vocal
learners, while 37.4 occurred in non vocal learners, this shows us that they have in common many sequences like (GCA)3 and (CAG)3 but differ in the
proportions of other nucleotide sequences such as the other di microsatellites, (AA)9. Since ts = 0.755 is less than t05 = 2.021 do not reject the null.
 This can be explained because organisms are more alike than they are different. The basic code is four nitrogenous bases, A,T,G and C. However, the
small changes in a gene (mutation) can results in big changes to the organisms and potentially to each species.
2008 - BE054
HANDICAPPED SMART HOUSE
Mohammad Ghazi Issa
Rafic Hariri High School, Saida, South, LEBANON
The system aims to control and manage the electric appliances by pc and voice commands. It turns on or off electric appliances either by pc or by voice
commands; it also manages the time for the electric appliances to turn on and off. It also gives us a checking on what is turned on and what is turned off. 
 The system helps blinded people, handicapped people, and it also easies the control of electrical devices.
2008 - BE001
THINK AUTISM
Lawanya Jeyaselvan
Celebration High School, Celebration, FL
The purpose of this project is to examine 3 sensory integration activities and the Picture Exchange Communication System on children with Autism who suffer
from sensory and speech impairment. The hypothesis of this project is that jumping on a trampoline prior to completing a task provides sensory input that will
better help the child concentrate and perform the task versus swinging on a swing or jumping on an exercise ball and the child will have an increase in attempts
to use the Picture Exchange Communication System and will develop speech skills over time. Following each sensory session each child performed the same
activity. For example after jumping on the trampoline all 25 kids performed the same activity, which was stringing 5 beads. Each child had seven day intervals
for all three sensory integration sessions, for the first seven days the children would jump on the trampoline, on the second set the children would swing on a
swing, and for the final set of seven days the child would jump on an exercise ball. In Conclusion the scientist’s hypothesis was correct jumping on a trampoline
is the best vestibular sensory activity to help children with autism concentrate more efficiently and perform better with the Picture Exchange Communication
system. The scientist noticed that after each child jumped on the trampoline the children had less stems with their hands, thus without this extra hand motion
they were able to complete the task at a more appropriate pace. The child also performed more efficiently and correlated pictures with what they desired.
2008 - BE056
HOW WE THINK, WHO WE ARE: HOW WE LEARN?
Megan Danielle Johnson
Rio Rancho High School, Rio Rancho, NM
Methods of learning are a prevalent topic in psychological research. The object of this study was to determine a method by which learning style can be
predicted using the explanatory variables gender, handedness, age, family size, birth order, and cerebral dominance. The learning styles studied were visual,
aural, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. The sample consisted of 432 students between the ages of 8 and 18 and all data were collected using a survey and
series of questionnaires. Cerebral dominance was determined to be the only variable of statistical significance although gender did play a minor role in
predicting learning style. Though the data were statistically significant, the regression model produced in the multi-variate analysis proved a poor fit for the data.
However, there exists a positive correlation of visual and reading/writing learning with left brain dominance and a positive correlation of aural and kinesthetic
learning with right brain dominance. Extensions for this project include replacement of the surveys with performance based assessments to test for strengths
rather than preference, refinement of the sample, and incorporation of additional variables.
2008 - BE317
PERSONAL SHOPPING BAGS: AN ENVIRONMENTAL ALTERNATIVE
Jorge Elias Langhoff, Franco Gaston Borthiry,
San Juan Bosco Institute, Victorica, La Pampa, ARGENTINA
roject started in 2007, and it was primarily thought as a way to reduce the number of plastic bags, provided to buyers with goods purchased by the stores in Vi
ctoria. Final end of those plastic bags turn to their accumulation along public areas without the subsequent and necessary recovery. Due to there is not any recyc
ling program for those non-degradable materials, small garbage fields rise as a health and aesthetic problem for the whole community. Methodology:
 -Making polls with neighbors and dealers in Victorica. -Promoting campaigns in homes, shoppings and local schools. -Developing
alternatives: paper bags provided by local dealers, and the use of their personal shopping baskets by the people. -Reaching agreements with county
authorities for the implementation of specific policies. -Photo surveillance of public areas from the beginning up to the end of the project. Establishing a school factory of paper bags. -Free distribution of personal shopping bags and baskets in homes, for daily purchasing purposes. 
 Conclusions: Following objectives have been reached for this project: -The 72 traders in Victorica joined this program and
circulation of plastic bags was reduced by 80%. -Neighbors committed themselves in the daily use of their personal shopping baskets. Paper bags made by the school factory were provided to local dealers. This group appreciates that people participation, traders and authorities
commitment, and the support of local medium level organizations, have positively impacted on the implementation of the objectives established for this work.
 
2008 - BE043
FACE IT: A LOOK AT WHAT INFLUENCES VOTERS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Ashley Grace Larson
Seneca High School, Seneca, MO
For the first time in the history of the United States a woman or African American male could become the president. Does physical appearance or gender affect
voter outcome? The purpose of this study was to see if facial appearance and gender had an effect on voting patterns in presidential elections. Three triggers
were used: weight, gender, and facial expression. Each candidate was rated for attractiveness, likability, electability, leadership ability, competence,
dominance, and compassion. Eight different photos with various combinations of the three triggers were morphed using Photoshop. Comparisons were made
between smiling and neutral faces, normal weight and obese people, and males and females. The survey was designed to collect demographics from the
participants. Data was collected at a local university from participants ranges in age from 18 to 53 years old. It was found that the more likable the candidate
was, the more they seemed to be compassionate and competent. Health ranked significantly higher than weight and attractiveness when asked what
characteristics were most important in a presidential candidate. However, it was found that appearance significantly affects how a presidential candidate is
perceived, and a single photo of a candidate can be manipulated to sway voters' opinions.
2008 - BE005
A STUDY OF VARYING HARMONIC SPECTRUM EXPOSURE ON STUDENTS' CONCENTRATION DURING SPATIAL REASONING EXAMINATION AS
ASSESSED VIA FOURIER ANALYSES
Vivian Alice Lee
Vista Ridge High School, Cedar Park, TX
When a human hears a single note of a musical instrument, he may not realize that he is not only hearing one frequency, but an overlapping matrix of many
overtones ("harmonics"), which can be separated from the initial waveform via application of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), which splits the time-domain
sound wave into many frequency-domain bars indicating apparent strength of the harmonic(s). In this study, this principle was used to analyze the effects of
exposure to various waveforms with different harmonic spectra on students' concentration levels (see equation below). 60+ students were given different
versions of a series of nine spatial reasoning tests for a total sample size (N) of 460, each with a randomized sequence of questions from a test bank of 90. The
students listened to a randomized selection of waveforms while answering the questions. Their results were assessed using this formula: (% accuracy * 05) +
(((180-time)/180) * 100 * 0.5) = Concentration Index ("CIndex"); the higher the index the better. From the data collected, it can be observed that the oboe and
bassoon's waveforms augmented the concentration of students greatest. Waveform imaging and the FFT were used to analyze these results: instruments with
sawtooth-shaped waveforms, both even and odd harmonics, and closed conical bores were most beneficial to students' concentration. Those with squareshaped waves, only odd harmonics, and closed cylindrical bores (producing only odd harmonics due to presence of a node at one end and antinode at the
other) were least beneficial, perhaps because they lack the full harmonic spectrum present in those most beneficial. A one-way analysis of variance on the
CIndex data for all waveforms generated a p-value of 0.0064.
Second Award $350 - Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
2008 - BE029
INDEPENDENT CONFLICT-DRIVEN AND EXPECTANCY-DRIVEN MECHANISMS OF COGNITIVE CONTROL
Caitlyn Rose Lia
Ossining High School, Ossining, NY
In order to attend selectively to task-relevant stimuli and ignore task-irrelevant stimuli, the brain needs to strategically control selective attention. Two control
strategies, conflict-driven and expectancy-driven control, have been independently shown to guide selective attention. However, it is unknown whether these
two sources of control are independent or connected mechanisms. Subjects were given a form of the Stroop Task that assessed both expectancy- and conflictdriven control, by presenting conflicting (incongruent) and non-conflicting (congruent) Stroop stimuli in probabilistic sequences, in order to examine how
subjects’ responses were affected by conflict, expectancy, and a combination of the two. The data were analyzed to assess whether conflict- and expectancydriven control are independent (leading to an additive, combined benefits) or inter-dependent (the effect of one control mechanism would depend on if the other
mechanism was active). It was shown that the degree of expectancy-driven control effects was not dependent upon previous trial congruency, and that the
degree of conflict-driven control was not dependent on stimulus expectancy. The data showed that both expectancy-driven and conflict-driven control,
independently allowed for about 20 ms decrease in reaction time. Incongruent trials that presented both conflict and predictability allowed for a 40 ms decrease
in reaction time (demonstrating additive effects). This suggests that expectancy-driven control and conflict-driven control are derived from two independent
mechanisms within the brain. Future neuroimaging studies are necessary confirm these findings.
Tuition Scholarship Award in the amount of $8,000 - Office of Naval Research on behalf of the United States Navy and Marine Corps
2008 - BE041
CORRELATING ANATOMICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ASYMMETRY
Shauna Theresa Linn
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, MD
The human brain shows left-right (L-R) differences in neuroanatomy and is functionally lateralized, with each hemisphere specialized for specific behavioral or
cognitive tasks. Functional brain asymmetry is no longer considered uniquely human, but rather thought to be a feature common to all vertebrates. How L-R
asymmetry arises in the developing nervous system remains unclear. The zebrafish forebrain is an excellent model for studying the basis of brain
asymmetry. In >98% of larvae, the pineal complex contains a parapineal organ on the left side of the brain. The adjacent brain nucleus, the left habenula, is
larger, has denser neuropil and shows distinct patterns of gene expression compared to the right habenula. While the function of this asymmetry is unknown,
the parapineal serves as a useful marker of the direction of brain laterality. Genetic manipulations in zebrafish embryos allow L-R asymmetry of the
brain and visceral organs (e.g., liver and pancreas) to be reversed. I set out to test whether such “reversed-brain” larvae show behavioral differences in visual
and locomotor assays. Left and right-parapineal larvae show no difference in eye preference when viewing a group of age-matched conspecifics.
Interestingly, reversed-brain larvae take significantly longer to begin navigating, suggesting that they have reduced biological fitness (e.g., they are slower to
adapt to novel environments). L-R directional brain asymmetry, but not visceral asymmetry, dictates differences in locomotor behavior. One possibility is that
the asymmetric region of the zebrafish forebrain influences other regions of the brain that mediate motivation and fear.
First Award $1,000 - Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
2008 - BE052
THE PROBLEM OF "REGIME OF ARTIFICIAL TIME" AND ITS INFLUENCE ON HUMAN HEALTH
Mikhail Yurievich Lobanov
Evening School, Polyarniy, Murmansk region, RUSSIA
The aim of this project is to define the connection between human daily biorhythms and his chronotype with his general state, his ability to work and the
functioning of the systems of human organism of vital importance in the regime of «artificial time». The main tasks of project are - How does the regime of work
and influence health? What is the meaning of human biorhythms and chronotype for his health? Does the regime of «artificial time» correspond to human
biorhythms and his chronotype in modern conditions? Yow is it possible to bring daily human biorhythms and chronotype to the correspondence with his regime
of work and rest? Methods and ways, which were used in project: theoretical analysis of literature; systematization and generalization; survey; practical
experiment; observation. At the end of this research work we found that the regime of human work and rest existed in modern conditions (regime of “artificial”
time) doesn’t correspond to human natural biorhythms and chronotype and this must be taken into consideration while planning the time for work (study) and
for rest.
2008 - BE027
MAKING THE CHOICE: AN FMRI ANALYSIS OF IMPULSE AND STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING IN CLASSIFICATION OF EMOTIONAL STIMULI
Zachary Spencer Lorsch
Oceanside Senior High School, Oceanside, NY
The ability to neurologically process and distinguish stimuli based on certain characteristics is an integral process within the human brain central to everyday
life. Therefore, it is no surprise that humans use various decision-making strategies to make classifications and assertions based on both the stimuli presented
as well as the scenario for analysis. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the neurological differences associated with two
distinct methods of emotional decision-making. Twenty subjects (15 behavioral and 5 imaging) were asked to classify faces for emotional content at varying
reaction times representing long term “strategic decisions” and quickly made “impulse decisions”. The impulse decision-making trial showed increased brain
activity throughout most of the brain associated with decreased performance. Strategic decision-making was associated with large activity in the dorsal
amygdala, which was not present in the impulse decision trial. When examining cognitive control mechanisms, cognitive control was evident in the impulse trial,
not the strategic. Additionally, the amygdala was only active when performance was at its peak, suggesting a correlation between the amygdala and emotional
decision-making. As a whole, these data suggest the use of different neurological pathways for different methods of decision making.
2008 - BE036
SYMMETRY-RELATED VISUAL STEREOTYPING IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES
Shannon Marie MacKenzie
Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, KY
symmetry has been linked to corporal symmetry in theories stating that attraction is linked to symmetry. This r search furthers symmetry research by hypoth
esizing that stereotyping based on eye symmetry will affect a viewer’s judgment of characteristics of “persons” viewed. It was nticipated that more positiv
e characteristics would be associated with symmetry and negative with asymmetry. To test he hypothesis, seven face images were generated using Face 4.0
software. An asymme
rical counterpart for each was created by moving the right eye slightly up or down from its original position. Original a
d manipulate
d images were placed side-by-side in a PowerPoint survey and subjects were forced to choose between images with respect to characteristics of criminalit
y, intellectuality, success in business, or celebrity status. Trends in sponse
r
to slightly asymmetric images in Phase 1 led to Phase 2, where the degree of a
symmetry was increased. Chi-square tsts were run to determine whether responses were statistically different from a 50-50 distribution. Support/Reje
t ratios were determined by dividing the number of responses that corresponded with the hypothesis by the number of opposite responses. These ratios
ere analyzed according to characteristic, gender of image, and degree of asymmetry. Four degrees isclearly a point of asymmetry beyond which a positive or n
egative judgment was prompted in many subjects. Subjects, who were all female, judged female images more critically on the basis of symmetry than male
images. Symmetry and asymmetry were not very important in judging criminality, but were very important for choosing successful business people and
celebrities.
2008 - BE308
THE EFFECTS OF SSRI SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE FORMATION OF CONDITIONAL LONG TERM MEMORY IN DUNCE AND WILD TYPE
DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER
Peter Hans Massey, Claire Drago,
Manhasset High School, Manhasset, NY
The number of individuals diagnosed with memory disorders is doubling every five years (Neuro-Pro, 2005). Long term memory (LTM) is the retention of
experience dependent internal representations over time (Kleinsmith et al., 95). Studies using various species have suggested that the formation of LTM
reveals an increase in gene expression (Tully, 98). By testing activation of the CREB gene in flies the LTM process of the CREB switch was discovered (Tully,
98). Drosophila with higher levels of CREB need less training for efficient LTM formation (Tully, 83). The purpose of this experiment was to determine the
effects of SSRI supplementation on the formation of LTM in Dunce and Wild Type Drosophila. The flies were subdivided into 4 groups, FLU supplemented Wild
Type and Dunce, and two controls. Drosophila were olfactory trained with 3-Octanol using a protocol consisting of one minute 60V shock intervals with a ten
minute rest. The standard interval consisted of 10 full trials however was shortened to 4 trials in prior experimentation. Drosophila were then tested for LTM four
days post training using two scents the 3-octanol and 4-methylcyclohexanol, both found to be neutral in flies (Douglas and Tibaldi, 05). Data was recorded and
placed in Excel. Statistical analysis by T-test (p<.05) was done to show significance between groups.
2008 - BE051
ESSENCES OF INTELLIGENCES
Alisa Melekhina
Northeast High School, Philadelphia, PA
The purpose of this project was to determine which of the four current theories of intelligence in the field of cognitive psychology and psychometry —general
intelligence factor (measured by IQ tests), Triarchic Theory of Successful Intelligence (emphasizes Analytic, Creative, and Practical intelligence), Multiple
Intelligences (recognizes 8 intelligences: Linguistic, Mathematical, Musical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Spatial, Naturalistic, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal) and
Emotional Intelligence—has the largest positive correlation with students’ PSAT test scores and GPA. A fifth, novel theory of intelligence called Strategic and
Tactical Perception based on the game of chess was also tested. It was hypothesized that the simulated IQ test will have the largest correlation with
PSAT test scores and GPA. Emotional Intelligence will have the lowest and most insignificant correlations with every test and variable. The procedure
included administering the five simulated intelligence tests to a class of 11th graders over a five-week period. The results indicated that the most
significant Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient established was 0.665682 between composite PSAT scores and Sternberg Triarchic Abilities Test
(STAT) scores. Emotional Intelligence did not correlate significantly at all with any test and even produced several negative correlations. Major
conclusions found include that the PSAT is most related in format to the Sternberg Triarchic Abilities Test, there is an alarming problem of “inflated” GPAs,
introducing chess in the school curriculum would increase test scores and performance, and Emotional Intelligence correlates negatively with other tests
because neurologically, it differs the most from all of the other intelligence theories: Advanced aptitude skills are controlled by the Neocortex, while emotional
responses and comprehensions originate in the antiquated Limbic System and Reptilian Complex (R-Complex) of the human brain.
2008 - BE302
HITLER VS. KING
Griffin Carter Miller, Conrad Bandoroff,
Sayre School, Lexington, KY
King vs. Hitler examines the impact of who makes a statement on our decision making. Are we inclined to agree with Martin Luther King Jr. and to disagree with
Adolf Hitler simply because of whom they are? 84 people diversified evenly by race, faith, and education were asked if they Agreed or Disagreed with the same
two statements, one attributed to King and the other to Hitler. 42 were inaccurately told the speaker of the statement and 42 were accurately told the speaker.
66% of the surveyed people Agreed when King was attributed as the speaker, even if Hitler actually was the speaker. 46% Agreed when Hitler was attributed
as the speaker, even if King actually was the speaker. A person’s decision making process is significantly influenced by who makes a statement rather than by
the statement’s contents. People are more inclined to Agree with King, a famous humanitarian and civil rights activist, and more inclined to Disagree with Hitler,
infamous for his atrocities during WW II, simply by virtue of his name.
2008 - BE006
THE IMPACT OF MUSIC ON STUDENTS' TEST SCORES
Christie-Brianna K Momohara
Kailua High School, Kailua, HI
One could assume music is a big part of life, no matter which generation one comes from. At Kailua High School however, any type of listening device isn't
allowed to be used during class time. This causes one to question whether music truly does impair students' learning and performance abilities. If it's true that
people are capable of focusing their conscious awareness on a particular stimulus and they're able to multitask efficiently, then one could infer that music will
not cause a student to perform poorly on a test. In order to carry out this experiement, high school students were randomly selected and randomly placed into
two separate groups-the control and experimental group. The control group took two tests and studied in between without listening to music, while the
experimental group did the same except they listened to music of their choosing. Cautious procedures were taken to avoid any conflict with students' moral,
religious, or ethical beliefs. By conducting this experiment, findings indicate that music does not negatively impact students' test scores. Students who listened
to music while studying and taking a test did (on average) just a well as those who didn't listen to music. Thus, there is no reason why students are not able to
use listening devices during non-lecture class times. People are able to consciously select what to focus on and can complete tasks of two different stimuli at
once just as efficiently if they were to do them separately.
2008 - BE002
AN ANALYSIS OF LAYPERSON ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO USE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR'S (AED'S)
Adare Marie Morell
Okaloosa Walton College Collegiate High School, Niceville, FL
Strategies to increase survival for victims of acute cardiac events include increased use of public access defibrillation through the use of automated external
defibrillators (AEDs) in communities. This study investigated layperson’s willingness and ability to use an AED. To analyze willingness to use the device, a selfcreated 9 question survey was administered to 100 subjects. Survey questions included willingness to use an AED on a family member vs. a stranger; how
training in AED use effects willingness; and subject identifiers such as age, gender, educational level, and medical environment exposure. To analyze ability, 20
subjects identified as having no familiarity with the device were asked to participate in a simulated emergency situation necessitating use of a training AED on a
mannequin. Appropriate use was scored using American Heart guidelines (turn on device; apply pads properly; plug in leads; shock when indicated; stay clear
during shock). The study concluded that layperson’s with AED training will be more willing to use the device than those without training; older subjects
expressed more willingness to use an AED on a family member than younger subjects; and subjects with higher levels of education had more knowledge of the
device. Sixty percent of layperson subjects in the simulation exercise appropriately used the AED. Pad placement presented the greatest confusion for
subjects. With minimal public advertisement targeting AED awareness and use, I believe a large population of layperson’s could be willing and able to use
AEDs on victims of acute cardiac events in the community.
2008 - BE026
THE NEURAL BASIS OF THE DECISION TO REWARD OR PUNISH IN PARENTING: AN FMRI INVESTIGATION
Benjamin Julius Mueller
John L. Miller - Great Neck North High School, Great Neck, NY
Parents constantly make decisions that attempt to influence the behavior of their children through reward and punishment. Indeed, ever since the formulation of
Thorndike’s law of effect in 1911, psychologists have grappled with the complex social interaction mediated by reward and punishment. Although recent fMRI
studies have begun to investigate the neural bases of social decision-making, and some have even explored the processing of reward and punishment, the
question of how the human brain makes the widely prevalent and deeply impactful decision to reward or punish has gone completely unexplored in the
literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the specialized neural networks for decisions to reward and punish in parenting, and to locate the
common neural network underlying both tasks. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure brain activity in five human subjects as they
responded to the hypothetical actions of a child with either of two levels of reward or punishment. The discovery of a common neural network confirmed the
presence of categorization uncertainty in both types of decisions. Decisions to reward activated orbitofrontal gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, superior temporal
gyrus, and precentral gyrus, suggesting a deeply ingrained role for emotion in the decision to reward. On the other hand, the neural network associated with the
decision to punish was found to include anterior cingulate gyrus, postcentral gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, and precuneus, all high-level cognitive regions
that suggest that the decision to punish requires a greater degree of regulation and reason.
2008 - BE028
THE EFFECTS OF A STUDENT INSTRUCTIONAL BASED AUDIO VISUAL MODULE COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHODS ON
PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT
Brooklyn Ann Noble
Orion Junior High, Harrisville, UT
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the efficacy of modules in teaching sixth grade students science content. Three conditions were tested: a) live
demonstrations alone, b) instruction-based module, and c) both a module and demonstration. A module is a show with both visual and audio representation
that is created at a planetarium. Student content knowledge was tested using a ten question quiz prior to instruction and again ten days later to compare
knowledge gained and analyze how much information they retained. Six groups were formed from the 180 sixth grade students involved, with each
condition used with two groups. Those groups exposed to the modules alone scored lower on the posttest than the other groups (a mean increase of only
13%). Those groups exposed to both the live demonstration and the modules increased the most on their posttest (a mean increase of 24.5%). The modules do
work, but maybe there are other things to look into more closely. Due to my research and findings on this project, these student instruction-based modules are
now in consideration to be sent out across the United States for use in classrooms.
2008 - BE034
THE EFFECT OF MUSICAL TRAINING ON THE CEREBRAL LATERALIZATION OF MUSICAL SEQUENCES
Alysha Harper Owen
Dallastown Area High School, Dallastown, PA
are two cerebral hemispheres that specialize in different functions. In most right-handed people, the left hemisphere specializes in linguistic, analytic, and seque
ntial tasks, whereas the right hemisphere specializes in spatial, synthetic, and holistic tasks. Musicassing is generally lateralized to the right hemisp
here in dextral humans. There is evidence to suggest that musical training may change musical processing into more of a linguistic task. The hypothesis o
f this experiment is that musical training will change the discrimination of musical chords from a right brain task to a left brain task. Forty right-h ubjec
ts (twenty musicians, ten female, ten male; twenty nonmusicians, ten female, ten male) were tested using two auditory dichotic stimulation tests: a word recog
nition test and a chord recognition test. In the verbal test, two different, similar-sounding words were presented by headphones simultaneously to e
ach ear. The words were then played separately to both ears and the subject would identify which word was heard. The music test was presented similarly
. A Cakewalk software program was used to synchronize and present the stimuli. As expected, there w
ght ear/left brain advantage in the verbal te
st (68.75% accuracy versus 29% accuracy),which was statistically significant by t-test analysis. On the musical task, musicians demonstrated a left hemispheric
dominance in chord recognition (56% left hemispheric accuracy versus 44% right hemispheric accuracy), whereas nonmusicians demonstrated a right
hemispheric dominance (55% right hemispheric accuracy versus 45% left hemispheric accuracy). These trends are most pronounced in female musicians (59%
accuracy in the left hemisphere versus 41% accuracy in the right hemisphere) and male nonmusicians (59% accuracy in the right hemisphere and 41%
accuracy in the left hemisphere). These trends support the hypothesis, but with the current population size, they do not reach statistical significance. 
Ongoing expansion of this study involves enlarging the two test populations to an n=30 or more. With this additional data, t-testing will hopefully reach statistical
significance and an ANOVA can be applied to examine the possible effect of gender.
2008 - BE310
THE EFFECT OF A SURPRISE ELEMENT IN A VIDEO ON THE HEART RATE OF ADOLESCENT HUMANS AND THE DIFFERENCE IN MALES AND
FEMALES
Melissa Sandra Palmer, London Dewey,
Spruce Creek High School, Port Orange, FL
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of fear on the heart rate of adolescent humans using a startling image video. First, 20
males and 20 females in high school were obtained and were given a survey to verify that they had a good heart condition. Then each subject was hooked up
to the wireless heart rate monitor, and Logger Pro 4.3.6 software was used to measure their resting heart rate. Next, the subject watched the startling image
video, and the peak heart rate from the LoggerPro software output was recorded. The average change in heart rate from resting to peak and the comparison
between the average change of males and females using a t-test was found using Microsoft Excel. The results were, indicated by a t-test, that there
was a significant change on average of both genders' heart rates, but there was not a significant change when comparing males and females average heart
rate. It can be concluded that males and females are equally susceptible to an increased heart rate due to fear and have the same increase on
average.
2008 - BE304
A DISCUSSION ABOUT EQUALITY: A GENDER STUDY IN THE CLASSROOM
Mary Alysandra Patzel, Jessica Cummins,
West Salem High School, Salem, OR
Within societies, individuals often present rules and patterns of interaction. In typical Western society relationships, these patterns often follow behaviors that
are based on gender. Through different discussion contexts, in a high school setting, we attempted see how the social network patterns and gender roles are
influenced by discussion type. By videotaping a classroom's interactions in two different discussion formats, we evaluated the communications and behaviors
between peers. Using social networking software, we were able to change complex human interactions into empirical data, and created maps of the
interactions in the classroom. Analyzing the social network maps of the two separate discussions on the basis of gender, we worked to find out whether the
physical format and framing of discussion affected gender roles and interactions in the classroom. We have shown that males dominate dialectic, polar
discussions, while females are more outspoken in conversational, communal discussion types.
2008 - BE301
THE AMOUNT OF COMPUTER USAGE AFFECTS TEENAGE MALES' ACUITY MORE THAN FEMALES'
Josean Manuel Perez, Yevgeniy Kostenko, Faduma Ahmed-Ali
Westview High School, Portland, OR
A study of how vision is affected by both short-term and long-term computer use. A specific age group was selected to be tested, and it involved 13 to 18 year
olds, composed almost evenly between males and females. Short-term was defined as 45 minutes of computer usage while long-term was defined as 2 hours.
The subject's vision was tested prior to using the computer and after using the computer. The Snellen eye chart was used to test differences in acuity. The
control data equates to acuity results prior to testing. This is compared to the acuity results after either short-term or long-term computer use. A trend found was
that females started the test with a better acuity index on average than males. For short term, the negative impact of computer usage between males and
females was only different by 4%, yet for long-term, there was 22% difference between males and females. The regression line before and after in females was
positive, while for males, the slope of the regression line before is positive, while after it is negative. Females' vision does not appear to be as affected by
computer usage as males'. A short survey was given after the tests to better understand the lifestyle of the test subjects in order to determine the results.
2008 - BE053
INFLUENCE OF INCORPORATION OF WOMEN CADETS ON THE CORPORATE IMAGE OF THE MILITARY SCHOOL, GRAN MARISCAL, RAMON
CASTILLA, TRUJILLO
Kervin Perez Infantes
Colegio Militar Gran Mariscal Ramon Castilla, Trujillo, PERU
establishing the influence that has been generated from these new changes or new systems in the corporate image, determine what these factors change, from
the possible reasons until aware of the perceptions Public internal (cadets) and he publicly external (parents) on the incorporation of women cadets at the
formal education system in the Military College "Grand Marshal Ramon Castilla," and that will be the reason for the investigation. And accordingly can be made
more effective plans and efforts in the organization. the problem:What difference Enactment of women cadets at the Military College of Corporate
Image "Grand Marshal Ramon Castilla," Trujillo the Hypothesys The incorporation of women cadets influences positively in the Corporate
Image of the Military College Gran Mariscal Ramon Castilla Trujillo. The investigation has been carried out is descrptive,the desing of the investigation
simple,for the preparation of the survey produced a quetionnaraire, universe study of 172 cadets and parents. The coclusions is: -As for his image
attributes noted for its academic standards, training and disciplinary leadership. -The incorporation of women in the military college has meant
changes in the treatment of a cadet, interpersonal relationships and discipline, but they are regarded as positive, since it continues to maintain a high level of
image (the largest concentrated in qualifiers Fine and good). -The process of the investigation that was carried out in this paper allows us to confirm
our hypothesis so we can say that the incorporation of women to the school has been completed successfully and positively on the image perceived by their
public key and cadets parents.
2008 - BE040
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NAIL BITING AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER
Alexander Laszlo Peterkin
Oakton High School, Vienna, VA
Nail biting can be anything from a bad habit to a serious medical condition. Although the cause of nail biting is multifactorial, severe nail biting, or
onychophagia, is a disorder that may be associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In order to explore this relationship, a cross-sectional study
was designed to determine if the severity of nail biting is linked to the likelihood of having symptoms of OCD. An anonymous survey with informed
consent was distributed to university students. Data was collected on degree of nail biting, symptoms of OCD, age, gender, GPA, family history, and other
body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRB). The severity of nail biting was quantified and a modified Yale-Brown OCD Scale was used. Of the 189 total
respondents, 89 were severe nail biters. Sixty-three percent of all severe nail biters had symptoms of OCD. The odds ratio of having symptoms of OCD if one
were a severe nail biter was 13.73:1, statistically significant (P<0.0001). However, a linear relationship between the degree of nail biting and increasing
symptoms of OCD was not found. Also, 79% of nail biters had at least one other BFRB and 61% had a positive family history. A definite link between
severe nail biting and symptoms of OCD was established. However, milder degrees of nail biting were not conclusively associated with increasing symptoms of
OCD. Establishing a relationship between severe nail biting and OCD is important for investigating a common cause and may lead to better treatments in the
future.
2008 - BE047
BALLIN'!
Rachael Pishtek
Lakota High School, Lakota, ND
For my project I tested to see if the hand and eye dominance of female basketball players has anything to do with their free-throw shooting percentage. 
 I decided to test our junior high and varsity girls' basketball teams. I figured if I did this I could not place them all together in the same group so I put them in
different age categories: 12-14, 15-16, and 17-18. This seemed like an easier way to show my results and how my players should improve with age. This also
seemed like the fairest way to do this rather than placing a seventh grader in the same category than a senior. I also looked at the previous free-throw shooting
percentages from the 2007 basketball season and added them to my calculations also. When I tested each subject, I first found out their eye
dominance. I did this by having the subject extend their arms out in front of their face and make a triangle shape. I placed a basketball sticker on the wall and
had them center the sticker between their hands. Once they had centered the sticker, I asked them to close their left eye. If the sticker was covered up by their
hand it meant that they were right-eye dominant. I had them do the same with their right eye and if the sticker was covered by their hand that meant they were
left-eye dominant. Next, I asked each subject for they hand that they shoot, write, eat, and throw etc. with. After I got this information, I had the subject shoot 15
free-throws. Then I figured out the percentage of their shots. Later on I also found their shooting percentage from 2007. Then, I added the percentages together
to make and overall percentage of that subjects shooting. My hypothesis was that crossed hand/eye dominance would be beneficial for the athlete. I
thought this because when a basketball is being shot and the dominant eye and hand are on the same side, the dominant eye is covered. I found that
my hypothesis was not correct. Fortunately half of the subjects were right eye dominant and the other half were left eye dominant. I found that the subjects that
were dominant with their right hand and left eye had better free-throw percentages in the 12-14, 15-16, and 17-18 age categories.
2008 - BE010
WHAT'S IN AND WHAT'S OUT: HIGH SCHOOLERS' PERCEPTIONS OF COOLNESS
Shelby Marie Raye
Manatee High School, Bradenton, FL
What qualities does a “cool” teenager possess? Teenagers tend to judge their peers on how cool they are. The purpose of this study is to find out what traits
make a teenager “cool” to his/her peers. Data from this study can be used by school administrators, teachers, and parents to fully understand why teenagers
may exhibit certain behaviors. How cool a teenager is taps into 5 different domains: athletics, academics, social relationships, personal qualities, and deviant
behaviors. If teenagers are surveyed on what they believe the qualities of a “cool” teenager are, then appearance and personality traits will appear to be the
most important qualities of a “cool” teenager. To determine what qualities teenagers believe a "cool" teenager possesses, 389 students at a
large high school were surveyed. The survey was designed specifically for this study. The most common responses of the survey were compared between
male and female responses. The surveys were also compared by age, ranging from 14-years-old to 18-years-old. Significant results were found
regarding the qualities that make a teenager cool. Both male and female teenagers indicated that participating in athletics was cool. Almost half of the
participants agreed that GPA does not pertain to coolness. Males rated funny as the most likely positive trait of a cool teenager and females rated outgoing. It
was also found that 17-year-olds thought it was cooler to drink alcohol and take part in risky behaviors than any other age group. The perceptions of what
qualities a cool teenager possesses differed and agreed across gender and age.
Third Award of $1,000 - National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
2008 - BE058
A GAME OF THEORY, LEVEL II
Willie Tenell Reaves, Jr.
Muskogee High School, Muskogee, OK
rpose of this experiment was to determine which consistency strategy of game theory, if any, most significantly affects the responses that high school stude
nts choose on multiple-choice exams. The eight-section survey contained all permutations of two colors (blue and green) and odd numbers in order to simulate
a full range of survey options. After conducting data analysis, it was determined that many students do utilize a consistency method, and that the numerical
method (i.e. choosing the same number throughout the survey) was the most common method, having amassed 37% of the overall selections. The Mixed
Methods and No Obvious Pattern categories only received a combined 12 percent of survey responses. Various consistency methods displayed a considerably
higher rate of use. The surveys were administered to a random sample of one hundred Muskogee High School students. After locating a willing
participant, the project and its associated Consent Form were explained to him/her, and his/her understanding of both were ascertained. The participant
completed and returned the surveys and Consent Form, obtaining necessary parental/guardian permission. The conclusion of this experiment was
that there was sufficient evidence to support my null hypothesis that more than half of participants would utilize a consistency game theory strategy.
2008 - BE015
ALGEBRA: NOT THE SAME OLD GAME
Neil Martin Redfield
John Jay Science and Engineering Academy, San Antonio, TX
Educational computer games claim to teach effectively. There has never been a long-term study to rate how effective they are. In Part I of this study (20062007), an educational mathematics game significantly (p<0.05) raised student test scores over a five week period. The purpose of this experiment was to
compare the effectiveness of the same computer game (Math Blaster Algebra, comprehensive for Algebra I) over a five week versus a fifteen week period and
to determine if student performance and attitudes towards math improved. Fifty students participated in this second-year study. At the start of the
experiment, students took a test rating their current knowledge of Algebra I and a survey quantifying their attitudes towards math. Twenty-three students were
given a copy of the game to play at home and a sheet to record their playing times over 15 weeks. A performance test was given after the students had played
for 5 weeks and again after 15 weeks. An attitude survey was administered at 15 weeks. Test scores were compared using paired t-tests, and r2 values were
derived comparing the length of time played versus changes in test and classroom performance. Student performance at 5 weeks did improve but not
significantly so. No significant variations were noted at 15 weeks. No changes in student attitude were apparent. Combined 5 week data from both years
indicated a significant improvement in test scores (8%). The results suggest a five-week playing time was beneficial but that no further improvements occurred
after 15 weeks.
2008 - BE307
MOVING FROM KNOWING WHAT TO KNOWING HOW... METACOMPREHENSIVE AND METAPRODUCTIVE KNOWLEDGE
Rebeca Rodriguez Osorio, Camila Gabriela Alvayay Torrejon,
Colegio Catolico Santa Emilia, Antofagasta, CHILE
Motivated by the knowledge that we obtained in class, we ask ourselves, how much do our classmates and the community in general know about the physical
process that are in presence of every day? Even more living in the region of Antofagasta , where the development of the great mining is remarkable,
as an important means of labor and economic provision, our investigation considers to explain the physics process used in the extraction of big tonnage trucks,
that are manipulated by individuals of our community, related to hydraulic systems, compressibility, fluidity, and some others, through the elaboration and
comprehension, about theories associated to basic abstracts concepts of physics. We used a semi-experimental design, with an experimental control
group, in a school level with students of Elementary School Level, and at workers level, with the ones that has direct contact with this kind of machines. We
developed a pre-test and a post-test as system of evaluation with open questions, to determine the level of comprehension about the theme. We prove
the intervention of the didactic model to see if the comprehensive knowledge increases, involving the construction, production and applicability of knowledge.
 The investigation that we realized, shows the Metacognition process like a series of operations, activities and Cognoscitives functions made by the
individuals that we treated, (through a group pf internal mechanisms) by means of a inwardness joint with of intellectual mechanisms that allows to selection,
produce and evaluate information, making possible that the individuals may understand and transmit what they learned, to apply it on their every day life.
2008 - BE065
WHAT'S STRESSIN' YOU OUT?
Amanda Michelle Rutland
Tipton-Rosemark Academy, Millington, TN
As teen stress is a very common issue, this project was performed to develop an overall stress level for high school students, discover which factors cause
students the most stress, and to learn student’s opinions concerning the effect of sleep on their stress level. To find the answers to the above questions, onehundred and twenty students were surveyed. Out of each high school grade level, fifteen males and fifteen females were surveyed. The results were compiled,
compared, and posted. My hypothesis that females are more stressed than males was proven to be correct. The junior class was proven to have the highest
overall stress level. School was proven to be the highest overall stress factor, while the war in Iraq and the presidential election were proven to cause students
the least amount of stress. Concerning the effect of sleep on stress level, sixty-six percent of students believe that if they were to receive more sleep on a
regular basis, their stress level would be reduced. This number was consistent between genders and grade levels. In conclusion, teen stress is a common
issue which must be addressed by the individual. By receiving more sleep on a regular basis and possibly practicing better time-management techniques
concerning schoolwork, teens have the power to potentially lower their overall stress level.
2008 - BE004
READING FLUENCY AND COMPREHENSION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN BLOCK AND FORMATTED TEXT
Lindsey Brooke Saunders
Union County High School, Lake Butler, FL
The purpose of this experiment was to determine what effects unformatted text and formatted text passages have on comprehension and reading fluency rates.
A group of 20 second graders was chosen. The students were divided into Test Group A and Test Group B, with each group consisting of five boys and five
girls. Ten second grade reading level passages were used for each test group. The passages were typed using a different format from the original. The first five
passages were typed with justified margins and single spaced lines. The second five were formatted by breaking down the sentences into segments of no more
than 30 characters per line. Varied line indentions were used for the beginning of each line. Comprehension questions were made up for each of the reading
passages using FCAT style question stems. The 10 students were tested on reading fluency for one minute on each passage. Each student read aloud until the
passage was completed. They were then given a comprehension test on the passage read. The results for the first test group showed that the students' reading
fluency rate increased an average of 16 words a minute when reading from formatted text passages. Comprehension test scores increased by 3% for the same
text. The second test group showed an average increase in reading fluency of seven words a minute when reading from formatted text passages.
Comprehension increased 11% for the same text. From these results it can be concluded that using a formatted text pattern in reading passages increases
reading fluency rates and comprehension test scores.
2008 - BE046
SOUND DIRECTIONALITY
Julia Suzanna Schenk
Walter Payton College Prep High School, Chicago, IL
It is a well-known fact that people's ability to hear generally worsens as they age due to deteriorating anatomy. The purpose of this experiment, however, is to
test people of varying ages to determine whether the ability to discern sound directionality is a function of frequency or age. Some background reading led me
to believe that hearing a sound is not the same as interpreting it. For this reason, I hypothesized that the ability to detect directionality would be based on
frequency, not age. Using Adobe Audition 1.0, I created a CD with four separate tracks consisting of computer-generated tones. The tracks were at
75, 200, 800, and 1400 Hertz, repectively. The sound in both earbuds started at zero decibels. The left earbud's decibels decreased by a nonlinear increment
while the right earbud's decibels remained at zero; the right earbud's decibels decreased by that same increment while the sound in the left earbud returned to
zero decibels. This same progression of decreasing volume between earbuds occurred until the subject could determine sound directionality. Test subjects
completed a consent form and survey, and then were tested individually in a quiet room. Results were drawn from a total of thirty-five people, ages twelve to
seventy-five. When plotted on graphs exhibiting age (x) and difference in volume (decibels, y), the data suggested that sound directionality is more
dependent on frequency than age. The results support the conclusion that the ability to determine sound directionality improves with frequency, although there
were sources of error.
2008 - BE309
THE EFFECT OF VISUALLY ENHANCED MEDICINE LABELS ON RECALL ABILITY
Bradley Douglas Shields, Taylor McGraw, Reed Falkner
Each year, thousands of people make mistakes when taking prescription medicine. This widespread problem prompted us to investigate the factors that lead to
its prevalence. Research (as well as common sense) suggests that current medicine labels are not as conducive to accurate recall of instructions as they could
be. In our study, we targeted this problem by seeking to improve existing medicine labels through the use of visual enhancements such as geometric figures
and color symbols representing dosage instructions. To test the effectiveness of these stimuli, we created three placebo pill bottles with the visuallyenhanced labels and three with traditional text labels – both sets with comparable dosage instructions. We alternated which set we gave to the participants first.
Participants were given a minute and a half to study the information on each label. After each study period, the participants recorded the instructions they
remembered. We scored the tests based on the number of instructions recalled correctly. We tested 30 people in all: 10 (18-24); 10 (45-55); 10 (65+)
with an equal number of males and females in each group. On average, subjects recalled 68% of the instructions on the traditional text labels and 85% of the
instructions on the visually-enhanced labels. The statistical increase was equally significant within each age group. As a general trend, younger subjects
performed better on both tests. Statistical differences between males and females were not significant. From our results, we have concluded that
visual enhancements lead to more accurate recall of information on medicine labels.
Third Award of $250 - American Statistical Association
2008 - BE021
WALKING STICK FOR VISUAL-DISABLED PEOPLE AGAINST AIR CRASHES
Jessica Silva Silveira
Colegio Fundacao Bradesco - Gravatai, Gravatai-RS, Rio Grande do Sul, BRASIL
After a conversation, an interview, with a visual disabled person about the difficulties he finds every day, I discovered that one of the most frequent problems is
when the person is moving in a sidewalk, that he still does not know, and face obstacles that are above the ground, in the air, such as branches of trees and
public telephones. So I dedicated my research and studies trying to find alternatives that would minimize this problem. Then I had the idea
of a special walking stick, which could help to prevent such shocks. That's why I created a prototype of a walking stick to help the visual disabled people,
facilitating their displacement and access to the world and with easy handling, without electronic components and with a low cost. This walking stick should
avoid the shocks with air objects (at the height of the head) that a common walking stick is unable to detect. My prototype is very simple, is a
regular walking stick increased by a shaft of VHF antenna, designed for front and up until the size of the head of the person. In the presence of an air obstacle,
it would sense a tremor of the walking stick due to the antenna, preventing the collision. I hope that this prototype developed in my project
could be implemented and that could be part of the daily life of this group of people, improving and facilitating their living conditions.
2008 - BE003
BODY LANGUAGE
Trevor Gerard Simon Jr.
St. James Parish Science and Math Academy, Vacherie, LA
xperiment proposed the following questions: Is body language and the type of personality of a person directly related? Whichype of personality uses more b
ody langue? Are there any specific gestures that one personality type expresses more than the other? For this test, I used; 30 Human test subjects, a digital
stop watch, and a steady interviewing environment. I began this study by creating a questionnaire and a set of interview questions. Each subject received the
questionnaire and completed it thoroughly. Next, subjects participate in an interview. Seven questions were asked, which demanded thorough explanation. All
subjects were led to believe that his or her responses were being recorded; however the questioner only recorded the approximate times of each interview with
the subject, and the amount of hand and body gestures each performed during the interview. A list of common hand and body gestures was created and used
to minimize recording time. To relieve pressure on the interviewee, the stop watch and the check list were hidden. This created a false environment to keep
results steady. A quiet area was used in the interviewing process to keep distractions to a minimum. After the interview was over, the results from test one were
compared to the results from test two in order to determine if personality and talkativeness influenced the frequency and variety of gestures.
2008 - BE007
ANOREXIA AND BULIMIA: IN TEEN ATHLETES
Sasha Alixer Spalding
F.W. Springstead High School, Spring Hill, FL
The purpose of thee experiment is to see how much information athletes know about Anorexia and Bulimia versus non-athletes. The reason for doing this
project is to see if the knowledge of the disorder affects the amount of athletes versus non-athletes with the disorder. It was also hypothesized that athletes
knew less about the disorder. The procedure involved having teachers pass out the surveys with the consent forms attached. Subjects were informed
that everything was strictly confidential. When the results were tallied they showed that athletes and Non-athletes had many of the same answers
except for minor differences. Such as question 2 which is about is anorexia and bulimia more common in females or males. Also question6 which ask are there
any major health risk involved with anorexia and bulimia. These two questions had almost 100% the same answer except for one person. The one question that
had a lot of variety was question 9 asking how does anorexia affect children’s school work. This question had opposite answers more athletes chose choice A
while more non-athletes chose choice B. Based on the results not enough information to determine which group had better knowledge overall. The
answers to the surveys were too close to distinguish a difference between athletes and non-athletes regarding anorexia and bulimia. It appears this study can
benefit from further research. It also suggests that both groups could benefit from further education regarding eating disorders.
2008 - BE039
THE EFFECTS OF INQUIRY-BASED TEACHING ON THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WITHIN SUBGROUPS SCORING AT "NEARING PROFICIENT"
(GRADE LEVEL) OR ABOVE ON THE MISSOURI ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (MAP) TEST AT THE 7TH GRADE LEVEL IN THE SECTION OF SCIENCE
Jordan Elizabeth Stevens
West Platte R-2 High School, Weston
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) have labeled 32% of Missouri’s schools in the category of “Needing Improvement.”
Missouri schools are not the only ones impacted. Schools across the nation are being held accountable for improving student progress by the No Child Left
Behind Act (NCLB). This study concerned the effects of inquiry-based teaching on the percentage of students within subgroups performing at or above grade
level on Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) test in the section of science at the 7th grade level. The MAP test is Missouri’s version of a standardized
assessment. Schools were selected using Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website to ascertain the student to teacher
ratio range to one of fifteen to twenty. Surveys were created and mailed to 140 schools across the state, fitting the ratio criteria, 42 schools responded. The
surveys were grouped into the test groups of inquiry-based teaching with science fair projects, inquiry-based teaching with no science fair projects, and the
control group of no inquiry-based teaching and without science fair projects. The data was separated into the subgroups of male, female, and students in the
free and reduced lunch program. An analysis of the performance of these subgroups on MAP test indicated the school districts using inquiry-based curriculum
had a statistically higher percentage of students scoring at or above grade level compared to the subgroups of the school districts without inquiry-based
instruction.
2008 - BE035
IT'S A GUY THING: HOW FATHERS AFFECT DAUGHTERS' DATING HABITS
Emily Rose Summerbell
Collins Hill High School, Suwanee, GA
Recent research suggests that biological fathers affect their daughters’ sexual maturity, including menstruation. The purpose of this experiment was to
determine whether fathers have any effect on daughters’ dating habits. It was hypothesized that the presence of biological fathers in households would have a
significant effect on the daughters’ dating habits. “Dating habits” refers to any noticeable pattern or boundary observed in girls’ dating records. The
fathers’ effects on age when daughter began dating, number of relationships, length of relationships, and relationship boundaries were measured by surveying
175 high school girls. Using both t-tests and chi-squares, much data was found to be significant at the 0.05 significance level. Compared to girls not
living with fathers, girls living with fathers begin dating at a statistically later age (p=0.0174), wait statistically longer in relationships to have sex (p=0.0387), and
are significantly more likely to disapprove of sex while in high school (p=0.0004). Likewise, girls not living with fathers statistically have longer relationships
(p=0.0049), date statistically more people, (p=0.0057), and are significantly more likely not to be abstinent (p=0.0005). The results show that fathers
have a significant effect on daughters’ dating habits. This data sheds light on the importance of father-daughter relationships, and possibly other family
relationships, and the impact of social or physical connections on female adolescent development. Once again, nature proves that the family is a powerful
social and biological force.
2008 - BE062
COMPARING ATTITUDES TOWARD ADHD IN THE WORKPLACE
Janelle Christina Thixton
Eastern High School, Pekin, IN
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects as many as eight million adults; because of its prevalence, this disorder has a profound affect on the
workplace dynamic. It was hypothesized that knowledgeable nonprofessionals would perceive ADHD in the workplace the same as mental health
professionals, and that this group would have a more realistic perception (as portrayed in the literature cited) than the general population. A ten statement Likert
scale survey was created by the researcher. Surveys were distributed at the 2007 Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD) conference in
Washington D.C. and outside the Clarksville, Indiana Wal-Mart. The surveys were separated into three groups: mental health professionals, non mental health
professionals from the CHADD conference, and general population. Half of the statements on the survey were designed to receive a positive response and half
were designed to receive a negative response. ANOVA and two-tailed Student’s t-Test were used to compare the responses to each statement. A total of 132
surveys were received. Fourteen surveys were excluded because they were missing answers to statements or background questions, leaving 118 that were
used. Fifty-seven of these were from the general population, 15 were from non mental health professionals who attended the CHADD conference, and 46 were
from mental health professionals. The difference between the general population and the more informed groups was significant at the .025 level overall. The
data indicates that both the CHADD nonprofessionals and mental health professionals perceive ADHD more realistically than the general population, so the
hypothesis was supported. There were no statistically significant differences between the responses given by different genders and age groups within each
group.
2008 - BE315
MIND GAMES
Nolan Brent Timmons, Felix Plancarte,
The effect of video games on the human brain has not been researched a considerable amount. Therefore, the purpose of our experiment was to determine out
of two different types of video games, which one would most significantly effect short-term memory and visual comprehension of elderly and adolescent
females. Six elderly and adolescent females were chosen to participate in the experiment, females were chosen over males because women are less
likely to be exposed to video games. The participants were tested with a block design, recommended by our school's Diagnostician. The participants played
Halo (FPS) or Tetris (Puzzle). The time schedules are as follow: 1. Test Only (Control); 2. 25 minutes, 3 days/week; 3. 40 minutes, 3 days/week. Participants
played for four full weeks, then took a final test. The test was based on a 0 to 71 scoring system. Both groups' first test scores ranged from 26 to 56.
Participants in both age groups have shown surprising results on their final tests. The scores have increased by up to 22 points on the First Person Shooter and
Puzzle type video games. From experimental results, both games have helped improve the participants' test scores, but in terms of which type of
game increased their visual comprehension and short-term memory most significantly, the FPS had the most significant effect on their visual comprehension
and short-term memory.
2008 - BE313
THE PATH OF SAN FRANCISCO: AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ATACALAR REGION
Jose Daniel Vera, Sergio Andres Avila,
Municipal School No1, Capital - Catamarca, ARGENTINA
The lack of diffusion of the potentialities of the Path of San Francisco, to the west of the province of Catamarca, at 4.726 m.a.s.l., to the north of the Mountain
range of the Andes between Argentina and Chile (28° Lat. Sur and 68° Long West) impedes its use and the economic development for the ATACALAR Region
( Catamarca, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, La Rioja, Córdoba in Argentina and Atacama in the north of Chile). The bibliographical Investigation
allows us to represent through graphs its location and its areas of influence. Searching Fields facilitated to relation the environmental characteristics,
in Summer and Winter (presenting minimum difficulties in this station, only 8 days closed for snowy, in connection with the Paths of Jama (Jujuy) and Path of
Cristo Redentor -Mendoza in Argentina. The Analysis Documental allowed settle down that it possesses a soft longitudinal slope (3%) confirming it proper for
safe traffic. Surveys to businessmen and politician, show that through the Path of San Francisco: 21% soja,17% olive products,10% agricultural and farming
products,10% mining,are transported for trading as fruits, vegetables, meat, allowing the opening of the markets and the economic growth of the region. 
 Interviews to specialists point out that the Path of San Francisco determines to direct corridor toward the markets of the Pacific Ocean, and it lacks of a
good diffusion of its potentialities Campaigns from the class of Geography, in our school, will diffuse the advantages of the mountain path, propitiating
the economic development of ATACALAR Region.
2008 - BE025
QUE? QUOI? DO LANGUAGES WITH GRAMMATICAL GENDER PROMOTE SEXIST ATTITUDES?
Benjamin David Wasserman
Roslyn High School, Roslyn Heights, NY
A series of three experiments explored the link between the grammatical structures of a language and expressed sexist attitudes. It was hypothesized that
students who read a passage and completed a survey of sexist attitudes in a language with grammatical gender would express more sexist attitudes than
students who completed the same survey in a language without grammatical gender. In experiment one, 74 high school students enrolled in the five highest
level Spanish classes read and completed either the Spanish version of the passage and survey or the English version. The students who completed the
Spanish version expressed significantly more sexist attitudes than students who completed the survey in English (p<.05). The second experiment replicated the
experiment on 85 high school upper-level French students. The students who completed the French version of the survey expressed significantly more sexist
attitudes than students who completed the survey in English (p<.01). In the third experiment, the experiment was replicated on 66 high school students who
were fluent in both English and Spanish. Students in the Spanish condition expressed marginally more sexist attitudes than students in the English condition
(p=.057). In addition, in all three experiments, male participants expressed significantly more sexist attitudes than female participants (p<.01). The results of this
study show support for the idea that languages with grammatical gender may promote sexist attitudes in people who read the language.
2008 - BE057
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ON RACIAL PROFILING?
Ariel Nicole Wiley
Basha High School, Chandler, AZ
Racial profiling is a major concern in American society, especially in areas such as law enforcement. Law enforcement programs emphasize eliminating racial
profiling from their system. However relatively little is known as to which facial features are key to racial profiling, which brings about the question what is the
impact of physical characteristics on racial profiling? A variety of people were selected in order to confirm or deny the hypothesis that, “There is a positive
correlation between physical traits and racial classification.” High school and college students of both genders and varied ethnicities were used to explore the
impact of facial features on racial bias. A survey containing 125 different facial pictures with ethnically specific features such as hair, eyes, eyebrows, lips, and
noses were used to determine which features are associated with racial profiling. All pictures had the same skin color. The ethnic groups surveyed generally
recognize features associated with their own ethnicity faster than features associated with the other ethnicities. The three most prominent defining features in
profiling were hair, eyebrows, and lips. Many subjects were surprised to find, once the survey was over, that none of the faces had actual skin color, even
though many subjects read different skin colors into the pictures. This information can help clarify which features are central to racial profiling. It is apparent
racial profiling is not based on skin color alone. Future research is needed to more fully assess the impact of individual ethnic features.
2008 - BE030
COGNITIVE AND IMPLICIT MEASURES OF ACCULTURATION IN ADOLESCENT HISPANIC AMERICANS
Mary Caitlin Williams
Acculturation is psychological adaptation to a new culture and can contribute to distress, anxiety and even depression. These psychological effects can be
examined on a cognitive (conscious) and implicit (subconscious) level. This study is the first to measure acculturation implicitly in conjunction with cognitive
attitudes as an improved approach to measuring acculturation among adolescent Hispanic Americans, the youngest and fastest growing population in the
United States. Cognitive and implicit disagreement may indicate internal conflict, which can lead to mental health problems and factors that influence cognitive
and implicit acculturation are identified. Forty Hispanic Americans and a control group of forty Caucasian Americans completed an Implicit Association Test
(IAT) which measured implicit responses. Three new country-specific IAT sets were created on Inquest in Millisecond Software. A survey, The Bicultural
Involvement Questionnaire (BIQ), measured cognitive attitudes. Of the Hispanic participants, 55% had internal conflict. The frequency of speaking Spanish with
friends (cognitive p=.026, implicit p=.045), being born in America (cognitive p=.005, implicit p=.001) and English as a first language (cognitive p=.035, implicit
p=.002) correlated positively with the degree of acculturation. Learning a language increases implicit associations with a new culture without lessening ties to
native culture and friendship as a context for language plays an important role in implicit acculturation.
Scholarship Award of $5,000 and 10-week summer research experience. Total value is $10,000 - Department of Homeland Security, University Programs
Office
2008 - BE017
CROWDING-OUT OR CROWDING-IN: WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES?
Xiaomeng Zeng
West High School, Iowa City, IA
There has been an ongoing debate in the public library community over raising private donations to fight budget crunches. Some fear that an influx of private
funds might result in losses of government support – the crowding-out effect, while others argue the opposite – the crowding-in effect. This debate is also
theoretically linked to theories of pro-social behavior, and no previous research has examined this issue. The critical question is: do public funding for and
private contributions to public libraries crowd out each other? In line with the impure altruism theory and the traditional concern of librarians, I hypothesized that
there will be a crowding-out effect in both directions. To test this hypothesis, I obtained and processed the 2000 U.S Census data for Iowa and data
from the Iowa Public Library Statistics, containing information from more than 500 public libraries in Iowa from years 2000 to 2006. I then constructed statistical
models that include government funding, private donations, city population, median age, household income, education level, and Friends groups. I found,
contrary to my hypothesis, a crowding-in, rather than a crowding-out, effect in both directions: an increase in public funding is associated with an increase in
private donations, and vice versa. This indicates that, in this case, the impure altruism theory is not supported. Instead, I suggest that both the government and
private donors conditionally cooperate with each other and perceive each others’ financial contributions to the public library as positive signals to continue
support, resulting in this observed crowding-in effect.
First Award of $1,000 - American Statistical Association
2009 - BE315
LET ALL CONTROL
Mohanad Alaa Abd El Monem Mekky, Belal Magdy Elsayed Shaaban,
Gamal Abd Elnaser, Alexandria, EGYPT
How to make the life easier for some one this is what we always thinking about it so our project allow handicapped people from control in computer mouse and
keyboard with out facing any troubles and in this way we try to treat the psychological aspects with them
2009 - BE314
A CLOSER LOOK AT SOCIAL TABOO: FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
Ahmed Safieldin Aboumandoor, Ahmed Shoieb,
Futures International School, Cairo, EGYPT
Lots of issues are still out of touch taboos in our Eastern culture. We chose to discuss female genital mutilation (FMG), reported to be 97% prevalent in our
country according to UNICEF reports. FMG comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury
to the female genital organs for non- medical purposes. This practice dating since Pharaonic time has lots of side effects ranging from bleeding and frigidity to
death as evidenced in many cases. In this project, we are trying to investigate the factors that helped this tradition to prevail in spite of the advanced
educational profile of the people in Egypt nowadays. A survey was conducted covering all aspects of FGM. The population was divided into 3 groups:
Urban, Rural and Bedouins. Participants were chosen from different genders, religious backgrounds, socio-economic levels, and educational backgrounds.
Moreover, religious leaders, university professors and physicians were interviewed. According to the results, more than 50% of the participants in urban areas
refuse FGM. Demographics were proved to play a great role in people's opinion whereas gender has no influence at all. It was also proved that this practice is
deeply rooted and inherited in rural areas, which proves the psychological immaturity and resistance to change.
Second Place Award of $1000 for excellence in Behavioral and Social Sciences - IIT Institute of Psychology
2009 - BE060
ROBOCARE
ENABLING PEOPLE WITH COMPLETE PARALYSIS TO CONTROL THEIR WHEEL CHAIRS AND HOME APPLIANCES USING THEIR
TONGUES MUSCLES
Mouth Nabeel Abuaysha
AlDuffi High School, Jubail Industrial, Eastern, SAUDI ARABIA
Individuals with total paralysis disabilities are deprived from their ability to control their movement, transportation and performing simple daily tasks. Such
individuals usually live with a permanent care taker. This could develop a low-self-esteem and low confidence levels in such individuals. Total
paralysis individuals are incapable of controlling most of their body muscles with the exception of some muscles such as tongues. This was a door opener for
RoboCare. The RoboCare research project studies the possibility of enabling individuals with total paralysis disability to move freely without need for
continuous assistance using electronics & robotics technology and tongue muscles. The device consists of a microcontroller (LEGO NXT Brick was
used in the model), 4 switches (to serve as touch sensors) mounted on a flexible wire and an extension cord. Each switch is wired to the microcontroller which
is programmed to control the movement of the wheel chair with a robotics arm that is mounted on top of the wheel chair joystick. The microcontroller is also
programmed to switch on and off home appliances such as music stereos, lights, TV and heaters by double clicking on switches. RoboCare provides
people having total paralysis with a better way to live and interact with their world. Such individuals would be able to control their movement and their home
appliances without a need for permanent care takers. After several test of the RoboCare unit conducted by people having total paralysis under proper
supervision of medical experts, RoboCare was found to be helpful in helping those individuals use the wheelchair independently, have a positive psychological
impact and more social interaction.
Fourth Award of $500 - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel
2009 - BE051
THE EFFECT OF LEARNING MATHEMATICAL PRINCIPLES IN VARIOUS WAYS ON TRANSFER AND APPLICATION TO OTHER PROBLEMS.
Prachi Rajesh Agrawal
William L. Dickinson high school, Jersey City, NJ
Many students understand the concept of what they learn in class, but it becomes a difficult situation when they have to apply that knowledge to other
problems. The purpose of this experiment was to test which way of learning mathematical principles is better to transfer and apply the knowledge to other
problems. While many schools have incorporated traditional methods (concrete), the students haven’t shown a significant improvement in their ability at solving
math problems in real life. Therefore learning the non–traditional way (combined / abstract) is expected to be the better learning strategy. The
experiment was conducted on 20 high school sophomores. They were given abstract, concrete, and abstract and concrete combined instruction lessons and
asked to take a test of 20 questions that required them to use the recently acquired knowledge. The results were obtained from their test grades. The average
score for the Abstract Way of learning was 65% while the average score for the Concrete Way of learning was 55%. But the average score for learning Abstract
and Concrete combined was 80% which was the highest score. Abstract and Concrete learning combined produced the highest transfer of knowledge to the
new learning situation than abstract and concrete learning alone. If abstract and concrete are considered alone, students were able to apply abstract learning
better than concrete learning. High school math classes should incorporate more abstract examples in teaching math. Furthermore, a combination of both
abstract and concrete would result in better learning.
2009 - BE031
EXPLORING SCHIZOPHRENIC LOGIC WITH COMIC STRIPS
Shira Ahissar
Aharon Katzir High School, Rehovot, ISRAEL
phrenia is thought to impair logical processes, but the nature of these impairments and whether there is any consistency across different individuals remai
n unresolved. To explore logical processes I created 4 comic strips, leaving the speech bubbles empty, and asked 19 schizophrenic patients and 11 norma
tive subjects to fill the bubbles. I then asked each patient to grade each of the 19x4 filled comic strips according to how logical they are. In addition, I grade
d each filled comic strip according to 10 characteristic features. A cluster analysis of the combined data revealed 3 distinguished patient groups, showing diffe
rent logical patterns. This grouping and several correlations between different characteristics of the filled comic strips indicated that schizophrenic logic may have
its own rules. For example, the number of repetitions of "loneliness" words and the maximum number of pictures combined into one plot were significantly corre
lated. Indeed most breaks in the plots occurred at a dramatic event in the comic strip. Subsequent personal interviews revealed significant relationships
between dramatic experiences the patients had and the characteristics of their filled comics. My findings indicate grouping of logical patterns among
schizophrenics and suggest that schizophrenic logic deviates from the norm at events where that patient could not handle normative logic. These frequent
breaks in plot may result from impaired connections between emotions, encoded in the limbic system, and memory for episodes, encoded in the hippocampus.
This is consistent with impairments in frontal lobe control over limbic-hippocampus connections, which results in impaired emotional control of memory
encoding.
Second Award of $1,500 - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel
2009 - BE316
FRIENDLY BAG FOR YOUR BACK
Hayfa Khaled Albassam, Nouf Saleh Almana, Asma Abdullah Alsaihati
Dhahran Ahlyya School, Dhahran, Eastern, SAUDI ARABIA
Although the maximum weight carried by young students should not exceed 15% of their body weight, most students in lower elementary carry heavy school
bags which could result in physical problems on them. In an effort to overcome this, a survey was conducted to assess the level of parents' knowledge
regarding the backpacks weight limit for thier children. A sample of 53 randomly selected young students were selected to conduct the
investigation.Each student's weight was measured in addition to the weight of the backpack they carried. It was found that 62.3% of the students carry bags
that are overweight. Continuing at this rate, a large number of individuals would suffer from physical problems. To prevent this, a "Friendly Bag"
solution was introduced, provided with an electronic screen showing the reading from a light weight scale placed at the bottom of the bag. The "Friendly Bag" is
a promising and practical solution which can prevent the development of physical problems for students. The bag will be further modified to be fitted
with an audible alarm which would sound when the weight of the bag exceeds a pre-set limit by parents. Also the application of the bag will be expanded to
cover suitcases to warn travelers about potential excess weight.
2009 - BE055
DOES INDIVIUDALITY IN TEACHING STYLES POSTITIVELY AFFECT STUDENT CONCEPT MASTERY?
Cole Christopher Allick
Staint John Public High School, Saint John, ND
A. Are any two people in the world exactly the same? If that were the case, then wouldn't the world be a lot easier to work with? We could set standards that
everyone would afree with because we would all be the same! Unfortunately, however, that is not how life works. B. If no two people are the same,
why do we use one standard teaching style for all students in a classroom? This practice has resulted in an education system that doesn't get as many students
passing as there should be. C. I took it upon myself to attempt to find a method of teaching that would be more beneficial to all students in a
classroom. I produced a test that would determine an individual's learning style. After determning an individual's style, I incorporated their strongest style as I
taught them a new concept. I quizzed them on the concept and compared the results to students who were taught by the standard method. D. Seven
out of nine students scored higher than the average score of an individual from the control group on their quiz. 100% of each learning style group's average
score was higher than the control gorup's average on the quiz. E. In conclusion, I determined that to be a successful teacher, one must ahve each
tupe of style highlighted in their teaching practices. Also, a greater number of successful students can be graduated through our education program by
individualizing our teaching methods.
2009 - BE006
MUBSTAR PROGRAM TO COMMUNICATION FOR DEAF
Ahmad Rasmi Almubiden
There is in every society a special category requiring a special adaptation to the environment where they live are the deaf. Modern science has failed to make
the deaf person part of the community, where there is no book in the world talking about the deaf, but we find the word "deaf community", the word with all the
meanings of isolation experienced by the deaf. On the basis of this problem the idea of the Mop Star was developed to make the deaf communicate
where the program provides sufficient flexibility and capacity to make the deaf communicate across the world provided by the program is to enable deaf people
to communicate across the world and this makes the deaf get out from the narrow range and go for the exchange of experiences and knowledge with the deaf
in the world. This program contains a very simple user interface that they can deal with it simply and with great flexibility since the program contains a
graphical user interface to facilitate dealing with them. The idea of how the program work is very simple that they can send and receive signals
between the two parties and the process itself is the communication between the deaf.
2009 - BE309
MATERIALS USED IN DENTAL RESTORATION AND ITS EFFECTS IN HEALTH
Carlos Gabriel Alvarado-Melendez, Denisse Hernandez,
Jose Gautier Benitez High School, Caguas, PUERTO RICO
Dental amalgam is a material that has been used for more than 150 years, but since its beginning, it has caused controversy because one of its principal
components is the element mercury, that can result in serious risks to health. For this reason an investigation was carried out to determine how much
knowledge the common citizen has about these components and if these affect their health. The hypothesis was that the common citizen doesn’t have any
knowledge of the components of the material used in dental restoration and it is affecting their health. To do this research, a questionnaire was
designed and two hundred and sixty (260) human subjects answered it. People above 18 years old and from different social backgrounds were chosen at
random. After the information was analyzed it was possible to demonstrate that the hypothesis presented is correct; common citizens have no
knowledge about the components used in dental restoration and its effects in health. Sixty seven percent (67%) answered that they haven’t received any kind
of information related to dental amalgam, 63% answered that their dentists used dental amalgam and 43% indicated that many of the illnesses they suffer
appeared after they received dental restoration with amalgam. This research is addressed to pertinent institutions, so that they develop conscience
and inform the citizens about the materials used in dental restoration and the possible effects in their health.
2009 - BE317
BURNOUT SYNDROME AT SCHOOL
Estefania Aranda, Cristian Emmanuel Fink,
Escuela de Comercio No. 2 "Gral M.M. de Guemes", Concordia, Entre Rios, ARGENTINA
Pain in the back and neck, sensation of persecution, labor absenteeism, and desire to commit suicide, these are some of the symptoms of a syndrome not very
well-known in Argentina. It is called Burnout Syndrome and it is defined as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of successful achievement in
one’s work with people. This project focuses on teachers because of the negative impact it can have on the teachers themselves and especially on the
pupils. As the above mentioned symptoms have been noticed daily in the schools of Concordia and teachers’ dissatisfaction is easily perceived, we realized
this study was needed to establish the causes for them. The main objective is to describe the grade of Burnout Syndrome present in the 
 Teachers of N° 51 “Felipe Gardel” High School and Comercio N° 2 “General Martín Miguel de Güemes” High School situated in Concordia city, province of
Entre Ríos, Argentine Republic, where the result was LOW in both places. Teacher Burnout was assessed using a work and socio-demographic
questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory as well as “ C.O.P.E.” Carver’s Scale. Besides, conferences on the syndrome and its prevention through the
development of a resilient personality were given at several schools of the city, delivering a brochure of our own. This situation has different triggers,
and serious consequences, and it is necessary to raise teachers’ awareness as it affects the base of our society: education.
2009 - BE007
BLIND PEOPLE COAT WITH SMART EYES
Ahmad Nabil Awad
This project is destined to assist blind people to walk freely without the need to use the white stick through wearing a coat with sensors that magnify objects
ahead of the blind person by using the ultrasound waves. This project consists of three types of sensors; one located on the chest area in order to
detect the objects that are one meter far ahead, and another sensor is located on a hat in order to detect the objects that are one meter higher than the head,
and the third is fixed on the knee area in a bended way in order to detect land holes and stairs that are 60 cm. far from the blind person. After making
the necessary tests on this appliance, it proved high accuracy and sharp results in detecting the barriers in front of blind people, and consequently enable them
to walk freely at a percentage of 90%.
2009 - BE004
MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTING: A REVIEW OF FACTORS THAT AFFECT TEST-TAKING EFFECTIVENESS
Amanda Gabriela Barillas
Southwestern Educational Society, Mayaguez, PUERTO RICO
The purpose of the experiment was to test factors that are involved in multiple-choice tests. The first variable tested was "Comparing Test Media". 100 people
were given one copy of each test: one on the computer and one traditional "bubble" exam. The second variable was "Strategy vs Nonstrategy". To test this,
each person was given a twenty question exam: the first ten questions were to be answered without the strategy and the second ten were answered using the
strategy provided (process of elimination). The third case was to test the "Discouraged Random Guessing" Method. Microsoft Excel randomly simulated 10,000
tests. The probability of getting an A, B, and C when eliminating none, one and two of the choices were calculated. The last variable tested was "Visual Bias
due to Position". Using the method provided by "Deal or No Deal", 100 people were asked to pick one "case" out of six in a diagram (three different diagrams:
linear, block and a circular clockwise). After the results were recorded, it was seen that there was a significant difference (9.6 >> 1.96) between scores on
paper and computer. The strategy greatly aided the test taker, with a similar difference to that of the first case. Randomly guessing can render most likely a C
when one eliminates two of the choices (5%). There was a particular bias towards the center of the layout, if there was one. This experiment could be improved
with more people's results and more exams. The hypotheses were confirmed in all cases.
Trip to attend the China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest in July. - China Association for Science and Technology (CAST)
Renewable Scholarship of $15,000 per year for up to four years - IIT Institute of Psychology
2009 - BE305
PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE: PUERTO RICAN TEENAGERS QUALITY OF LIFE BASED ON HOME ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL LIFE, RELIGIOUS
EXPERIENCE, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Frances Del Mar Bravo, Ghiara Lugo,
Academia del Perpetuo Socorro, San Juan, PUERTO RICO
The purpose of this investigation is to describe and relate the quality of life and the perspective of life in observable conducts which can be related with their
social life, home environment, physical activities and religious experience by gender. 150 subjects within the metropolitan area between the ages of 13-16 were
submitted to the SRP-I profile (questionnaire designed by the principal investigator and revised by a psychiatrist.) The data was analyzed using Chi-Square p ≤
0.05. There was a significant association between the quality of life and the perspective of life in Puerto Rican teenagers. The family’s profile was related to the
social quality of life. Teenagers whose parents were not married tended to have greater encounters with their friends due to the fact that they are trying to fill an
emotional vacancy. Religious and moral values are learned from mothers who acquire their core values within church. Teenagers tend to have a healthier life
style due to the core values imposed by their mothers. The poor quality of life in females is because of the pressure imposed, especially when related to
academic profile and a lack of physical activities. Males’ poor quality of life is associated to the pressure imposed by parents because they want their children
not only to enroll in physical activities, but to also have a healthy academic profile. A positive perspective of life in teenagers is associated to a healthy quality of
life in the home environment (family profile and parent pressure) and religious experience.
2009 - BE005
TOUCH – TECHNOLOGY OF MAKING TACTILE PICTURES AND AIDS FOR BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
Natalia Butina
Municipal School # 44, Nizhny Novgorod, RUSSIA
Emotional and perceptible development of blind and partially unsighted preschool children finds difficulties due to an absence of books and aids assisting them
to overcome this psychical lag. The comparison of existing technologies demonstrated that usually they acquaint child with contour of an object and its relief but
provide a little perceptive characteristics. Young children perceive better the pictures with separate fragments of texture applique. I decided to
develop technology of making tactile pictures having both visual and tactile similarity with an object thus waking up senses and emotions. I made illustrations in
the book where each image is completely made of materials with different textures. The selection of textures was made thoroughly with the aim to reproduce
perceptive and tactile characteristics of image object. Various types of synthetic furs, textile, cardboard, paper, foil, natural materials etc. were used. It is also
necessary to assure that object is perceived as an integral one, number of fine elements should not be very large. The produced book was delivered
to defectologists to study its recognizability. This study has demonstrated the advantage of technology of complete multitexture applique in making pictures for
preschool children because such pictures are interesting and comprehensive; they are tactile-cognate and acquaint children with contour and shape of an
object; it gives perceptive and emotional image; it also acquaints children with non-verbal communications. For children with residual sight picture can be also
recognized by color because little details don’t merge with contour. Method allows blind and partially sighted preschool children overcoming psychical lag of
and assisting in their perceptive and emotional development.
2009 - BE302
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: WHAT TRIGGERS OUR PERCEPTIONS?
Isaiah Martin Butler, Katherine Eva Joyce,
St. Mary's High School, Sleepy Eye, MN
Everyday, people make perceptions about the people they meet. Social perceiving is the process of interpreting sensory information that has you draw
conclusions about the individuals around you. This experiment was conducted in efforts to find what affects our perceptions, which, unfortunately, are usually
based upon stereotypes, as well as neurological connections made within the brain, and also to make people aware of the their stereotypical nature. In order to
discover any other affects on perceptions and what perceptions would be made about specific images, this project had participants draw conclusion in written
form in addition to answering multiple choice questions about twenty pre-chosen pictures. They filled out a short questionnaire concerning their own personal
characteristics, including gender, age, birth order, home location, and ethnicity. These were used, along with student research concerning stereotypes and
brain functions about perceptions, to analyze the results and to recognize patterns and possible causes. To interpret the results, we took each
answer, recorded it, and then simplified it to a negative, positive, or neutral response. Then we compared that to the stereotypical first impression that we
hypothesized that individuals would make about the picture, which we had previously designated negative, positive, or neutral. The results concluded that
63.7% of the time, subjects in this experiment had response that was stereotypical, and when asked to explain their answer the often used answers that relied
on prejudices. These results concur with our hypothesis that a majority of will have a stereotypical conclusion about the pictures we exposed them to, because
of the subjects’ exposure to society view and preexisting memories that cause them to associate and classify people into certain groups. This shows that
perceptions are a combination of society’s installment of norms and memories from the hippocampus applied to social environments.
2009 - BE308
ACTION AND AWARENESS: AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION METHODOLOGY
Ana Claudia Cassanti, Ana Clara Cassanti, Felipe Seabra Fernandes
Colegio Dante Alighieri, Sao Paulo, SP, BRASIL
Public awareness about global warming is crucial to society. Actions are necessary to try to control climate change. Considering that amounts of knowledge is
taught at school, we created a proposal of an environmental education methodology. Our objective was to make students aware of the problems
related to global warming by holding meetings to discuss theoretical approaches and creative practices. Our hypothesis was that environmental
education agents must be young students that act in the leadership, motivation and organization of activities conducted in social, economical and
environmental lines. The methodology embraces four modules: “deforesting”, “economy & development”, “agribusiness” and “energy”. The reason for
this set is that they are connected with the major source of greenhouse gases’ emission in Brazil. Each module contained a series of actions, with
activities ranging from critical analyses (undergone by young “multipliers”) to the outline of creative measures. For this study, individuals (students) who took
part in the activities were asked to fill in a questionnaire. By a qualitative approach, the research aimed at reaching an understanding of ecological-friendly
behaviors shown after their involvement in the activities. The findings showed the efficiency of our methodology as the majority of the individuals
stressed the relevance of the methods used to become aware of environmental matters. This research is liable to contribute with schools keen on
promoting changes in students’ behavior regarding their ecological awareness, since it allows a well-structured approach towards a comprehensive
environmental education.
First Palce Award of $1500 for excellence in Behavioral and Social Science - IIT Institute of Psychology
2009 - BE304
DEGREE OF LATERALIZATION AS A PREDICTOR OF PERFORMANCE
Joanne Chou, Andrea Clark,
Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, FL
It was once believed that one hemisphere dominated in all specific areas of intellect. However, the human brain is separated by a longitudinal fissure, which
creates two distinct cerebral hemispheres by the corpus callosum, each hemisphere specializing in their own function. The purpose of this study was to
determine if a person’s specific lateralization affects how well they work in a team. It was hypothesized that highly lateralized teams would perform better than
low lateralized teams. College participants were tested through a lateralization screener, which asked to maximize the number of times they can tap a
spacebar, a spatial task, and recite the phrase, “Cat, Dog, Horse”, a verbal task. Participants were then categorized according to their scores from the
lateralization screener by their lateralization and grouped with same categorized participants for phase two. Phase two involved playing Schizoid, a highly
cooperative game, which monitored their performance in their lateralized teams. As a result, there was a slight increase in performance for the highly
lateralized teams; however, it is not a great enough increase to indicate a statistically significant difference in team performance. Understanding the specific
nature of how spatial abilities are lateralized in the brain is important for several reasons. Clinicians use this information to predict the outcomes of brain injury
or surgery. Predicting the consequences of specific brain injuries in order to create interventions for these patients is vital to understand how they react to brain
surgery.
2009 - BE034
A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF NATIVE LANGUAGE ON THE LEARNING STYLE OF NATIVE CHINESE AND NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS
Ling Chou
Oregon Episcopal School, Portland, OR
Chinese was initially created based on the visual representation or pictographs of various objects and concepts while modern English was created by putting
together phonic Western alphabets that do not contain any visual meaning. Languages can shape one’s thought process. If native Chinese speakers are more
visual than native English speakers, then the P-value of Dimension Visual-Verbal should be significantly lower. Fifty four native English speakers, 18 bilingual
students and 102 native Chinese speakers volunteered to complete the Index of Learning Styles based on the Felder-Silverman model, and an ANOVA test
was then done to the raw data. The Index displayed learning style through four dimensions: Active-Reflective, Sensing-Intuitive, Visual-Verbal and SequentialGlobal. The results showed that the P-values of each dimension were as follows: 0.000828, 0.147403, 1.94E-08 and 0.001658. In conclusion, significant
differences in learning styles between Chinese, English and bilingual students were shown in VIS-VRB and SEQ-GLO. Chinese speakers were more visual and
global. These findings may be applied in the education of foreign students; perhaps students with other visual native languages, such as Japanese, would show
the similar results.
Third Award of $1,000 - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel
2009 - BE033
CULT ELEMENTS OF SHAMANISM IN THE EPOS "GESER"
Khandama Tudupovna Damdinova
Uzhno-Argaleyskaya Secondary School, Uzhny Argaley, Zabaikalsky kray, RUSSIA
The work is devoted to cult elements research of shamanism in the epos “Geser” as a reflection of ecological consciousness of Buryat people. In the process of
research we studied scientific works in shamanism. We revealed and analysed religious and cultural elements of the epos “Geser”. The results of the research
work let us make conclusions and recommendations about estimation of the epos importance in the ecological consciousness of Buryat people. Studies of
Buryat heroic epos are of great importance and interest for the future generation and demands further studying as invaluable treasure of Buryat people.
2009 - BE301
FINGERS HEAR SOUNDS
Noor Amin Darras, Suha Tbakhi,
The main purpose of doing this project help the deaf people who cant hear and speak to communicate with their society without using deaf sign language. 
 System one helps the other people to speak to the deaf without using the sign language, so everyone can speak to the deaf easily. That is executed by
translating the speech to pulses. Every letter has its own pulse and its own deaf sign language. This device contains a speech recognition circuit which takes
the word by a microphone and recognizes it then it will send it by wires to the microcontroller board which receives that signal digital letters. The microcontroller
board checks that word by using a digital dictionary system and separates the word to letters then the vibration sensors control every letter to give its own pulse
on each finger. This device contains those sign language buttons on the gloves so the deaf types the letters of the word in the buttons. Then
those button pulses are connected with the Microcontroller board which checks those digital letters and translates them, then sends them to speech chips
which speak what he has typed by using the speakers. This feature helps to make a device communication between the deaf and the person who is using the
microphone to communicate with him. Then the device translates speech into pulses. Then the deaf or dumb replies by pressing on letter's buttons then the
person hears the answer.
2009 - BE012
FATAL DISTRACTION
Lauren Elizabeth Dearmond
H. L. Bourgeois High School, Gray, LA
The purpose of this experiment was to comparae the affects of talking to a passinger while driving to that of talking on a cell phone, I was hoping to be able to
conclude whether talking to a passenger was more, less, or equally hindering to the driver's ability as talking on a cell phone while driving. My hypothesis was
that the driver's driving ability would be affected even more when they talked on the cell phone. To test my hypothesis I used a racing video game and
a steering wheel controller. The test subjects drove three rounds while talking on a cell phone, three rouds while talking to a passenger, and three rounds with
no distractions. I recorded each time the test subjects ran off the road and ran into another car. A majority of the time, subjects drove better talking to
the passenger than on a cell phone, with some exceptions. I observed that people who stated they talked on the cell phone while driving often were often less
distracted by the cell phone than everyone else. I concluded that a majority of the time driving with a cell phone is more hindering to the driver's
abilities. However, drivers should be cautious when talking to a passenger because it can be equally hindering to the driver's ability, if not more, depending on
the level of concentration demanded by the conversation
2009 - BE044
“THE EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON HUMAN INTELLIGENCE”
Alyssa Erin Devine
Clinton Senior High School, Clinton, NY
My project “The Effect of Exercise on Human Intelligence” hypothesis was that aerobic exercise will increase human intelligence because exercise induces the
creation of neurons, an increase in blood flow, and an increase in neurotransmitters which strengthen the prefrontal cortex, sections of the brain that controls
memory and learning. The purpose of my experiment was to discover if aerobic exercise increased human intelligence by using memory tests. I randomly
selected 40 participants, 20 would be in the sedentary group and 20 would be in the aerobic group. All participants had one minute to memorize 20 objects and
record as many as they could recall. Then, the sedentary group sat for 10 minutes while the aerobic group ran for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minute period
ended, the participants had one minute to memorize a new set of 20 objects and record as many as possible. After all tests were completed, I found my results
were statistically significant by finding the significance of the difference between two means for correlated samples. The sedentary group did significantly worse
on the second memory test, t (19) = -2.17, p<.05 while the aerobic group did significantly better on the second memory test, t (19) =5.58, p< .001. One possible
explanation for the results is due to aerobic activity increasing brain volume in areas concerned with executive control and memory processes. In addition,
exercise relieves stress and creates a calming effect that increases focus.
2009 - BE045
THE EFFECTS OF PROCESSING STYLE ON PSAT AND GPA SCORES
Alyssa Cathryn Tapley Dougherty
Santa Catalina Upper School, Monterey, CA
My objective was to determine if students’ processing styles (sequential versus spatial) influence their abilities to achieve high GPAs or to earn high PSAT
scores. Informed consent was obtained from 77 students who voluntarily participated in a validated survey to determine each subject’s neurological
processing style. A school administrator collected the surveys, wrote each subject’s GPA and PSAT scores on an attached paper, and then removed the name
of the student. These scores were used to determine any correlation between academic achievement and a subject’s processing style. Primary
results indicate that sequential processors score higher on PSATs and achieve higher cumulative GPAs, on average, than do all tested subjects. Spatial
processors score lower on PSATs and achieve lower cumulative GPAs, on average, than do all tested subjects. This suggests that spatial processors are at a
disadvantage in the current educational system as measured by criteria deemed important by schools and colleges (GPAs and PSAT scores). Furthermore,
data indicate that highly sequential processors saturate their GPAs more so than predicted by a GPA/PSAT trend-line for all subjects, indicating that highly
sequential processors are not challenged enough in the current educational system. This year the National Academy set ‘individualized education’ as
one of their top goals for the next decade. Because processing style does seem to influence academic success, the ability to individualize education based on
each student’s processing style could be the key to enabling all students to excel at school.
2009 - BE040
FACIAL EXPRESSION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO GESTURE IN WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS
Jennifer Lynn Draiss
Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY
Gorilla facial expression has been little studied, though gesture in the great apes has become an important topic in the study of primate cognition and the
search for origins of language. Gesture and facial expression would seem closely tied as important elements of non-vocal communication, yet there has been
no study of their relationship. One group of ten western lowland gorillas living at the Bronx Zoo was observed from June-August 2008. The goals of the study
were to classify the facial expressions of the group, to examine the relationship between gestures and facial expressions, and to compare the facial
expressions of two species of great apes: chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas. Facial expressions were performed a total of 370 times, gestures were
performed 1,531 times, and both were performed simultaneously 229 times during the period of study. Thirty-nine unique gestures and 10 categories of facial
expressions were observed. Gestures and facial expressions, when performed simultaneously, resulted in an immediate visible body movement from the
receiver more frequently than either gesture alone or facial expression alone. Because this scenario has the greatest impact on the receiver, the relationship
between voluntary and involuntary forms of communication in other species must be studied.
Third Award of $1,000 - National Anti-Vivisection Society
2009 - BE038
POSSIBLE VARIANCE IN SCORES ON THE MISSOURI ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
(MAP) COMMUNICATION ARTS TEST BASED ON ENGLISH
DIALECT SPOKEN
Daniel Alexander Duncan
St. Charles West High School, St. Charles, MO
The Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) standardized tests seek to quantify the ability of students across a wide geographical area. Students’ communication
skills are tested on a Standard English that is assumed to be correct. Test questions often force decisions between the standard and other accepted informal
usages. The problem is that there is no single English language—for example; several dialects of English are spoken in Missouri (North Midland, South
Midland, Southern, St. Louis area, and African American Vernacular). These dialects vary mostly in pronunciation, but have some grammatical differences as
well. They are also found in different regions across Missouri. Test scores may be different if the responses to questions from students across the state were
based on their dialects. Along this reasoning, MAP Test scores from students across the state were grouped by dialect regions based on maps created by
Labov et al. Scores (disaggregated by race) were downloaded from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website. Census data
was added to the MAP data in order to account for socioeconomic status (SES), age, and populations not speaking English, groupings that had been previously
found to affect test scores and/or dialect. Linear regression found that scores in each region decreased with SES, that mean scores had a slight, statistically
significant variation by region when taken into account simultaneously with SES (p-values ranged from p=.014 to p=.033). With SES and race accounted for, it
is proposed that this variation is due to dialect.
Third Place Award of $500 for excellence in Behavioral
and Social Sciences. - IIT Institute of Psychology
Second Award of $350 - Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
2009 - BE061
STAY AWAKE FOR GOD SAKE
Aya Abdul Kader El Sabeh
Al Ofok High School, Saida, south, LEBANON
More and more accidents happen everyday and many at night. You might ask why, well it's because of the sleeping drivers. To help Prevent this
accidents, I thought of inventing a device that could help these drivers to stake awake and prevent them from sleeping. I thought of a laser
sensor that would detect when a driver falls asleep and directly would give out a noisy warning that will prevent him to sleep and force him to stay awake. 
 The aim of the project is to make the roads safer for the sleepy drivers and everyone else on the roads.
2009 - BE311
BLIND'S LEADER GUIDE
Ahmad Mohamad Fawaz El Shoghri, Adnan Kerek, Louai Kaja
Rawdat Al- Fayhaa High School, Tripoly, North, LEBANON
Our project aims to help blind people in determining their path easily and to get notified by all the obstacles. We have invented a blind stick that works
in a different way then the ordinary blind’s stick. Our blind’s sick contains 5 sensors. One detects the high obstacles, one detects low obstacles, and three
sensors determine the directions of the obstacles. And each sensor generates a unique sound to identify the blinded people to the high and the direction of the
obstacle. Our aim is to help the blinded people to have a much safer, easier, walk.
2009 - BE039
INVESTIGATIONS OF FAUNAL DIETS AT POKAGON VILLAGE SITE TO DETERMINE FARMING PRACTICES OF THE POKAGON BAND CIRCA AD
1830
Frieda Fein
John Adams High School, South Bend, IN
This study compares isotope ratios of a variety of domesticated and wild animal bones to determine the animals’ diets and the extent to which they were
domesticated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Native Americans (circa A.D. 1830). During the Removal Period, A.D. 1795 until 1840, the American
government forced most Midwestern Native Americans off their traditional lands and onto reservations in western United States. The Pokagon Band was one of
the few groups to avoid removal, perhaps because of their willingness to adopt European-American farming lifestyles; raising crops and domestic animals.
Though excavations of the Pokagon Village site revealed bones of traditionally domesticated animals (cows, pigs, turkeys, and chickens), there is a spectrum of
domestication. The Pokagons’ animals may have been left to forage for themselves as though wild, and then hunted when needed. This experiment
compares the stable carbon isotope ratios of both wild and domesticated animal bones found at the Pokagon site to determine the amount of maize in the
animals’ diets. More maize suggests domestication—humans feeding animals surplus crops. To determine isotopic ratios, samples of bone collagen from each
animal bone were isolated using sequential HCl and NaOH treatments. Collagen was analyzed using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The results show that
traditionally domesticated animals had diets high in corn, suggesting a high extent of domestication and that the Pokagon Band followed farming practices
typical of European-American settlers. This study provides insight into strategies used by Potawatomi to resist removal from their traditional lands.
2009 - BE319
WE ARGENTINEANS ARE HUMAN AND RIGHT
Marcia Noeli Galarza, Pamela Daiana Borda,
Unidad Educativa Privada Numero 22 Nuestra Senora de Fatima, Quitilipi, Chaco, ARGENTINA
This research startes in an attempt to know about the historical period that developed in Argentina between 1976and 1980, and the different social accounts
about the topic, which are presently shaping up in the Argenetinean society. The starting point was:What are the policy characteristis of the Argentinean nation
in relation to public freedom during the period of 1976-1980? The investigation allowed the triangulation of qualitative data based on 30 social sublects
study cases, biographies and documented lifestories, study of documents of national and international historical facts.it has been concluded that: "The military
state model that governed the Argentinean Republic during the period 1976-1980 injured and violated human rights and public freedom of the argentinean
citizens by means of applaing certain state policies in connection of censorship of thought, of action , of expresion, participation in political parties, social and
labour unions; legal/illegal arrest;compelled disapearance of peopla and substitution of identity of newly born babies, sons and daughters of those who had
been arrested and disappeared
2009 - BE003
HOW SELF-ESTEEM MODERATES PERCEPTION OF INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM PERFORMANCE IN STUDENT ATHLETES AND MUSICIANS
Claire Elizabeth Yarnell Gamino
Temple High School, Temple, TX
In this study, 54 high school students involved in extra-curricular activities (i.e. marching band and varsity athletics) were interviewed in an attempt to discover if
self-esteem moderates perception of both individual and team performance. It was predicted that the higher the individual’s self-esteem, the higher selfimposed expectations that would take greater effort to meet, causing the student to be less satisfied with a partially-successful performance than someone of a
lower self-esteem. A Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient test (“Pearson R”) was run using the self-esteem and appraisal of team scores of
musicians and yielded a mildly positive relationship that was not statistically significant, but merits further study. The Pearson R for athletes demonstrated an
inverse relationship as predicted, but was not statistically significant. The Student’s “t” tests yielded no significant difference between the musicians and
athletes either in self-esteem or perception of performance. The text data yielded a few interesting common themes. The musicians tended to feel the band was
lazy and uncommitted, and the athletes felt the team’s chemistry was incompatible. Even though there was not a correlation between the self-esteem and team
score, or a significant difference between the athletes’ and musicians’ self-esteem and perception, this test demonstrated the variability of people and their
views of the same issues.
2009 - BE058
SECRET FACTORS AFFECTING THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IN EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENTAL HOSPITALS
Gina Mamdouh Gayed
Dar El Tarbiah American School, Cairo, EGYPT
A cornerstone of good medical care is the relationship between the patient and his or her physician since the stress from a difficult encounter between the two
parties can negatively affect the patient's health and possibly also the physician's, while efficient communication and interaction between the patient and the
doctor can actually be therapeutic. However, there are patient-physician dyads in which the relationship might turn into a source of frustration for both the
patient and the physician. Frequently, expectations held by both parties affect reaction to and satisfaction with the encounter. So far, there have only
been few empirical investigations of the doctor-patient relationship in Egyptian governmental hospitals, limiting the process of continuous professional
development. The purpose of this project was to examine this yet unexplored relationship in order to help improve healthcare in Egypt. A survey
consisting of 24 five-level Likert items and 3 demographic questions was created to test the patients' views on their relationship to their doctors, and patients in
different governmental hospitals in Cairo were asked to complete it. Another survey composed of 12 five-level Likert items and 2 demographic
questions was created to test the doctors' views on different patient behaviors that might cause doctors' frustration, and was given to doctors in the same
hospitals. Analysis of the results yielded implications for potential improvements in the doctor-patient relationship and provided a deeper insight into
the underlying causes of subjects' responses.
2009 - BE024
IN SEARCH FOR THE LOST SCIENCE: EPISTEMIC LOSSES AND THE PATH TO THE UNIQUE PARADIGM
Tamara Gedankien
Escola Brasileira Israelita Chaim Nachmann Bialik, Sao Paulo, BRASIL
This project is the result of the perception made on the path taken by some pieces of knowledge as they become forgotten, and thus, can be classified as
epistemic losses. Our hypothesis that the technological development and the consequential paradigm shifts (Kuhn, 1970) were the only factors
responsible for this phenomenon, was partially confirmed. The bibliography review on the evolution of Physics allowed us to characterize the process
of paradigm shift. And, through an analysis of a specific case of epistemic loss - the Brachistochrone – we could testify in which circumstances the
discontinuation of a concept can be not only a conceptual problem, but also a practical problem. Epistemic losses were also approached in another
context. Technical and scientific knowledge is abandoned by the cultural domination of a nation upon another. In mathematics, the kind of research
which tries to find this type of knowledge forms an area called Ethnomathematics. We selected two examples of epistemic losses rescued by
Ethnomathematics: the Angolan sand drawings, or sona, and the accounting system of the Incas, the khipus. Our hypothesis was amplified with the
incorporation of those culturally originated epistemic losses, and the analysis led us to two central ideas: Despite the continuous development in
scientific knowledge, mankind is systematically less practical and economic. Simple solutions are being replaced by complex and expensive ones. We
could also notice a contradiction between a world that is more and more crowded, but at the same time with fewer perspectives: a world of a unique paradigm.
2009 - BE020
IS THE TASTE OF COLOURED FOOD DRINKS REAL OR IMAGINARY?
Mayokun Oluwagbenga Gogo
Homat Private Schools, Lagos, West Africa, NIGERIA
The present study was based upon the hypothesis that the taste of coloured food drinks may be more imaginary than real and that judgement regarding taste
or flavour is at least partly influenced by colour. To test this hypothesis, twelve (12) food packs numbered 1 to 12 were each filled with 30g of sugar in 250ml of
water. In addition, food colourings (Rose pink, Orange, Green and Chocolate) were added to packs 1 – 4, respectively. Packs 5 through 8 had colourings and
food flavours mixed-up in them without matching the colours with flavours. Packs 9 - 12 contained flavours (Strawberry, Orange, Lemon and Chocolate) with
their peculiar colours (as stated above). Ten students tasted the 12 samples. The volunteers ate crackers in between the samples to clear off previous flavours.
 The results showed that food colour influenced perceived food flavour as 50% of students spontaneously assumed the flavours on the basis of colours.
Only 30% could identify the flavours in different colours. However, 62.5% were able to identify the taste correctly when appropriate colours were matched with
their characteristic flavours. It was also observed that green colouring and orange flavour combined to form a drink most preferred. This suggests that
young people just take any food coated with attractive colours and many times assume flavour on the basis of colour. The study further underscores the need
for regulatory bodies to ensure that the content vis-à-vis colouring, flavour, other ingredients and their amounts are satisfactorily safe.
2009 - BE027
THE IMPACT OF GRADE-LEVEL AND GENDER ON HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS SELF-REGULATED LEARNING STRATEGIES
Nicole Traci Goldbaum
Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, Plainview, NY
The social cognitive theory of Bandura has provided the theoretical basis for the development of a model of self-regulated academic learning in which personal,
contextual, and behavioral factors interact in such a way to allow opportunity for students to exercise control over their own learning, while at the same time
setting limits to self-direction. The present three prong study first examines whether self regulated learning can be achieved in high school, and if so
do older students make more use of self-regulated learning strategies than younger ones. The impact of gender and grade-point average will also be
determined. Ninth and twelfth grade students in an east coast, suburban, middle class high school completed the Motivated Strategies for Learning
Questionnaire (MSLQ), which was created by Pintrich in 1991. The MSLQ is a self-report instrument used to investigate student motivation and learning
strategies. The MSLQ is scored with separate scales, each sensitive to different aspects of motivation and learning strategies. Statistical analysis, including ttests and Pearson correlations, were performed on the data. Positive, significant correlations were found between GPA and the subscales of the MSLQ. These
findings, confirming the literature, showed positive correlations between academic success and a student’s use of self-regulated learning strategies.
Additionally, females surpassed the means of the males and the 12th graders surpassed the means of 9th graders on the subscales of the MSLQ. The
differences between the means of these groups were found to be significant at the α = 0.05 level. These findings show that females are more self-regulated in
their learning than males, and 12th graders are more self-regulated than 9th graders. Therefore, the data supported the theory of the evolution of self-regulated
learning in adolescents through high school.
2009 - BE018
FUN & GAMES: A STUDY OF RATIONAL BEHAVIOR IN INDIVIDUALS THROUGH COGNITIVE REFLECTIONS TESTING AND PREDICTIONS OF NASH
EQUILIBRIUM IN N-PERSON GAMES
Catherine Susan Haag
Beaumont School, Cleveland Heights, OH
This project determines if individuals with higher cognitive ability, a rational, reflective way of thinking, behave more closely to John Nash’s predictions of
equilibrium in n-person games than individuals with less cognitive ability. Groups of participants were gathered in separate locations and given Dr. Shane
Frederick’s three-question Cognitive Reflections Test as a measure of cognitive ability; all three questions have intuitive wrong answers and a right answer
which requires more reflection. Those who answer two or three questions correctly have more cognitive ability than those who answer one or zero questions
correctly. Participants then guess a number from 0 to 100 in a five-trial game based on John Keynes’ Beauty Contest concept. Prior to the game they
are told they will win if their guess equals two-thirds of the average of the group’s guesses. Rational thinkers would guess zero assuming their group contains
other rational thinkers who would simultaneously guess zero. If every guess is zero, everyone wins and no player has incentive to change his strategy; Nash
equilibrium forms. The hypothesis was proven incorrect because those individuals who answered two or three questions correctly on the test did not
always guess progressively lower numbers throughout the game’s five trials, and did not always get closer to guessing zero. This can be attributed to the
inadequate sample size. The results of this experiment should encourage schools everywhere to focus on development of stronger cognitive ability in students.
Genius Scholarships - Sierra Nevada College
2009 - BE019
THE EFFECTS OF EQUINE ASSOCIATION ON THE INITIAL BENEFICIARY AND BENEFACTOR
Katlin Jayne Hornig
Sargent High School, Monte Vista, CO
The purpose of this experiment is to determine if horse and human association can aid in decreasing the negative effects of stress and anxiety, both mentally
and physically. This will be done by analyzing the reaction of both horses and humans during three different thirty minute therapeutic sessions. Stress and
anxiety levels will be evaluated for human and horse as well as vital counts. This research will include various types of individuals. Each individual will be paired
with a horse of mild temperament. They will be required to participate in three sessions, each time practicing a different method of equine association. Prior to
commencement and conclusion of their session, each individual will complete various questionnaires, read safety and procedural protocols, and have their
vitals taken to determine the benefits or lack thereof. The horse will be evaluated in a similar manner. After testing these horse/human pairs I found
amazing results. Over 80% of all horses and humans involved in these sessions experienced a decrease or a regulation of his/her vitals. In general, I found that
horses and humans both benefit mentally, emotionally, and physically from association. Aberrant and troubled individuals appear to have the greatest positive
influence from their equine encounter. This research is already allowing horses to be implemented in police departments and correctional facilities for stress
management and therapeutic/treatment programs. I am glad to see its current contribution and am working toward furthering its usage.
First Award of $3,000 - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel
Tuition Scholarship Award in the amount of $8,000 - Office of Naval Research on behalf of the United States Navy and Marine Corps
2009 - BE042
DO YOU HAVE SYNESTHESIA? PHASE III APPLIED LEARNING THROUGH MINDMAPPING
Alexandra Christine Hummel
Florence High School #14-1, Florence, SD
The purpose of this project is to utilize the previously gathered information of Synesthesia and to apply this phenomenon into everyday learning, through the
process of mindmapping. The hypothesis for this project is that through Synesthetic Mindmapping, results will illustrate the effectiveness of applied Synesthesia
in learning, and subjects who are visual learners will be more likely to benefit. The procedure consisted of two experimental and control groups. The
subjects in the experimental group used the Synesthetic Mindmapping after going through a series of tests after studying with their Mindmaps. The control
group was restricted to using traditional note taking techniques. During the testing period, the subjects were retested for more accurate results, while also
looking for improvements. The results showed that the subjects’ places in the two experimental groups exemplified improvement in all category areas
such as: reading comprehension, problem solving, and memorization of the testing material. The control group however, remained somewhat similar, while
varying little throughout each category. In conclusion, the researcher’s hypothesis and application of Synesthetic Mindmapping in learning
environments can be supported through this research. Although, the project would require further testing of all subjects to better analyze the effectiveness of
this new way of learning. The results found in the project could demonstrate useful in future applications of learning methods in every classroom. Overall, the
results found in the project strongly support the goal of the researcher and prove to be an exciting and possible new way of learning.
2009 - BE057
VOTING SYSTEMS: AN OUTCOME ANALYSIS
Vikash Evans Hypio
Hotchkiss High School, Hotchkiss, CO
Many aspects of voting systems have been examined. Plurality Method, the most commonly used voting system, has been shown to produce outcomes that
are disputable and do not necessarily satisfy the voters’ choice. Plurality Method is primarily used because it is both easily understood by the public and easy to
tabulate. There are other systems whose outcomes may offer more satisfaction to voters. Four systems were chosen for experimentation: Plurality Method (the
status quo), Borda Count, Instant Runoff, and Sequential Pairs. A simulated election was held using four soft drink preferences as candidates. Each
voter’s choices were recorded on a single ballot and choices were run through each of the selected voting systems. Results were tabulated and the voting
subjects were provided with the results. Voters were then given a survey to rank their satisfaction with the outcomes for each system. An average of
satisfaction ratings was calculated, with Instant Runoff receiving the highest satisfaction. Results for the three alternative systems were also compared with
Plurality Method using a Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.
2009 - BE041
THE EFFECTS OF ACETYLCHOLINE ON MEMORY
Rebekah Lynn Inez Ivie
Trotwood Madison High School, Trotwood, OH
The experiment was conducted to test the effects of Acetylcholine on memory. The experiment should prove that the high amounts of Choline found in chicken
liver will improve the memory of goldfish. The experiment was performed on six fancy fantail goldfish. The fish were placed in a thirty gallon aquarium and were
separated into control and experimental groups. The control group was fed a constant diet of goldfish flakes, while the experimental group was fed a small
amount of chicken liver, in addition to the goldfish flakes. The fish were tested everyday for two weeks in a simple water maze and timed to see if the diet would
affect their times. At the end of the two weeks the times were compared to one another. The fish that received the chicken liver had shorter times indicating a
better short term memory, supporting the original hypothesis. This research can be continued and possibly lead to a cure for Alzheimer's Disease.
Third Award of $150 - Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology
2009 - BE307
BULIMIA: THE EFFECTS OF GASTRIC ACID ON THE CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURES OF TOOTH ENAMEL
Jessica Lynn Jackson, Thao Ngo, Qianying Lin
Buena High School, Sierra Vista, AZ
Over the past several decades, an increasing number of teenage girls have suffered from eating disorders such as bulimia. They make themselves vomit
without realizing the harmful effects it can have on their teeth. This experiment tested the relationship between the frequency of exposure to gastric acid and
the loss of tooth enamel. The hypothesis was that the repetitive exposure of gastric acid to enamel would lead to both a measurable and an observational loss
of enamel. In the experiment, teeth were attached to wires that were hung from clamps on ring stands. The teeth were then suspended over solutions
of water ahd HCl correspondingly for exposures. There were two different sets of experiments: a five-minute exposure and a ten-minute exposure. An analytical
scale was used to measure the difference between the initial and final weights of the teeth after each exposure. The data and the analysis indicated
that five out of six of the vaiable teeth lost greater mass than the controls. Also, the variables began to exhibit a coarse-like, chalky texture while the controls did
not have any observational changes. The experiment's results suggested that bulimia can cause severe damage to the tooth enamel. It causes the
enamel to become coarse and fragile. However, this damage does not occur fast enough for the stomach acid to damage the teeth of a person who only vomits
periodically due to illness. Still, a more frequent exposure to gastric acid will lead to tooth enamel damage.
2009 - BE025
DOES THE AGE AND GENDER AFFECT THE ABILITY TO REMEMBER INFORMATION? PHASE III: IMAGES VS. WORDS
Hans Christian Jetter
Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, San Juan, PUERTO RICO
The purpose of this experiment was to determine, if words were recalled more than images. A sample of 100 human subjects divided into 5 groups of 20
people, 10 males and 10 females ages 10 to 59 years old divided in age groups covering a ten year span. Every human subject was tested using the same
picture containing the 20 different words representing the objects of the two previous examinations. The subjects were exposed to the test for 30 seconds and
then it was hid from them. They had one minute to write the items recalled. The results showed that females in the ages 30-39 years old were able to
remember the highest amount of items (9.2 words average). Females were able to constantly remember more words than males. These results are consistent
with previous examinations (color and black & white objects). Males remembered more items up to the age of 29 years (pinnacle 9.1 items in this age group).
The variable of color and to have changed the objects for words has proven that these variables have an impact in the persons’ ability to remember information.
The word recalled the most was the butterfly by 72% of the participants. The word written first the most was the butterfly, recalled by 35% of the participants.
The words recalled the least were the guitar, telephone and plant, each recalled by 22% of the participants. The word written last the most was the chair,
recalled by 10% of the participants.
2009 - BE011
A DERMATOGLYPHIC CORRELATION TO WORK ETHIC
Louise Frances Johnson
Terrebonne High School, Houma, LA
The purpose of this project is to determine whether there is a correlation linking dermatoglyphics and work ethic. Fingerprints (dermatoglyphics) will be
analogous in each category dealing with work ethic. To test whether this correlation exists or not, a random sampling of 122 students was taken. Before the
sampling could begin, however, human subject forms needed o be distributed and collected. Then, a survey containing different questions concerning G.P.A
and work ethic was administered. The subject then took their right thumb and rolled it into the ink pad provided for them. They then placed their thumb at the
bottom of the survey to give their fingerprint. This was repeated until the print was clear enough to classify. Once the students were finished, the surveys with
the fingerprints were collected and then analyzed for any possible correlation. Analysis of the results revealed that there is indeed a correlation linking
dermatoglyphics and work ethic. People who have a loop pattern have a tendency to maintain an A average. They are most likely to be enrolled in regular
classes, and their work ethic is directed toward extra-curricular activities. People who possess a whorl pattern have a tendency to have a C average. They are
most likely to be enrolled in gifted classes, and their work ethic is directed toward work outside of school. People who have an arch pattern have a tendency to
retain a B average. They are most likely to be enrolled in honors classes and their work ethic is directed toward school work.
2009 - BE001
DEPRESSION OR RECESSION? AN ANALYSIS OF PEOPLES' RESPONSES TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS
Kevin Michael Knight
Collegiate High School, Niceville, FL
103 people in Niceville, FL between the ages of 18 and 78 were surveyed about the economic crisis of 2008 during the course of my study. My hypotheses
were that a majority of people would not feel well informed about the crisis, would feel the crisis was likely to directly impact them in the near future, and that
they would have confidence in the government's ability to improve the economy. I also hypothesized that older subjects (age 40 and older) would feel more
informed, have more concern about the crisis, and take more preventative measures in response to the crisis than younger individuals (aged 18-39). 
My results indicate that 68% of subjects did not feel well informed about the crisis. 86% believed the crisis would impact them in the near future. 88% had
confidence in the government's ability to improve the economy. 90% of individuals aged 18-39 did not feel well informed about the crisis, compared to 45% of
subjects aged 40 and older. 71% of younger subjects showed concern about the crisis, compared to 91% of those aged 40 and older. 65% of subjects under 40
had taken at least two preventative measures in response to the crisis, compared to 72% of subjects over 40. In conclusion, all my hypotheses were
supported by the data collected.
2009 - BE032
GIRL`S CRUELTY
Evgeniya Mikhailovna Konovalova
Humanities-Pedagogical Liceym, Ukhta, Komi Republic, RUSSIA
The question of girl’s cruelty is one, which worries adults and teenagers. Girl’s aggression and cruelty increase in geometric progression. Experts think that it’s
impossible to talk about spreading of feminism of teenager’s criminality. However the per cent of girl’s criminality increases every year and forms 8-10 % of total
quantity of criminality. Purposes of this work are: revealing factors, which help appearing and development of girl’s cruelty, learning reasons, which
assist girl’s cruelty, finding differences between girl’s and boy’s cruelty. Methods, which used in the work: learning scientific and publicistic articles,
materials of Department of Home Affairs of Sosnogorsk in this problem, interviews with girls, holding psychological tests. Teenager’s, in particular girl’s
cruelty appears in the next transitional period in the life of society. People, who lose confidence on the future and who can’t feed their children, they neglect
upbringing process. At the present time a girl tries to self-affirm, so she looks like «a monster in skirt». In cartoons and films girls are able to fight, are
master of art of fighting. Girls and women try to have the same rights as men, sometimes they want to manage them, so revaluation of values is happening.
Now boys don’t try to get for girl’s attention, but girls fight for boy. Those girls create a family with difficulties in their future lives, they can’t be a woman-mother.
Those girls aspire to individual leadership, don’t compromise.
2009 - BE048
A TEENAGE EPIDEMIC: A CORRELATION STUDY OF STRESS, SLEEP AND OBESITY IN ADOLESCENCE
Ashley Grace Larson
Seneca High School, Seneca, MO
Obesity is the number one epidemic in adolescents. However, new studies reveal that obesity isn’t the only rising epidemic, sleep deprivation and stress also
on the rise in today’s teens. The purpose of this study was to see if there is a correlation between sleep and obesity, stress and obesity, and sleep and stress.
Three surveys were used to collect data; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a stress scale for youth, and a demographic survey. Anthropometric
measurements were taken to determine BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Results showed that there is a significant correlation between stress level and hours
of sleep. I also found that different people have different stress coping mechanisms. There was some association between sleep and BMI levels. When asked a
likert question, “when I am stressed I…” a relationship between stress and eating versus stress and sleeping was found to be significant.
2009 - BE052
SOCIOECONOMICS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION: AN EXAMINATION OF FACTORS AND POLICIES THAT NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
Jonathan Dean Loucks
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL
The institution of national education standards in 2001 through No Child Left Behind, has sparked great and ongoing controversy among many teachers and
administrators. For opponents, the primary contention is that student achievement is unlikely, if at all possible, with students belonging to certain demographics.
This investigation sought to challenge this idea, asserting that all students can become successful learners, regardless of their social classes. Research, like
that conducted by Rothstein (2004), has revealed that many schools can overcome their low performance disposition if certain factors within the school, and
even more importantly, within the community, are corrected or accommodated for. Studies have found that low-income, high performing schools often have
exceptional community support programs, applicable professional development opportunities for staff, and outstanding, distinguishable leadership. This
investigation has confirmed previous studies by finding that approximately 75% of the variation in the percentage of students meeting standards can be
accounted for by quantitative values (i.e. demographics, salaries, budget distributions, etc.), leaving the other 25% to likely be accounted for by qualitative
variables. These results can be used by administrators to evaluate applications to their current systems and programs potentially leading to an overall
improvement in the public school system.
2009 - BE053
RECREATING THE ENGLISH ALPHABET AND STUDYING THE REPLICATION OF SYMBOLS
Paul Julius Martinez
University School of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
My experiment was intended to see if I could recreate the English alphabet from the Phoenician alphabet. I wanted to find out why each letter was the shape
that it was, i.e., why A=A, B=B, etc. To test this I had people copy the Phoenician alphabet. Each person would copy what the last person wrote, so any small
mistakes would become permanent, simulating changes over long periods of time My first trials were not very successful. Only a few symbols actually
turned into English letters. Trying to understand what caused my experiment to not be a success, I planned a secondary experiment that would test two
possible conditions which I believed could have hindered my original experiment. I wanted to test the influence of the complexity of the symbols, which I tested
by using simple symbols such as circles or squares, and the influence of the level of familiarity between the subjects and the symbols, which I tested by using
English letters. After completing my second experiment, its results explained the unsuccessful results of my original experiment. Both the simple
shapes and the English letters mostly stayed the same. The actual evolution of the alphabet took place with people who actually understood it, while my
experiment used people who saw the symbols as completely foreign. In order to find a better answer to my original hypothesis, in a future experiment I would
have to adjust the conditions to counteract the poor influences that I tested for in my second experiment.
2009 - BE306
ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID: TOWARDS A NOVEL NEUROPROTECTIVE TREATMENT FOR ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATED COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN A
DROSOPHILA MODEL
Peter Hans Massey, Shaunak K. Bakshi,
Manhasset High School, Manhasset, NY
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common age-related neurodegenerative conditions, affecting over 5 million people in the U.S. alone. Recent studies
have suggested a possible link between oxidative stress and the development of Alzheimer’s. alpha-Lipoic Acid has been characterized as an effective
antioxidant in Drosophila melanogaster. The purpose of this study was to investigate alpha-Lipoic Acid as a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s by examining its
effects on the development of Beta-amyloid plaques and learning behavior in UAS-APP (Alzheimer’s model) Drosophila. Flies were divided into six test groups
and four controls - APP, stressed APP, normal Canton-S, and stressed Canton-S. Three normal APP and three stressed APP groups were each supplemented
with 0.43, 1.08, and 2.15 mM of alpha-Lipoic Acid. Stress was induced through heat shock. Dissection and isolation of the brain proper were followed by
Thioflavin-S staining and slide preparation. Plaque growth was quantified using fluorescence microscopy and analyzed via ImageJ software. Learning behavior
was analyzed through olfactory associative conditioning protocol established by Tully followed by a performance index. The results demonstrate that alphaLipoic Acid has significant potential as a neuroprotective treatment for Alzheimer’s. While learning index of 10 day old flies was not significantly improved by
alpha-Lipoic Acid treatment, the level of plaque build-up was significantly reduced in the later stages of life.
Trip to the EU Contest. - European Union Contest for Young Scientists
Intel ISEF Best of Category Award of $5,000 for Top First Place Winners - Team Projects - Presented by Science News
Award of three $1,000 U.S. Savings Bonds, to be shared equally by team members, and certificates of achievement and gold medallions. - United States Army
2009 - BE023
EXPRESSION PROJECT: YOUTH AND CULTURE INTEGRATED
Marina Matias Corte
Colegio Coracao de Maria, Esteio, Rio Grande do Sul, BRASIL
The young people are, every day, surrounded by information, motivation and influences. This project had two main objectives: check these influences, which
often have been the base of the young taste for art in general, and bring the ways of cultural expression towards the young people of Esteio city. It was
developed in the pilot school, with artistic programming: theatre presentation, film related to the national culture, and daily cultural expression of the young
people that live in Esteio city. Following the methodology, it was selected a public school. Which served as a research field and actions. This choice was based
on fact that this school has no cultural activities, as student’s theatre group, for example. In order to obtain percentage and more detailed information,
questionnaires were applied to students of six schools in Esteio: five public schools and one private. School, so that more than one "tribe" of young people were
integrated in the research. Workshops were established with students surveyed, with the goal of narrowing the huge gap that often exists between the young
and art. The project aims, beyond analyzing the young and their relations with society, culture and the art, change the view that the youngster has about
cultural expression, because the culture contributes to social relationships, the self-esteem, leisure, and the intellect of young people.
2009 - BE050
MUSICAL MICE.
Lori McClannahan
Alamogordo High School, Alamogordo, NM
I like to listen to heavy metal music. My thoughts on how mice perform after listening to different types of music is that those listening to what is considered
heavy metal music would be more successful in maneuvering a maze than my other 2 groups. To study this problem, I took 9 mice. I divided them into
3 groups of three mice each. My control group was subjected to the normal sounds in a day. The second group was subjected to what would be considered
relaxing music. The 3rd group was played heavy metal music. Each group was placed in a different room. At a various number of days, I placed them
in a maze, one at a time. I used a stopwatch to time them getting through the maze. I used peanut butter to urge them through the maze. A veterinarian
suggested that I use the peanut butter. The results of my experiment supported my hypothesis: the mice listening to the heavy metal music had the
fastest times through the maze. What surprised me was that the mice in the room with the quiet music became very aggressive. They also took the longest time
to complete the maze.
2009 - BE310
THE EFFECTS OF MULTI-TASKING ON SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Hayley Rose McCrae, Rosarin Bhutarak,
West Linn High School, West Linn, OR
This project tested the effects of multi-tasking on short-term memory. Specifically, the effect text messaging has on a teenager’s ability to memorize and recall
words. Short-term memory is limited in its duration and capacity. If teenage participants’ short-term memory of a list of words is tested with interference, then
they will recall fewer words than when tested without interference, because the conflicting interference caused the failure of the brain’s short-term memory to
encode the new information. Participants were given two similar word lists to memorize and then recall, both with the same amount of words and same level of
difficulty, as well as the same amount of time to memorize and recall them in. During the memorization of one of the word lists, participants received and had to
respond to a text message every minute (the interference). Overall, almost all of the participant’s recall of the words after the test with interference was less
than their test without any interference. Two participants recalled more words with the test that included interference than the test without. 61% of the
participants recalled over 50% more words with the no interference test. Due to the results, it is concluded that interferences and multi-tasking worsen the
brain’s ability to store and retain information in the short-term memory.
2009 - BE043
GENES OR GENIUS: A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENETICALLY ACQUIRED PHYSICAL TRAITS AND EQUINE INTELLIGENCE
Catherine Grace McVey
Graham High School, Graham, NC
In 1992, Lind Tellington-Jones published a book which described how to judge equine personalities by reading facial traits. This procedure, which was based
on an ancient gypsy method, was proven through an extensive survey process which included over 1,500 horses from nine different countries. With the
completion of the human genome project, there has recently been a major push to discover if genes are responsible for cognition. A number of such studies
have been performed in hopes that the answer might lead to cures for genetic diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and Autism. The purpose of
this experiment was to prove a link between genes and intelligence by showing a correlation between genetically acquired facial traits and cognition. Each
horse was first evaluated and scored for cognitive ability based on the Tellington-Jones Method. The horses were them mentally evaluated through tests based
on the three types of learning: Trial and Error (time taken to open a container), Habituation (time to become accustomed to a sound), and Conditioning
(repetitions required to learn a cue). The results were found by comparing the horses' experimental rank to their intelligence profile. The data proved to be
widely varied, with three horses serving as significant outliers. In conclusion, the data supported the hypothesis, which was: If a horse receives a
higher facial score than another, them he will perform better on cognitive tests. After removing the three horses under the age of ten (arguably immature by
some standards), there were distinct trends found among the remaining mature horses. The highest scoring horses performed the best, and the lowest scoring
horses performed the worst, just as predicted.
2009 - BE054
BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR VAL66MET POLYMORPHISM DIFFERENTIALLY AFFECTS REGIONAL CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW
Katherine Grace Nabel
National Cathedral School, Washington, DC
Hypothesis and Background. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the most abundant secreted protein in the central nervous system (CNS), influences
neuronal growth, development, and neurogenesis. Substitution of Valine (Val) to Methionine (Met) in the BDNF gene at codon 66 is associated with increased
anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. We hypothesized that Met carriers, compared to the more common Val homozygotes, would show altered
task-dependent neural activity in working memory and basal resting network using a non-invasive imaging technique. Methods. 71 healthy agematched Caucasians of known BDNF genotype were evaluated by PET scanning following IV bolus of H215O while engaged in memory or control tasks. Using
special computer programs, I analyzed these images and defined statistically significant changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Results.
Analysis of the working memory data showed increased rCBF for Met carriers in the right hippocampus (p < 0.001). During rest, they showed increased rCBF in
bilateral hippocampal and parahippocampal regions compared to Val homozygotes (p = 0.01). Thus, specific differences were observed in rCBF at rest and
after 14 memory tasks depending on the BDNF variant. Conclusions. BDNF genotype affects the distribution of blood flow to the brain, especially to
the hippocampus and parahippocampus. The Met variant associated with neurological disorders showed heightened responses in association with a mental
task and at rest. Our data suggests that BDNF may play a causal role in the development of psychiatric disorders, and the Met BDNF may also represent a
target for therapeutic intervention.
Second Award of $500 U.S. savings bond - Ashtavadhani Vidwan Ambati Subbaraya Chetty (AVASC) Foundation
2009 - BE029
HOW HARRY POTTER CAN HELP YOU GET A HIGHER SAT SCORE: THE EFFECTS OF CONTEXT AND FAMILIARITY ON VOCABULARY RETENTION
IN ADOLESCENTS
Trisha Paige Nussbaum
t deal of educational research has focused on the effectiveness of different learning methods on improving standardized test scores in adolescents. “SAT Pep n
ovels” have been developed as an attempt to utilize the positive effects of context on vocabulary retention. Two exp
riments were conducted to test the effect
of context as well as familiarity on vocabulary learning and test performance in adolescents. The firsexperiment involved 129 eleventh grade students in a high s
chool who were randomly assigned to learn common SAT vocabulary words in a list, in a narrative with an unfamiliar character, or in a narrative with a familiar
character. The stude
ts were administered a sentence completion test in the same format as that found in the SAT examination which utilized the words the
y studied. An ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer post hoc tests demonstrated that those students who read a narrative about a familiar character scored better than
either of the other two groups and that students who read a narrative scored better than students who studied from a list. The replication on 104 high school
students in a college summer program also measured enjoyment of task and memory over time. An ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer post hoc tests demonstrated
that students learned words present in context with a familiar character best, followed by unfamiliar character context and then by list format. Additionally, the
second experiment demonstrated that the enhancement of vocabulary learning produced by familiar context persisted over a 5-day period. Interestingly,
another ANOVA and set of post hoc tests showed that enjoyment did not have a significant impact on the relationship between study methods and test scores.
These results not only confirm the generally accepted belief that vocabulary learning is enhanced if words are present in contextual format, but also that
familiarity with the character in the context amplifies this effect.
2009 - BE008
ONLINE GAMES' IMPACT ON PERSONALITY OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Thao Ngoc Phan
Duc Trong High School, Duc Trong, Lam dong, VIETNAM
The research aims at understanding the impact of Online Games on high school students’s personality and their study results. Research method:
questionnaire , interview, observation, collecting data from recorder books. Collected data: Regarding high-intensive players, the natural and social
needs such as eating and sleeping remarkably reduce (38%) Highlighting my self-centered tendencies, the need for being respected remarkably
increases. The interest of high intensive players in learning is much less than low intensive ones (31% reduced). Computing skills are better
and English knowledge is deeper Regarding learning and other daily duties : the best effort rate for the work by students who spend much more time
playing games is much lower than that by other (representing a decrease of 63%), the number of students who spend much more time playing games and tend
to refuse or do not want to work is much higher than that of those spending less time playing (representing an increase of 31%). Regarding the
behaviour towards other people: Pay little care about other people, be more indifferent, irresponsible Conclusion: The time students spend playing
Online Games has a great effect on their personality and study results. If they spend 4 hours playing every day, they’ll lose their interest in study and become
more inactive and bad tempered. Playing Online Games is not only money and time consuming but also makes student players neglect their study.
2009 - BE049
THE NUMBER CHART: THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE VISION SCREENING PROGRAM FOR PRE SCHOOL CHILDREN
Benedict Manuel Redublo Priela
Holy Infant Academy, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, PHILIPPINES
Amblyopia is the most common cause of vision loss in children.(1,3)It can only be prevented and treated effectively before age 7,(5,12) otherwise the child
could become handicapped all his life.(2,3)Visual acuity measurement is the only cost-effective screening test for Amblyopia.(16,32)This study therefore aims
to develop an efficient vision screening program for preschool children for its early detection. This can be achieved with the development of a new vision
screening device for the preschool age that is accurate, efficient and can be administered even by non-specialized personnel. The new chart utilized number
optotypes that followed the standard Snellen progression. Visual acuity was measured monocularly in 90 children aged 4–6 years using both the Number and
the Snellen charts from a distance of 20 feet. Results were compared for accuracy (Snellen vs. number), reproducibility (number chart read from right to left vs.
left to right), efficiency and ease of use (time consumed to finish each test). There was high correlation of the measurements using the Snellen and Number
Chart methods. Accuracy was 89.5% on the right eye and 88% on the left eye. Test time was 30-40% shorter when the Number Chart was used.
Reproducibility of results was very high at 98.8%. Because visual acuity measurements using the Number Chart was fast, accurate, simple and easily
administered even by non-specialized individuals, it can be used as an effective visual screening test for pre-school children especially those who could not yet
recognize all the letters of the alphabet.
2009 - BE021
EFFICACY OF PEER-DELIEVERED SLEEP HYGIENE EDUCATION ON SLEEP HYGIENE PRACTICES, SLEEP QUALITY, AND MOOD IN EVENING-TYPE
ADOLESCENTS
Elliot E.A. Prince
Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville, OR
Evening-type adolescents are at greatest risk for inadequate sleep hygiene and quality and for depressed mood. This study aims to determine relationships
between sleep and mood, and to examine the effectiveness of sleep hygiene education in evening-type adolescents under two differing demand conditions.
The hypotheses were: 1) If evening-type adolescents receive peer-delivered sleep hygiene education, then they will improve on measures of sleep hygiene,
sleep quality, and mood under a condition of high demand (final exams); and 2) There will be a significant relationship between evening chronotype and mood.
These hypotheses were tested in a sample of 24 subjects using a rigorously controlled block design (experimental group n=13; control group n=11) with two
phases. The first condition (baseline) was low-demand which occurred during a school break (7 free days). The second condition (follow-up) was high-demand
which occurred during school final exams (4 school days, 4 free days). The results supported part of the first hypthesis: the experimental group improved in
sleep quality (p value less than .05). The second hupothesis was also supported as relationships between sleep hygiene and quality were established with
mood (negative correlation, p value less than .05) and eveningness was associated with mood (negative correlation, p value less than .01). These data suggest
that evening-type adolescents are optimal candidates for sleep hygiene education as a way to improve sleep and mood.
2009 - BE047
THE FORMAL MUSICAL EDUCATION AND ITS RELATION WITH THE NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR OF THE ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN
JALISCO, MEXICO.
Mariana Ramirez
Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus Guadalajara, Zapopan, MEXICO
The main aim of this project was to prove if it exists a relation between the young people that have formal musical education and their behavior. From these
results it was possible to design a strategy based in formal musical education as an alternative to foster the positive behavior in adolescents of Jalisco, Mexico.
 Considering that formal musical education promotes the development of various abilities related with the emotional aspects, it could be possible to
channel the impulses that provoke a negative behavior. This research was composed by 2 phases. During Phase I, from April to October 2008, it was
designed a measurement instrument questionnaire-type, based on 10 disorders of the adolescent behavior, applied to 208 young people; women and men,
between 14 and 19 years old, with a medium socio-economic level, divided in 2 samples: Sample “A” was composed of subjects who had studied formal music
education for at least 2 years, and sample “B” was composed of subjects who had not. The reliability of the measurement instrument was 0.83
according to the Alpha’s Cronbach test. The Levene test and T-test were applied using the SPSS software to compare the means of each sample. Young
people who had been exposed to formal musical education present less negative behavior that those who never had musical education. During the
Phase II, from December to April 2009, a strategy based in formal musical education was designed and structured to promote the positive behavior of
adolescents in Jalisco through a longitudinal research.
2009 - BE318
RESPONSIBLY FULL SEXUALITY
Ana Laura Rodriguez, Barbara Rocio Caballero,
Bernardino Rivadavia Technical School, La Banda, Santiago de Estero, ARGENTINA
The starting point of this research project was the raising of the following issue: “Which environment of daily interaction has been more influential in
constructing knowledge and shaping behavior in 14- to 18-year-old-adolescents in the city of La Banda, Santiago del Estero, Argentina, and, was gender
determination a binding factor regarding the development of a responsible sexuality?” The following hypotheses have been considered: - The
family has lost their fundamental role as knowledge providers and consequently the school is nowadays taking on that responsability but not comprehensively.
 - Family and school limited participation in building knowledge and developing behaviors regarding adolesecent´s sexuality boosts the increasingly
relevant influential role of peer groups and the media, according to differences in gender. The proposed design is descriptive and expository, while the
research approach is quali-quantitative. The sample was made up of 200 people who were randomly surveyed. Once the research was
completed, the hypothesis was validated, concluding that both family and school are growing weaker and weaker as supportive, formative and comprehensive
frameworks. In such a context, peer groups as well as the media are becoming relevant as knowledge facilitators and behavior advisors for teenagers.
2009 - BE046
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF CLASSICAL AND ROCK MUSIC IN FACT RETENTION IN ADOLESCENTS 15 TO 17 YEARS OLD.
Selena Marie Rodriguez-Rivera
University Gardens High School, San Juan, PUERTO RICO
The problem studied was: is there a difference between an environment of silence, listening to classical music or rock music in the retention of facts among
adolescents 15-17 years of age. The hypothesis is that an environment of silence will permit a greater retention of facts than either listening to classical or rock
music, given that it will allow complete concentration. A series of experiments were conducted with voluntary individuals who were asked to memorize a
sequence of ten (10) colors in a time span of two (2) minutes. First in an environment of silence, then listening to classical music, followed by rock music. The
classical music containing one song with lyrics and two without and within the rock music two songs with lyrics and one without. The experiment was repeated
3 times with the same individuals to take into consideration their mood and other factors. After tabulating the results it is observed that the hypothesis was
accepted because in an environment of silence there was a greater retention of facts. It was also found that the use of lyrics affected the retention process in a
negative way in both classical and rock music. If absolute silence is not possible (as it is the case in daily life) the use of an agent such as music, preferably
classical music without lyrics would be useful to accompany the memorization/ studious process as a neutralizer to eliminate external noises.
2009 - BE056
GIVE US A SIGN
Alessandra Fellin Rossi
The Academy of Science and Technology, The Woodlands, TX
The project tested the ways in which an individual can live life proactively to prevent brain disorders of memory loss including Alzheimer’s and dementia. This
experiment tested the hypothesis that if a person increases their daily brain stimulation and has the correct combination of specific lifestyle factors then his/her
memory acuity would increase the best. This was prominently proven correct on many levels. This project tested the memory of forty-two senior citizens, living
in the same senior-living community, which had not been diagnosed with any form of memory-loss. The participants were asked to attend a memory class once
a week for eight weeks that taught the alphabet of Morse code and American Sign Language along with several other brain-stimulating activities including
crossword puzzles, reading comprehension and music. At the end of each class, the participants took a Morse code test, an American Sign Language test, a
visual test, and a number test to insure that all aspects of the brain's memory were being tested. The scores of the participants were then compared with
different factors of the participants' lives as answered on a survey given at the beginning of the project. The resulting scores revealed that individuals that were
female, read more, exercised more, slept 7-9 hours/night, had more than two parents, more siblings, more grandchildren, one spouse, played an instrument,
worked in their lifetime, did not serve in the armed forces, and had the least severe medical history increased their memory acuity the best. All forty-two
participants increased their memory level to some extent proving that mental stimulation as a vital and necessary factory in maintaining one's memory. The fact
that the results exhibited that certain aspects of a person's life had a definite affect on memory proved that one can live proactively in preventing brain disorders
involving memory that often plague mankind as the passing of time challenges us all.
2009 - BE022
TWO UNIVERSAL LANGUAGES: MUSIC AND MATH
Mary Patricia Rougeau
Nettleton High School, Jonesboro, AR
The purpose of this science experiment is to see if there is any correlation between Algebra test scores and genres of music. Many colleges have done studies
involving Education and Music and/or other factors. Such as the Hariot Watt University, who performed a test involving music affecting the taste of wine. It
concluded that the genre of music played effected how the subjects taste toward the wine was. To complete this experiment, Part One and Part Two
of the exam both consisted of ten Algebra 1 questions and ten Algebra 2 questions. A survey was created with 9 questions about the exam and the music
played. Three different genres were selected and three different CDs were made for each one. Subjects were given the exam and answer sheet and given
instructions for both Parts. The music began playing, and the subjects had ten minuets for Part 1 after ten minutes, working on Part 1 closed, and then the ten
minuets for Part 2 began. When the time for Part 2 ended, the subjects were given the survey to complete. From taking the exams and finding the
averages and matching those to the answers on the survey, many conclusions can be made. When comparing average scores to any genre, the scores while
listening to music were higher than the average with out music; it occurred with every genre. Though many of the answers on the survey differed, the average
score while listening to music was the higher than the average score with out music, for every question.
2009 - BE026
HOW SCARY IS TOO SCARY? THE EFFECT OF FEAR APPEALS IN POLITICAL ADVERTISING
Geetika Rudra
Research (Witte, 1992) has established, through the Extended Parallel Process Model, that fear appeals in health advertising typically need to create high
levels of response efficacy, self-efficacy, and perceived threat to persuade an audience. However, although fear appeals are a popular strategy in political
campaigns today, no studies were found that investigated how such variables collectively affect the success of political fear appeals. One hundred and ninetytwo high school seniors were randomly assigned to read one of eight versions of a political fear appeal sponsored by a hypothetical presidential candidate.
Participants were asked to rate the likelihood they would support the candidate, their perceived self-efficacy, their perceived response efficacy, and their
perception of terrorism as a threat. Fear appeals with a high level of response efficacy resulted in a greater likelihood to support the candidate. Fear appeals
with a high level of of threat led participants to rate terrorism as more of a threat and to express greater self efficacy in terms of believing their vote could help
the candidate win the election. This study suggests that political candidates should employ fear appeals with high levels of response efficacy to convince
people to vote for them and high levels of threat severity to mobilize the electorate and maximize message acceptance.
2009 - BE002
THE EFFECTS OF TEXT FORMATTING ON COMPREHENSION LEVELS OF STRUGGLING AND ON-LEVEL READERS: A TWO-YEAR STUDY
Lindsey Brooke Saunders
Union County High School, Lake Butler, FL
The purpose of this experiment was to determine what effects formatted text and unformatted text have on comprehension levels of on-level readers and
struggling readers. A test group of 120 students, 30 from each of grades 2 through 5, was used. From the 30 students in each grade, 15 were labeled
struggling readers after scoring in the lower 25% of their grade level on the FCAT or SAT10 test. The remaining 15 were labeled on-level readers. Four grade
level reading passages were used for each of the grade levels tested. Two of the passages were typed using a different format from the original. The formatted
passages had sentences that were broken down into smaller segments of no more than 30 characters per line. Varied line indentions were used for the
beginning of each line. The remaining two passages were retyped using justified margins and single line spacing. Eight comprehension questions were chosen
for each passage. Each student silently read each passage and answered the questions that followed. The results showed that mean scores from all grade
levels of on-level readers tested had a 9% increase by using formatted text passages. Struggling readers had a 14% increase using formatted text. From these
results it can be concluded that using a formatted text pattern in reading passages increases reading comprehension of both on-level and struggling readers.
2009 - BE035
FACE RECOLLECTION: DEVELOPING A NOVEL TRAINING PROGRAM TO INCREASE RECOLLECTION RATES IN EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION
Lori Jeanine Schlatter
Camdenton High School, Camdenton, MO
Eyewitness misidentification of criminals is a very prevalent problem that needs to be solved. In researching this issue, many studies have found several trends
in face recognition relating to eyewitness identification, including own-gender and own-race biases. The purpose of this study was to create a novel
computer program to train participants to recollect faces more accurately and consistently. 168 participants watched several original video clips with randomly
generated faces superimposed over the actors’ faces. The participants were then asked to reconstruct two of the faces from four multiple choice feature
questions. The experimental group was taught an original method of face recognition using the phrase “top-down, shape-width.” After the training portion, four
more video clips were viewed followed by more reconstruction questions. Nine days later, the experimental group used a follow-up program with four more
video clips to determine any long-term effects of training. After examining the results of this study, it was concluded that this simple, novel training
method is effective not only in short-term, but also long-term results, which is a potential breakthrough in eyewitness training. Though race and gender
correlations were not significant, the overall scores significantly increased (P< .001) after training. The mean follow-up score was not significantly different from
the post-training mean, demonstrating the long-term effectiveness of this training method. Considering the results of this study, it is plausible that use of this
novel and systematic approach to increasing the accuracy of face recollection could be applied to reduce harmful errors in eyewitness identification.
First Award of $3,000 - Air Force Research Laboratory on behalf of the United States Air Force
2009 - BE013
PREDICTING BIOBEHAVIORAL LINKS BETWEEN NURTURING AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MODEL SPECIES, RATTUS
NORVEGICUS
Ashlee Nicole Sharer
Wayne County High School, Jesup, GA
a)The purpose of this experiment was to determine if the lack of nurturing would impair intellectual development and problem solving skills of a model species,
Rattus norvegicus. By studying model species, one can produce predictions of how similar behavior would be displaying in humans. b)Construct a
Morris Water Maze. Collect four specimens and subject them to the water maze to create a baseline. Collect two rats as control and two as tested; house in
separate cages under controlled conditions. Phase A: The tested pair will be nurtured for two weeks, thirty minutes daily. At the end of two weeks, all four
specimens are subject to maze testing pattern every other day. Phase B: At the end of week four, the two controls will receive nurturing sessions to view the
potential “catch-up” factor of the hippocampus. Report results. c)The average baseline time was 125.94 seconds. End Phase A: the control group
displayed an average time of 114.53 seconds, and the nurtured a time of 78.15 seconds. End Phase B: the nurtured group showed an average final time of
39.3 seconds and the control an average of 80.12 seconds (comparable to Phase A of nurtured.) d)In conclusion, my hypothesis stated that while I
believed nurturing would have a significant effect on model species, the catch-up phenomenon would not be present in my testing. After completing
experimentation, my hypothesis was correct for Phase A of experimentation, but incorrect for Phase B; Rattus norvegicus do show significant catch-up rates.
First Award of $2,500 - States United for Biomedical Research (SUBR)
2009 - BE010
LEARNING STYLES: SUBSTANTIATING THE THEORY THAT LEARNING STYLES ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY ANALYZING VAK
SURVEYS AND INDIVIDUAL LEARNING STYLE ASSESSMENTS
Travis Coleman Sigafoos
Champlin Park High School, Champlin, MN
My research project on learning styles is intended to help students understand how they learn best. Students usually learn according to how their teacher
presents the information. However, not all students learn the same, and what works for one may not work for another. That is why educating individuals about
learning styles can help students discover their best study methods, and can increase their school performance. I utilized a VAK survey to find student’s
learning style preference. Then, I used individual learning styles assessments (ILSA), which showed the student’s application of each learning style. The
learning styles used in this experiment are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. The goal was to measure the application of a student’s learning style by having
them memorize as much of a poem as they can. Data analysis showed that seven t-tests had statistical confidence, ranging near (p=0.05)-(p=0.01) which
shows that my tests were consistent. Also, 1/5 of students had a VAK survey to LSA relationship match, where the VAK surveys are in direct correlation to the
LSA. Thus shows that (13/65) students use their complete learning style preference. This process is crucial because, some scholars disagree with learning
styles. I found that learning styles are significant, and 1/5 of students use their entire preference. I have set a strong foundation for year one of my project, and I
plan to do a continuation by having a class find their learning styles in class, and monitor their academic progress.
2009 - BE313
UNSPOKEN CHIT-CHAT
Trevor Gerard Simon, Jr., Tori Mabile,
St. James High School, St. James, LA
This experiment studies African American and Caucasian people while answering the following questions: Is there a relationship between personality type,
race, and the use of body language? Is there a defined difference in the use of body language between each group? Which race performs more body
language? Which personality type performs more body language? Which personality type occurs more often in each race? 200 human subjects will be chosen,
100 of which will be African American, of which 50 will be male and 50 will be female. The remaining 100 subjects will be Caucasian, 50 of which will be male
and 50 will be female. These subjects will be complete strangers to the interviewers. These 200 people will be given an online survey. This survey is based on
the internal external locus of control. People who receive higher scores will be considered more extroverted, while people who receive scores that are closer to
0 will be considered more introverted. Using these results, the subjects will be narrowed down to the most introverted and extroverted of the 200 subjects. 120
people will be chosen, 60 African American and 60 Caucasian (Both broken down into even number of gender and personality types as before.). Next, each
subject will participate in a structured interview, which will ask seven questions that demand thorough explanation. The subject will be led to believe that his or
her responses are being recorded; however, the interviewer will actually record the amount of hand and body gestures each subject performs. The questions
will be asked by using a recording. To ensure that each person has the same amount of time, each interview will be limited to 10 minutes. A list of common
hand and body gestures will be created and used to minimize recording time. A quiet, neutrally decorated area will be used to conduct all interviews to keep
distractions to a minimum and to present a steady environment, which will minimize inaccurate times and data. All data recorded is then collected and
compared.
2009 - BE017
VIOLIN OR VOICE... BRAIN FOOD FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS?
Skye Nicole Singleton
Bartlesville Mid-High, Bartlesville, OK
xperiment aimed to discover if playing the violin increases Alzheimer’s patients’ appetites and overall happiness as much or more than singing. Research was d
one on Alzheimer’s disease, memory, music’s affect on memory, and the brain in order to understand key components of the experiment, as well as to enhan
ce the experiment’s capacity to target the major complications that those with Alzheimer’s disease experience; complications include loss of memory and loss
of ability to do simple, everyday tasks. With the permission of the local assisted living facility, the control group of sixteen patients, which was the same as the
experimental group, was set up. The control group’s behavior and appetite was observed first for eight visits at their dinnertime from 5:00-5:30 using
observation guidelines devised for this experiment. The guidelines consisted of positive/negative questions as well as a question on the percentage of meal
eaten. This process was repeated with the experimental group except that six songs were played on the violin for half of the dinnertime. Then, questions from
the observation guideline were separated into positive/negative categories and averaged accordingly. Their overall appetite increased by thirteen percent,
which was the same result as with singing. This result is not significant, and it is not determinable as to which form of music increases appetite more. However,
playing the violin increases their appetite by twenty-seven percent, which is thirteen percent more than singing did.
HM - Acoustical Society of America
2009 - BE303
MIND GAMES: INNOVATION
Nolan Brent Timmons, Felix Plancarte,
The Outcome of last year’s project, Mind Games, inspired a new idea in the further use of video games to increase mental performance. Therefore, the purpose
of this project was to be able to determine if the violence and pace of a video game such as Gears of War 2 can help the test participants better retain both
episodic and semantic memory. Episodic and Semantic are two types of declarative long-term memory located in the hippocampus of the brain. Semantic
memory pertains to the facts and general knowledge, and episodic memory is related to personal experiences and events. Eight female participants
all over the age of thirty and under sixty-five were chosen to participate. The test used was the Paired Associate Learning Test from the Camden Memory
Tests. The test was altered to better test long-term memory. All participants were asked to play for a minimum of thirty minutes a day, three times a week. Two
participants acted as controls, and did not come into contact with the video games. The rest were split up into two groups: violence and nonviolence. 
Though there was no statistical significance, visual test scores from the final test did approach significance as well as visual response time, which had a
confidence level near 90%. Therefore, these results may warrant further investigation of this experimental procedure due to the majority of test subjects being
visual learners, showing signs of significance on the second set of tests as compared to the baseline tests.
2009 - BE062
THE STROOP EFFECT
Cassandra Lucille Turner
Higbee R-8, Higbee, MO
This experiment will utilize various Stroop Tests to determine the effects of age and gender on the amount of interference experienced. I believe that the older
the participant is, the easier it will be for them to ignore possible interference, and that female participants will hesitate less when faced with the Stroop Tests.
 I will ask male and female participants, ages ranging from 5 years to 90 years, to state out loud numbers, shapes, or colors accordingly as fast as they
can. I will time them, and every time they hesitate or say the wrong thing I will tally a miss. There may be some difficulty with getting the times exactly
right, and how I would group data together. I believe the Stroop Tests, if expanded and enhanced a bit, can be used to detect possible illnesses or
disorders such as Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia, Anorexia, and Bulimia.
2009 - BE009
A MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF EXPERTISE DEVELOPMENT: NATURE VERSUS NATURE IN CHESS
Ajit A. Vakharia
Eastside High School, Gainesville, FL
A Scientific American article in 2006 examined studies of chess grandmasters’ mental processes and concluded that experts were "made," not "born." The
purpose of this project was to examine the relative contribution of intensive training ("nurture") and innate ability ("nature") on expertise development in chess
and to explore how their impact differed. Publicly available data for 174 expert chess players between ages 13 and 18 was collected. It included their
current chess rating, starting rating, rating after first five tournaments, number of tournaments played, and years of tournament play. The dependent variable
was rating change (current - starting rating); the independent variables included rating change after first five tournaments ("nature"), and number of
tournaments played ("nurture"); while the control variable was years of tournament play. Correlation, regression, and curve-fitting methods were used for data
analysis. The results showed that nature and nurture contributed equally to expertise development in chess, although nature dominated when
including the control variable. The impact of nurture on rating change was modeled as a concave function while the impact of nature was an S-shaped function.
After grouping experts into those with higher versus lower innate ability, rating change was significantly higher for the former as compared to the latter when
both played in a large number of tournaments. This study concluded that in developing expertise nurture can, up to a point, counter the dominating
influence of nature, and that for chess players with high innate ability, expertise was magnified when complemented with high levels of nurturing.
2009 - BE320
MOCOVI MUSIC AND IDENTITY (LIVIG EDELEDAK MOQOIT)
Gustavo Ricardo Valdez, Renzo Lisandro Salteno, Juan David Vazquez
Escuela de Ensenanza Media No 314, Los Laureles, Santa Fe, ARGENTINA
This work is a qualified research made by mocovi teenagers aiming to enlighten with documentary evidence what has been for so long overshadowed. The
hypothesis is: Musical expressions remembered by mocovi old people living in Los Laureles recreate mocovi world view's believes, wich let them be current
and give them strenght to transmir their identity during this first 21st Century's decade. According to interviews made to old people and what has been
observed in the Community, some of the mocovi world view's elements are expressed by sacred or festive dancings, healing songs, cradlesongs; there are also
instruments similar to european ones and mocovi's own festivities. All of them have cultural, emotive and identifying contents which are transmited by the music
remembered by old people binding nowadays mocovies to ancient ones. As a future plans students will make a written document and a documentary
video, will spread the material compiled among the mocovi teenagers, will perform different mocovi dancings and rythms in the Music Workshop, and
investigate mocovi pottery and language.
2009 - BE015
MULTITASKING: DOES CELL PHONE USE AFFECT PERFORMANCE?
Eric Bonnefil Van Dyk
Winston Churchill High School, San Antonio, TX
This experiment was inspired by media attention to multitasking and its effect on driving. It was designed to test whether a hands-free cell phone device would
be distracting in a simulated driving situation. The following hypotheses were tested: 1) Subjects given a “distraction” on a simulated driving task have impaired
performance; 2) Younger subjects are more distracted when using a hands-free cell phone device than older subjects because of a lack of driving experience;
3) Females perform better than males when distracted because “females are better at multitasking”. Each subject performed a computerized version of a
cognitive task (Stroop task) and a simulated driving task with and without distraction. Reaction times were analyzed using 3-way ANOVA. Age and gender were
compared for susceptibility to distraction. Results for the Stroop task provided validation of the hands-free cell phone distraction: all four groups (Younger
Females, Younger Males, Older Females, Older Males) showed significantly impaired performance (p<0.0001). Older subjects were more distractible than
younger subjects (p<0.0014). Results for the driving task indicated that females performed significantly slower than males overall (p<0.01). Significant
impairment of “driving” performance due to hands-free cell phone distraction was observed in Older Females (p<0.0115). Younger Males and Older Males
showed non-significant impaired performance during cell phone distraction. This experiment demonstrates that hands-free cell phone distraction does impair
performance in both tasks. To see further significant effects in the driving task, a larger number of subjects may need to be tested and a longer “driving” time
may be required.
2009 - BE014
LEARNING, NATURALLY - DOES A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ENHANCE LEARNING?
Trevor Will van Voorthuijsen
Prospect Christian Homeschool, Lecanto, FL
The purpose of this study was to determine if students learn the Dolch Basic Sight Vocabulary Words more effectively when taught in a natural outdoor setting.
Sixteen randomly chosen first grade students from two classes received identical tutoring of 25 Dolch words; eight students remained indoors while eight
studied outdoors. Most tutoring sessions opened with an animal/plant encounter; the Dolch words were presented incorporating Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
using various games and activities. The hypothesis of the study was that the subjects meeting outdoors would retain more sight words than those taught
indoors. A pre-test was administered to each child to determine known words, so the post-test would reflect words learned. Each tutoring session was
15 minutes long twice weekly for 10 weeks. Individual bi-weekly tests were given. From Class A, the "inside" group learned 72% of the words taught,
while the "outside" group gained 83%. Given those learned words, the inside subjects retained 78%; the outside set had a retention rate of 91%. Class B's
inside students gained 61% of the tutored list, whereas the outside group recognized 71%. Upon testing for retention, the inside group scored 88%, and the
outside group 93%. According to this study, the subjects instructed in a natural environment retained more recognition of the sight words than those
within the conventional classroom setting. It showed that a basic skill such as word recognition was enhanced by outdoor instruction. Current educational
practices and theories may need to be re-examined to include natural settings for learning.
2009 - BE030
NOT ALL WATER IS CREATED EQUAL: A CCOMPARISON OF BOTTLE VS. TAP.
Lissi Lizbet Welton
Buena High School, Sierra Vista, AZ
Water directly effects how every human being lives their life. Where they live, what they eat, what clothes they wear. In essence, water is life. Unfortunately our
water supplies are contaminated with chlorine, pesticides, arsenic, lead, and pharmaceuticals. Our current options are to find ultra purified waters. Reverse
osmosis and vapor distillation are two purification systems that bottled water companies are currently using. The water coming from your tap is regulated by the
EPA so that it is safe to consume. With so many bottled water companies using advertisements that promise “the best” water, how is one supposed to know
what is best. This begs the question; can the human palate even discern between bottled and tap water? This is a comparative study of what the human palate
chooses as their favorite and least favorite water type. Age, amount of water consumed in a day, typical type of water that is consumed (ie. bottled, tap,
purified) and concern for contaminants are all compared to the general like and dislike of six different types of water. Three types of bottled water: Brand A from
a spring, Brand B with electrolyte additives, and Brand C purified water from a municiple source, and three types of tap water; Hereford well, Sierra Vista and
Tucson tap water. A survey and then a blind taste test of the six different waters were administered to sixty participants; twenty from each of three age groups:
young adults, middle adults and older adults. It is hypothesized that the palates of the subjects will have the same ability to discern between water types,
despite age difference. In theory all water should taste the same; therefore each sample group should show equal representation. After testing sixty participants
it was found that there is a distinguishable difference in preference. While the favorite water varied, the clear least favorite was Tucson tap water. My research
shows that the human palate can distinguish between different types of water. It is concluded, that not all water is created equal.
2009 - BE036
WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON RACIAL PROFILING WHEN PRESENTING SUBLIMINAL IMAGES TO THE SUBCONSCIOUS.
Ariel Nicole Wiley
Basha High School, Chandler, AZ
profiling is a major concern in American society, especially in areas such as law enforcement. However there is little information available on how to reduc
e racial profiling. Previous work has discovered that lips, hair, and eyebrows are most strongly linked to racial profiling. A simple random sample was used to se
lect the candidate subjects for this study to test the hypothesis that, “Subliminal imaging can be used to reduce the frequency of racial profiling.” High Schoo
l students of both genders and varied ethnicities were used to explore the impact of subliminal messaging on the conscious and subconscious mind. Faces
that generated stereotypical responses were paired randomly with the same faces that had a change to their lips, hair or eyebrows. Subjects were initially
shown a presentation where one facial characteristic was changed for a range of ethnic images. Subjects were then shown a four-minute presentation in which
changes to those characteristics were flashed periodically for .01 seconds. They again responded to the initial survey to determine if subliminal imaging
impacted their responses. The P value for a matched pairs T – Test was .000000000001850404 indicating that the subliminal messaging made a significant
difference in the subjects’ tendencies to stereotype. This study indicates that subliminal messaging may be an effective tool in identifying and mitigating
peoples’ tendencies to racially stereotype. Future research is needed to more fully assess the impact of subliminal messaging on racial profiling.
2009 - BE016
ANALYSIS OF EYE CONTACT AND DRIVING TIME ON A SIMULATED DRIVING DEVICE: CRAZY TEXTING WHILE DRIVING
Chee Xiong
Como Park Senior High School, St. Paul, MN
TWD or texting while driving is a serious problem that has been increasingly growing worse. Billions of text messages and cell phone calls are sent in the
United States each year and it seems that the amount of electronic distractors is growing. Many people drive while having cell phone conversations, text
messaging, listening to an iPod, or entering address information into a global positioning device. Teen drivers are most prone to using these devices. Many feel
they can successfully drive while doing so and are against any legislation opposing their use while driving. I surveyed 450 people twelve and older to assess
where and how often they text, who they see texting while driving and attitudes about texting while driving, legal aspects and ability to text without looking. I
found a relationship between age and three activities. For subjects I measured the amount of eye contact, driving time and maximum speed while operating a
driving simulator under normal day time conditions and while texting. I found a negative linear relationship for texting while driving with age. With and without
texting, I also found 48% difference in means in amount of eye contact and a 13% difference in means in the driving time. My observation results correlated
positively with the literature review.
2009 - BE028
EXAMINING THE CLINICAL UTILITY OF THE RBANS FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS WITH EPILEPSY
Gabrielle Alexandra Young
Valley Stream South High School, Valley Stream, NY
Epilepsy is a neuronal condition in which there is a malfunction in the productivity of the electrical signaling within the brain. Many studies have suggested the
use of neuropsychology in significantly aiding treatment. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a
neuropsychological test given to diagnose patients who have neuropsychological disorders. This test is often used to diagnose problematic areas in the brains
of epilepsy patients. However the clinical utility of the Spanish battery has been questioned as there has yet been a normative established. In this study the
doctors at a comprehensive epilepsy center tested both 47 Spanish and 45 English speakers to collectively construct a normative. It was a blind data study and
they received the complete RBANS consisting of 12 subtests. We then found that within the results there were statistical differences in the results of the
subtests Language Index (F = 5.36), List Recall (F = 2.93), Picture Naming (F = 9.49), and Digit Span (F = 4.02). Each measured value had a p>.10, except for
List Recall which had a p>.01. Possible reasons for these differences are factors such as difference in culture, word valence, and even the ability of adaptive
reasoning skills. However there was also a presence of poor memory and naming skills, which is a trait consistent with people who have epilepsy. Although
there were discrepancies within the results, the study proved that the Spanish RBANS can be utilized to help treatment of this population.
Second Award of $1,500 - Air Force Research Laboratory on behalf of the United States Air Force
2009 - BE312
MAPPING VERBAL MEMORY FUNCTION FROM DIRECT BRAIN AND SCALP RECORDINGS FROM EPILEPSY SURGERY PATIENTS
Weili Zheng, Shravanthy Gumidyala, Jonathon Schwarzbauer
Illinois Math and Science Academy, Aurora, IL
Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by chronic and unprompted seizures that originate in various areas of the brain, and affects approximately 2.5 million in the
United States. Seizures that occur can potentially affect a patient’s auditory response. Our study’s purpose was to determine if latencies in scalp and
intracranial electroencephalography (EEG) correspond, as well as if epilepsy affects the latency of the verbal memory potentials relating to the recollection of
language in epilepsy patients. To observe these effects, subjects wore EEG scalp caps and underwent a verbal memory paradigm. Patients with epilepsy also
had EEG recordings through intracranial grids. All patient interaction and data collection was performed by the study's principal investigator. The recorded EEG
files were filtered through an analysis program and were used to create average power spectrums, using gamma frequency analysis. The latencies of the
verbal memory potentials in the scalp data was then compared with the corresponding EEG of patients with epilepsy. Latencies in patients with epilepsy were
compared with those that were non-afflicted. Patients with epilepsy did not exhibit a significantly higher latency than patients without epilepsy in the verbal
memory potentials. However, results are inconclusive, and more testing is needed, as data from patients with epilepsy were scarce. Understanding exactly how
much epilepsy affects auditory responses has many uses, including improving surgical proceedings in determining resection areas for patients with epilepsy. In
addition, if scalp and intracranial EEG data correspond, methods could possibly be developed to eliminate the invasive intracranial grid insertion to observe
patients with epilepsy.
2010 - BE041
HOLLAND CODE QUIZ AND PERSONAL CHOICES
Bayan H. Abdallat
Dove Science Academy, Oklahoma City, OK
Many kids get asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” However, as the child does grow and becomes a teenager, their thoughts about jobs might
change. Then, as the teenager grows older and goes to college, they might want to become something different. The Holland Code quiz was given to students
to check the relation between their personal career choices and the results of the quiz. Students took the test voluntarily, and the data was analyzed.
 After analyzing the results, the hypothesis was proven to be correct. The 12th graders, the highest grade surveyed, had the most students with
compatible results. The grade that had the least compatible results was 9th grade. The 12th grade had the highest degree of compatibility most likely because
the seniors are getting prepared for college and choosing their majors. The 9th grade likely had the least compatibility due to the fact that they had just entered
high school and their ideas about jobs may still be forming because they now have to become more realistic about their choices. Once the analysis of the
graphs was complete, the Social personality career prevailed throughout all the grades. In conclusion, the higher the grade, the more compatible the results
became. 
2010 - BE042
A CLOSER LOOK AT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN YOUTH'S RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND THEIR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
Aida Tarek Abdou
Alexandria Language School, Alexandria, EGYPT
The purpose of this project is to investigate correlations between recreational activities (RA) and general knowledge level (GKL), the study considered types of
(RA) and its specific effect on GKL as well. Existence of directly proportional relationship between GKL and variation of RA was hypothesized. In
addition, RA which have the highest efficiency on GKL are not the most widely practiced among university students. Our study has been accomplished
on two phases. Firstly, a pilot study using a survey designed by the researcher was conducted randomly in different universities on (200) university students in
Alexandria city to measure the impact of other variables (Age, gender, Grade, working status, University, Faculty, financial status, Parent’s educational
qualifications, area of living) on GKL. Secondly, and with respect to the first phase results, the same survey was achieved on random sample of 500 university
student to determine their RA and test their GKL. Pearson correlation coefficient where applied and results assured the hypothesis. Further analysis,
using One Way ANOVA identified that the best GKL is obtained while reading along with reciting Quran and doing researches. Watching television is
the most widely practiced recreational activity among university students. As (88%) of the sample, with (37.19%) considers it their most practiced RA. Thus, we
could conclude that working on TV programs of reading, doing researches and reciting Quran maintains the highest efficiency of RA on GKL.
2010 - BE004
ABILITY TO SUPPRESS THE EXPRESSION OF DISTRESS IN HUMAN APOE MICE
Matthew Samuel Agam
Beaverton High School, Beaverton, OR
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops as a result of a traumatic experience, characterized by physical and emotional
reactions brought on by related distressing memories. Common factors include car accidents and military deployment, which more recently have contributed to
a spike in cases - 7.7 million Americans are currently affected. Other studies in humans have shown that there may be links between Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)
genotype and susceptibility to develop PTSD and other neuropsychiatric conditions (Freeman et al, 2005). The present study examined the effects of different
ApoE genotypes on extinction, a mouse model of human PTSD. To test this effect, 46 male/female mice with genotypes ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4 were
exposed to a discomfort in a distinct context to generate a startle response, which was extinguished in that context in subsequent trials by reintroducing the
animals into the same context without the discomfort. Measured through startled behavior (defined as the lack of all movement except respiration), videotracking software showed that mice with genotypes ApoE3 and ApoE4 exhibited enhanced memory extinction compared to their ApoE2 counterparts. These
results support a new concept of the relationship between ApoE genotype and learning and memory, since in previous research ApoE2 mice have been shown
to have enhanced learning over those with ApoE3 and ApoE4 genotypes. My findings indicate that an ApoE2 genotype may be a risk factor for developing
PTSD in humans.
First Award of $3,000 - Air Force Research Laboratory on behalf of the United States Air Force
2010 - BE025
OBESITY AND DEPRESSION: DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS
Sarah Averi Albala
John Jay Senior High School, Cross River, NY
Over 300 million people in the world are obese. It has been shown that obesity can significantly decrease quality of life through its impact on psychological
factors including depression. By 2020 depression will become the third leading cause for disability. Previous literature has suggested that depression and
obesity are directly related. However the studies that link depression and obesity have limitations. Unlike the simple conclusions drawn from past research, the
links between depression and obesity are far more complex. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between obesity and depression in a
multiethnic cohort with focus on inclusion of social variables in a series of regression models. This study utilized a cohort of 3,298 urban community residents.
Using SAS version 9.2, the relationship between obesity and depression was examined adjusting for social variables including race-ethnicity, stress, gender,
and social networks. Race-ethnicity was coded in three different ways to analyze the overall impact of race, and the specific impact that race has on depression
and obesity, as well as doing direct comparisons between race-ethnic groups. A multivariable model with obesity as the dependent variable found no significant
relationship between obesity and depression. Gender was found to be a strong predictor of both depression and obesity. There were differential findings for the
importance of social networks on obesity and depression. These models suggest that race-ethnicity and gender are critical influences on stress as mediators
for depression or obesity.
2010 - BE320
MAKE US CLOSER
Maha Khalid Aldoughaim, Mariya Saeed Alghamdi, Rahaf Saleh Albathi
Dar Al-Uloom Private School, Riyadh, central, SAUDI ARABIA
Autistic children have problems in communication and the goal is to help them socialize and communicate with people around them. We used the
board maker pictures for designing a simple device , The device will be an alternative for the current tools which have the most important needs , Such as the
boards in home and school and the booklet in public places. This device will help the Autistic child by: 1-Giving better chances for
communication between the Autistic child and the community. 2-The light weight and the practicality of the device will allow the child to use it in
different places. 3-Making the child more independent by letting him express his feelings and needs by himself. Finally, if the device was used
there will be more chances to communicate with the Autistic children. All the devices that are currently used for the Autistic children are about developing
education and computer skills , but the device we designed is all about communicating , In the future there can be more forums and languages for different
kinds of children with special needs.
2010 - BE029
GAME POWER: A GAME ENVIRONMENT FOR MEASURING ICT-ENHANCED SKILLS OF YOUNG STUDENTS
Abdulaziz Khalid Alghunaim
Asrary School, RIYADH, central, SAUDI ARABIA
As technology becomes more integrated into our daily life, its role in early education is becoming especially important. most educators agree that skills
can be divided into three, one of the most important is ICT-enhanced (Information and Communication Technology) skills. Technology can be
used to track development of students skills. Technology is unique in that it can provide an interactive and dynamic environment in which students can
learn and be tested. Specifically technology can be used to evaluate soft skills, which include problem solving, teamwork and presentation
ability, that despite essential relevance remain unevaluated. This research aimed to develop a game platform that can measure the ICTenhanced (Information and Communication Technology) skills and soft skills such as problem solving for children between 8 and 14 years of
age. We use a simple game platform that is developed in Scratch R?. Educators can use this tool to measure the improvement of students . This 
 simple platform provides a fun way to evaluate students without using regular multiplechoice tests. This research proved the efficiency of
this game. By comparing it to an accurate paperbased measurement tool. We chose two groups and applied both the game and the paper test
to them. We found a correlation of 0.74 between the scores. We found that the test is as accurate as the paper-based test. We handed them surveys
that measures the students tendencies towards both tests. We conducted a t-test which proved that students tend to play the computer game
rather than taking the paper test.
2010 - BE005
THE IMPACT OF A SET OF TRAINING PROGRAMS ON THE SEROTONIN HORMONE IN A SAMPLE OF (8-9) YEAR-OLD STUDENTS WITH LEARNING
DISABILITIES AND ITS CORRELATION TO THEIR ACHIEVEMENT AND BEHAVIOR (AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY)
Mohammad Mesbah Al-Refai
This study aims at discovering the impact of sports, dietary, and behavior training programs to improve the Serotonin hormone consumption, which is produced
by the hypothalamus in the brain. The researcher has designed a set of sports, dietary, and behavior training programs, studied and moderated by a group of
specialists to know their suitability to the subject of the study. The program lasted 8 successive weeks. It was conducted on the sample of (30) (8-9) year-old
students with learning disabilities from different private schools. The sample was randomly divided into 2 equal groups: experimental and control groups. Each
group was subject to a pre and a post measurement in Arabic Language and Mathematics in addition to the assessment of behavior and the level of the
concentration of Serotonin hormone in the urine. The results were statistically analyzed using the T test for both groups: independent sample t-test
and paired sample t-test. The results have shown evident improvement in the experimental group's achievement level in Arabic language, with a percentage of
(81.70%) and mathematics with (97.89%) due to implementing the training programs. It has also led to the increase of serotonin level with (29.54%) whereas
the undesirable behavior has decreased with a percentage of (53.85%). However, no significant differences have been found between the pre and post
measurement for the control group. To sum up, the suggested training programs have not only improved the level of learning- disabled students'
achievement and behavior, but also increased the level of Serotonin.
2010 - BE307
ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION ON LEARNING BEHAVIOR AND COGNITIVE DEFICIT IN A DROSOPHILA MODEL: A
POTENTIAL TARGET FOR NEUROPROTECTIVE PHARMACOTHERAPY
Shaunak Krishan Bakshi, Peter Hans Massey,
Manhasset Senior High School, Manhasset, NY
Chronic Sleep insufficiency, or deprivation, affects around 70 million Americans, yet it is under recognized as a public health problem. Approximately 29 % of
adults in the U.S. report sleeping fewer than 7 hours per night. Previous studies have suggested that there is a link between sleep and memory, and that
deprivation may affect learning ability. In this study, the effects of Sleep Deprivation on learning behavior were examined over time, in the form of classical
conditioning responses, in Canton-S (Wild-Type) and UAS-APP (Alzheimer’s Model) Drosophila. Each line was bred and divided into four groups – one control,
and three variables that were deprived of sleep for varying periods of time. Olfactory Associative Learning ability was tested in the Drosophila using ShockAvoidance Pavlovian Conditioning. In the training procedure, Drosophila were exposed to an odor, paired with application of electric shock in interval sessions.
Testing was performed four days-post training - avoidance of the shock-associated odor signified long-term memory formation. The effects of sleep deprivation
on learning were tested at different stages in the fly life span. Data were collected through calculation of performance indices, and were then statistically
analyzed. Sleep Deprivation significantly decreased learning ability in Canton-S flies, and worsened memory deficit in UAS-APP Drosophila. The results
suggest that sleep deprivation may impact subsequent learning and memory and may also play a role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s.
Second Award of $1,500 - Team Projects - Presented by Intel
2010 - BE014
IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL THE KNOCKOUT MOUSE SINGS
Benjamin Rogers Bauchwitz
Hershey High School, Hershey, PA
Fragile X mental retardation is a genetic disease that affects one in 4000 males and often produces a significant negative effect on their ability to speak. One
third of people with Fragile X syndrome also have autism, which can lead to severe social disabilities. Fragile X syndrome results from the mutation of the Fmr1
gene, which in turn leads to inadequate Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein being produced. By blocking that same gene in mice, one can create a model of
this disorder. My experiment focused on comparing the vocalizations of these knockout mice (ko) with those of normal wild-type mice (wt). These mice, which
would normally produce Ultrasonic Vocalizations (USVs), were shown to be nearly silent when placed in social situations with other males. The wt mice, on the
other hand, were generally quite vocal. The adult ko mouse results seemed to match what is seen in most people with Fragile X mental retardation, since they
have serious problems in speaking, but more than two-thirds do not have autism and are quite social. Mice were also tested in their home cage with a single
female who was proven to be silent. Because mice generally vocalize for sexual reasons, it would be quite strange if the ko mice did not vocalize. Mice with the
human Fragile X transgene were also investigated because this could give a more direct comparison of mice to humans with Fragile X.
Second Award of $1,000 - States United for Biomedical Research (SUBR)
2010 - BE316
A FUNCTIONAL MRI STUDY OF BRAIN ACTIVATION DURING THE READING OF MUSIC
Cara Marie Borelli, Qiuzi Zhu, Timothy Alexander Ochsner
Hilton Head Preparatory School, Hilton Head Island, SC
The goal of this project was to determine if musicians undergo the same process as those established by studies in language comprehension, which explore
subjects’ responses to their own language versus a language they do not speak. This study was designed to investigate the areas of the brain activated by
reading sheet music, focusing specifically on the motor cortexes. This could indicate muscle memory due to musicians recalling subconscious brain processes.
A specialized type of MRI scan called functional MRI was used, which shows the regions of the brain that are activated through the analysis of blood-oxygen
levels. Eight subjects were tested: four musicians and four non-musicians (as the control). Three paradigms were developed. For the first, subjects first tapped
their fingers to help reveal their motor cortexes. For the second, they read sheet music they were familiar with, and for the third paradigm, they read a series of
notes without a staff in order to locate the regions of the brain activated by eye movement and eliminate brain activity unrelated to the comprehension of music.
The results of this study showed that the musicians showed activity in the pre-motor and motor cortexes while reading music, as opposed to the non-musicians
who showed no activity in the motor areas. This study helps further the understanding of the regions of the brain and their associated functions, and has
potential medical relevance. Reading music is a possible method for aiding patients who have been paralyzed by a stroke to build new motor connections in the
brain.
Third Award of $1,000 - Team Projects - Presented by Intel
2010 - BE321
BANJO PICKIN' MUSIC: GOOD FOR THE MIND? THE EFFECT OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC ON 11TH GRADE GRAMMAR TEST SCORES
Meredith Claire Brick, Bailey Keith,
Chillicothe High School, Chillicothe, MO
 This project was to discover if listening to bluegrass music while studying affects grammar test scores of 11th grade students. We predicted grammar
scores would improve after students listened to music while studying the daily grammar lesson and taking the test. We discussed human risk of the
tested subjects with our counselor and principals who approved replacing student names with ID numbers to provide anonymous test scores. We made a
schedule that split classes into three groups, dependent on their class size and cumulative class GPA. We carried out three trials and set three cycles for each
group; cycle one was control with no music, cycle two was music played while studying and during the test, and cycle three was music played only during the
test. We used the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test to determine if there were statistically significant results between the average test scores in each group.
 Our results showed that out of nine cycles, six cycles had little or no significant evidence supporting our hypothesis. Two cycles showed suggestive
significant evidence and one cycle showed moderate significant evidence. We conclude bluegrass music doesn’t help or hurt the average student with
grammar lessons, although some students did benefit from studying with the music and enjoyed the music. If we continue research, we would allow students to
choose preferred genre. We would also want to introduce studying with music to 9th grade students to develop healthy study habits with music. 
 
2010 - BE017
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Alexis Amy Caletka
Holy Savior Menard Central High School, Alexandria, LA
core of scientific research are essential questions on the topic of the human personality… What makes us different from each other? Though scientists have
been able to define personality—the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique—the ultimate puzzle lies withi
n the question of what makes us different from one another. Research suggests that people respond to a particular pleasant something in many different ways
due to differing personalities. The qustion arose, does personality type affect eating habits. Based o available research it was predicted that people with differi
ng personality types would choose to eat an Oreo cookie in a different way. The expe
iment began by giving test subjects an Oreo and video-taping how they ate
it. Subjectshen took a personality test to see if there was any connection between how each person ate their cookie and their personality type. Each person’s
result was then compared to that of the others. Both extroverts and introverts preferred to bite the cookie nearly 2:1 over splitting it. Intuitive personalities were
evenly split between biting and splitting, but sensing personalities preferred biting to splitting. Thinking personalities preferred biting to splitting while feeling
personalities were evenly split. Perceiving personalities also prefer biting to splitting, while judging personalities are almost evenly split. A specific trend did not
appear in the more rare types of eating. The results of this experiment show that a connection does exist between various personality types and eating habits.
2010 - BE037
THE ANTI-ROB BAG
Walid Ahmad Chamma
Rawdat Al- Fayhaa High School, Tripoly, North, LEBANON
Nowadays, bags' theft is a real danger in airports or in train stations. According to many security sources, people lose their worthy belongings like IDs, money,
photos… So I came with the idea of "anti-rob bag" to stop this problem. At first, I started by doing some research, especially on-line, to make sure that
no one had done this project before. Then, using a wireless relay, a tape, a speaker, a switch NC and a wireless bell, I made my bag. I started with a
primary model without using the bag to find out if the material works. Then I installed the material in my schoolbag and tried it the next day with my
friends' help: Using the switch NC and the wireless bell, I figured out that one of them had picked it from the ground and that my experimental design
was working properly
2010 - BE043
SLOW IT DOWN TO SPEED IT UP: BREAKING THROUGH THE WINDOW OF AUTISM
Adelina Corina Cozma
Bayview Secondary School, Richmond Hill, Ontario, CANADA
Recent magnetoencephalographic studies suggest that auditory processing deficits are key in the communication and socialization problems observed in
autism. The present research investigates whether artificially modified speech, using the latest digital audio-video technology, can improve the temporal
processing deficit that occurs in autistic children. Thirteen high-functioning autistic children and thirteen age-matched controls completed emotional and nonemotional auditory processing tasks incorporated in three innovatively developed software program games. The accuracy and response times of the two groups
were compared when consonant-vowel syllable pairs were slowed down or sped up. Time-stretching of syllables improved processing of auditory information in
all participants, especially in the autistic volunteers. The autistic children demonstrated a left ear preference and right brain hemispheric lateralization tendency
for non-emotional auditory processing, which is a reversed ear preference and hemispheric dominance in comparison with the controls. Both groups processed
emotional approach-related stimuli better than withdrawal-related stimuli. This finding indicates a left brain lateralization tendency for emotional auditory
processing in both autistic and typically developing children. Establishing each subject’s optimal artificially time-stretched speech rate of auditory processing led
to the development of an innovative educational system, personalized for each individual’s specific needs, based on a world-class real-time and file-based
media encoding system. Time-stretching technology can not only improve the lives of people with autism and other learning disabilities, but also those of
typically developing individuals and foreign language learners.
Renewable Scholarship to the IIT Institute of Psychology $15,000 per year for up to four years - Illinois Institute of Technology
First Award of $1,000 - Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology
2010 - BE016
NUTRITION EDUCATION IN BRAZILIAN SCHOOLS: A NEW METHODOLOGY
Heitor Geraldo da Cruz Santos
Associacao Educacional e Cultural Arco-Iris, Recife, PE, BRASIL
In Brazil, lack of nutrition teaching methodologies is one of the main obstacles to working with nutrition education. The most deadly diseases in the world are
related to poor eating. Adolescence is an important stage of life, formation of healthy eating habits will have repercussions throughout teenagers’ lives, I found it
necessary to conduct a research and collect data on nutrient profiles for this age group. Then, I analyzed the data which contributed to the planning of
intervention activities in nutrition education, based on specific features of the public. The 1st step of my research was to work on studies that focus on the
analysis of dietary habits of teenagers. To do so, I used the 24-hour recall and anthropometric analysis. Thereafter, using the technique "Picture of the Diet" I
examined the influence of the school in forming healthy eating habits. After collecting and analyzing information in the 1st step, I could go forward to the 2nd
step: developing a methodology for intervention in nutritional education. The methodology is based on principles of social constructivist theory, for which
knowledge is constructed recognizing the reality in a critical way, reflecting on it and acting on it. The methodology was tested through lectures in public and
private schools and culminated in the development of an orientation booklet for teachers on working with nutritional education in schools. The booklet was
submitted to a committee of specialists in the areas of education and nutrition. Their opinions together with the results of the lectures, indicate the efficiency of
my methodology. Finally, I focused on social awareness on the need for investment in nutrition education in Brazil, by collecting signatures for a petition, and
discussions with government officials.
Third Award of $150 - Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology
2010 - BE009
THE EFFECT OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME STUDENTS TEXT ON PHONES TO THE NUMBER OF MECHANICAL ERRORS IN A WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Sumer Ryan Doulk
Nature Coast Technical High School, Brooksville, FL
The purpose of this project was to determine if the amount of text time demonstrated by students will affect the amount of mechanical errors in their writing.
Mechanical errors being shortening of words, improper use of capitalization, and lack of punctuation. The researcher’s hypothesis stated that if the amount of
text time increases then so will the amount of mechanical errors in their writing. To determine this a survey was given to 6th and 8th graders asking them basic
question on how much time they text, and basic texting habits. Students where then placed in levels based on their average amount of text time daily, and then
the researcher received FCAT prompt essays written by these students. The researcher counted the mechanical errors in the essay, and then the data was
compared by the level of texting time. The results indicated a consistent gain in mechanical areas from Level 1 (1-10 tests daily) to level 5 (200 or more text
daily). The greatest comparison came between the level 5 students compared to the control group (students who do not text). In 8th grade the level 5 students
showed a 4.75 % of errors per student compared to the control group with .25% of errors. In 6th grade level 5 indicated a 4.64% of errors per student compared
to the control group with a .33% of errors per student. In conclusion the data showed to be conclusive of the hypothesis. Students with the highest daily
amount of text time often show the most mechanical errors.
2010 - BE028
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, DIETARY HABITS, AND HEALTH
Christian Durango
Times Squared Academy, Providence, RI
A first rate society must be conscious of its citizens’ well-being despite socioeconomic status, something as delicate as the health of its members is no
exception and must be accounted for. The aim of this exploration was to gauge how large the disparities were between people of different socioeconomic
classes, by examining the relationship between socioeconomic status, dietary habits and health. The methodology for the investigation required an
anonymous survey given to participants who verbally consented. To obtain answers from varying socioeconomic classes surveying was conducted outside of
two different businesses, one whose client demographics are significantly more affluent than the other. The survey questioned each participant’s income, eating
habits, nutrition awareness, personal and family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and obesity. The trends
and correlations the results illustrated were evident. Drastic increases in the number of cases of any ailment occurred as the income of the participants
decreased. A lack of nutritional awareness was prevalent in those of lower socioeconomic status, while the opposite was true for those of higher socioeconomic
status. This project brings to light the fact that people of higher socioeconomic status have more nutritional awareness thus enabling them to lead
healthier lives than those of lower socioeconomic status. This must be addressed by some form of government intervention in order to adequately take care of
all members of society.
2010 - BE010
GEMARA AND GEMATRIA: A CASE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF THE USE OF SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXTUALIZING FOR THE LEARNING OF
MATHEMATICS
Tamara Gedankien
Escola Brasileira Israelita Chaim Nachman Bialik, Sao Paulo, SP, BRASIL
My research verified the educational impacts that result from the use of sociocultural contextualizing as teaching methodology. I worked with 87 students in a
Jewish school, using elements of the Jewish culture to activate mathematical skills. I used the Gematria, which is a system of notation of Hebrew
letters, with 25 students in the 4th grade, and a chapter from the Gemara, which consists of rabbinical geometrical commentaries of Jewish oral traditions, with
19 students in the 8th grade. Each group went through a didactic sequence of four one-hour classes, including a slide show, two exercises forms, homework
and a test. Control groups (4th grade, 24 students; 8th grade, 19 students) remained in regular math classes. The experimental classes showed a significant
improvement in a post-trail test based on SARESP (Evaluation System of Educational Achievements of the State of Sao Paulo), stressing the following
aspects: SARESP 2008 results showed that only 35% of the 8th grade students in the State of São Paulo presented the ability to recognize geometric
representations of the special binomial products. The percentage observed in the control class was 43%, and 74% in the experimental class. In the 4th grade,
69% of the experimental class showed the ability to perform calculations and operations, while the control group had 50%, and the State students verified 34%.
The homework assignments for both experimental and control classes were categorized using a qualitative system, and by that, I could compare the homework
production among them. Experimental classes also stood out. The results indicate amazing learning impacts resulting from sociocultural
contextualizing, what should encourage similar research in other cultures. I believe that adopting this methodology will lead to an epistemological plurality. I am
currently working to implement this model in my school.
Intel ISEF Best of Category Award of $5,000 for Top First Place Winner - Behavioral and Social Sciences - Presented by Intel
2010 - BE030
THE HEARING GLASSES
Mahmoud Motaz Ghulman
Dar Althikr Schools, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA
A large number of people worldwide suffer from hearing loss problems. This effects negatively on their communication with the society and their ability to learn.
This encouraged the researcher to find a visual alternative to the sense of hearing (The Hearing Glasses). It is supposed to make them able to identify the
audio material and improve their interactive communication skills and ability to learn. To prepare to test this purpose, the Researcher began to identify the
community of the study and chose the study sample and then worked on preparing the study materials (the “Hearing Glasses”, the demonstrated text, survey,
and the test). After that he applied a pilot study on 30 samples and demonstrated his materials to judging from a couple of specialists to ensure the veracity of
the materials and their persistence. Finally after applying his experiments on the study sample (120 samples) he analyzed the results of the study
descriptively(mean, median,…) and statistically (T-Test and 2-way ANOVA). The results were statistically relevant in regards to the positive feedback from the
survey participants and high-test scores. It has been concluded that the "Hearing Glasses" solution are capable of enabling the deaf person a better
communication with the surroundings and the ability to identify heard material using the "Hearing Glasses" solution. This solution can benefit the deaf
community in the world and help them communicate in a higher method. The researcher is now working on finding ways to develop the research
material (Deaf Glasses) into a commercial product.
2010 - BE301
PREDICTABILITY: UNDERSTANDING HOW AND WHY WE DEVELOP FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND HOW PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS RELATE TO
HAVING PREDICTABLE RESPONSES TO IMAGE AND SOUND
Megan Elizabeth Gilliland, Isaiah Butler, Boston Portner
St. Mary's High School, Sleepy Eye, MN
From eyes, to attire, to voice clarity, every characteristic of a person is used to create lasting first impressions. Though these assumptions are intrinsic to social
interaction, they are one-dimensional in understanding and accuracy. This project is aimed at establishing how simplistic and shallow first impressions are by
quantitatively demonstrating how often perceptions can be predicted. The first impressions were drawn out through open-ended responses, multiple
choice questions, and comparisons of pictures. The 300 subjects gave their first impressions of 24 pre-chosen pictures and five audio phrases of unknown
people. Data was analyzed by comparing the responses to predicted connotations and exactly worded predicted answers, as well as finding patterns using
demographic traits of the subjects. The results showed that, of first impressions, 54.91% were exactly predicted and 69.31% were of the predicted
connotation. These results support the theory, that at least 50% of the participants’ first impressions could be predicted word for word and a significant amount
of the first impressions’ connotations would be predictable. Ideas that support our theory include: the use of schemas; which are the mental maps we create of
our experiences, the fundamental attribution error theory; which states that humans assume that a person has a consistent personality based solely on one
action or trait, and the implicit personality trait theory; which states that people assume a person has a certain disposition at all times after only seeing them
once. Results of the test were distributed to the community, and hopefully, this experiment will deter relying on first impressions by showing the
predictability of responses.
2010 - BE302
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AND TEST SCORES IN WISCONSIN
Jamie Lea Ginther, Tyler Tullius,
Cochrane-Fountain City High School, Fountain City, WI
The ACT test, or American College Testing program, has been a standard college-entrance and high school achievement exam since 1959. The ACT is taken
more than the SAT exam in every state but the East and West coast states of the U.S. The WKCE test is a mandatory test taken by 10th grade students in
Wisconsin. This research seeks to find a correlation between ACT test scores and WKCE test scores and socio-economic factors in the state of Wisconsin, by
analyzing sets of data available to the public via the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Public Instruction. Data on population, population density, median
household income, poverty level, and percent of white persons for each county in Wisconsin was taken from the United States Census Bureau. The data for
ACT composite scores and WKCE proficiency scores for each school district in Wisconsin were taken from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The
data was recorded to an Excel spreadsheet, and then analyzed to find Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients, as well as P-Values. A regression
analysis was conducted as well. These tests were created for many combinations of test scores versus socio-economic factors. The results of the experiment
found a correlation between these sets of data, the strongest correlation being between Poverty Level and the test scores. A majority of the analysis done in the
experiment had supported the hypothesis, concluding that there is a relationship between the variables tested.
2010 - BE038
MUDIBANI
Leslie Gonzalez Huerta
Escuela Vocacional/Universidad de Guadalajara/Sistema de Educacion Media Superior, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Jalisco, MEXICO
Mudibani in a scientific research project aims to carry out activities that promote and educate children between 6 and 12 years (primary level) through a Web
site to promote a better social life through dialogue and diplomacy. The benefits are based on the development of social and communication diplomatic
and dialogical skills and the management of new technologies through develop a Software. Leaving a message to everyone: "To practice dialogue and
diplomacy every day, anywhere, helps build a better world for all."
2010 - BE312
BLIND SERVICE
Farah Hussain Hajjar, Reem Mrad, Siba Hajjar
Al Bayyader School, Beirut, Beirut, LEBANON
We always had a though in our minds in how to help blinded people, and how would a blinded individual get help if he wants to. We came up with an
idea that will make the life of the blinded people easier. The idea is to create a device which will help the blinded to communicate with someone else in order to
assist him in his movement, at home , or at any place he would be. The device consists of a headset with a microphone, and a wireless camera that
transmits image and sound and receives sound. The blinded person will wear on his head and request help if he feels so. This device will help a lot of
blinded people and it can allow parents, family members, and friends to always supervise the blinded people or at least make sure that they are fine. 
 Many devices like this can be connected to one place in order to create a help center that will assist a greater number of blinded people.
2010 - BE002
THE EFFECTS OF BORDERLINE HYPOTHYROIDISM ON QUALITY OF LIFE AND DAYTIME DROWSINESS
Michael Andrew Fairchild Harding
Lake Highland Preparatory School, Orlando, FL
The experiment was designed to determine the effects of borderline hypothyroidism on quality of life and daytime sleepiness. This was achieved by first
measuring the blood serum levels of Thyrotropin, the marker protein of thyroid activity. The patients were given the Epworth sleepiness scale and the HR
Quality of Life Scale during routine visits with their health care providers. The results of the experiment did support the hypothesis; that if the blood serum
concentration of biological marker of thyroid activity, Thyrotropin, is between half and a full standard deviation above the norm of the population of the
population for an experimental group, then their quality of life shall be lower than and there daytime sleepiness shall be higher than that of the two control group
of patients who either have been treated for thyroid deficiency or who have normal levels of Thyrotropin. The results of the experiment showed that the control
group having the experimental mean of 2.91+/-3.83 HRQoL score points, 4.49+/-2.68 Epworth sleepiness score points, and 3.79+/-2.41 Harding Overall QoL
score points. Contrastingly, the experimental group had the experimental mean of 7.20+/-6.53 HRQoL score points, 8.01+/-5.04 Epworth sleepiness score
points, and 7.82+/-4.93 Harding Overall QoL score points. The null hypothesis of N0 treatment effect is supported because the P-Value of N1 is P≥7.84*10-5
for the Epworth sleepiness, P≥4.28*10-4 for the HRQoL score, and P≥1.01*10-6 for the combined Harding overall QoL score.
2010 - BE040
THE ONE DOLLAR AUCTION
Alec Burton Howard
Deer Valley High School, Antioch, CA
A one-dollar auction is a “game” in which a group of about 5 people bid on one dollar. However, there is a catch: both the highest and second highest bidder
have to pay. It was hypothesized that teenagers would bid higher than adults because they are impulsive. This is a reasonable hypothesis since it is generally
accepted that most teenagers are known to be less deliberate with their actions than adults. All volunteers were made to believe that real money was at stake.
Once the experiment was finished and the results recorded, a t-test was performed based on the results. The t-test showed that the probability of difference
between the two demographics was due to chance is .445, or 44.5%. This means that there is a high chance that if the test was conducted again, the same
results would appear. Likely not based on coincidence, one noticeable difference between the two genders is the fact that male and female bidders were the
first and second highest bidders, respectively, among the adult population. However, much more testing is needed to determine whether this is just random
chance or something much greater. The resulting average highest bid for teenagers and adults, respectively, was $2.12 and $1.41 while the average second
highest bid for teenagers and adults, respectively, was $1.84 and $1.25. Therefore, since the difference wasn’t very significant, one can infer that teenagers
and adults are, for the most part, similar in their impulsiveness.
2010 - BE012
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITIVE DEMAND AND STRESS
Chase Tyler Huggins
Saint Charles West High School, Saint Charles, MO
The purpose of this study was to seek out whether stress affects cognitive performance. Cognitive demand is the measurement of how difficult a task becomes
to an individual while attempting to solve a problem. Cognitive performance is the measurement of how well an individual completes a task. The participants
were asked to complete multiple puzzles while under a time limit. The level of stress was manipulated by the absence (low stress) or presence (high stress) of
a large clock placed strategically to ensure visibility. This manipulation of stress caused direct change in the performance of the participants in the high stress
group.
2010 - BE045
VOTING SYSTEMS: AN OUTCOME ANALYSIS, PHASE TWO
Vikash Evans Hypio
Hotchkiss High School, Hotchkiss, CO
Phase I, last years project, tested different voting systems to see if they produced different outcomes; Phase II of the project focuses on applying some of those
same voting systems to a practical application, that of predicting the amount for a school bond issue that would be agreeable to most voters. It was
hypothesized that an analysis of the voting results would be useful in predicting passability. Five hundred registered voters were random sampled and
mailed surveys. The survey was designed to assess the amount of money that the community would support for a bond issue. Five voting systems were used
to tally the votes, including a method based on the “many wrongs” theory. The $10 million issue won in three of four voting systems, and $14.4 million
was the mean of the “many wrongs” system. In a follow-up survey 53% of the voters supported the $14.4 million bond, showing it to be the upper limit. 78% of
the voters passed the $10 million bond, indicating an amount highly likely to pass.
2010 - BE046
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION LEVEL PATTERNS IN RESPONSE TO HORMONAL FLUCTUATION ACROSS THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Carolina Jaramillo
American Heritage School, Plantation, FL
This study intended to assess anxiety and depression patterns in correlation to follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, estrogen and progesterone level fluctuations.
Comprehensive in its ethnic diversity and consideration of change over time, this study recorded the anxiety and depression patterns of 38 teenaged female
students using retrospective surveying adapted from the BAI/BDI at four one-week intervals. This study amassed data yielding the following pattern: both
depression and anxiety scores showed gradual decline, especially in the follicular phase where the average anxiety score decline was about 47% and
depression score decline was about 45%. The most severe score average was observed in Week 1 retrospection which assessed the pre-menstrual stage,
consistent with the drop in progesterone and estrogen and faint increase of FSH. The results partially supported the hypothesis because the most severe
anxiety and depression scores were indeed observed at the drop of estrogen and progesterone, but they did not coincide with the peak of FSH, but a faint
increase in FSH. Week 3 and 4 retrospection demonstrated the lowest anxiety and depression scores as estrogen and progesterone peaked and FSH and LH
cruised low. The study concluded that the severest anxiety and depression symptoms do occur in the week prior to menstruation (PMS); however, the severity
does not disappear after menstruation. Instead, severity gradually declines in Week 2, and drops consistently through Week 3 and Week 4, indicating that the
absence of estrogen and progesterone indirectly leads to an increase in anxiety/depression symptoms.
2010 - BE024
THE EFFECT OF CONGRUENT AND INCONGRUENT FACIAL EXPRESSIONS ON REMEMBERING THE EMOTIONS OF OTHERS
Willa Grace Kerkhoff
Mount Vernon High School, Mount Vernon, OH
use many different levels of communication when remembering the emotions of others. Using an internet survey, I investigated how well a subject remem
bered another’s emotions when the facial expression was congruent or incongruent with the stated emotion. Subjects (N=96) viewed faces coupled with a
statement made by the pictured person about how they felt. Afterwards, they answered questions about how the subject felt (recognition) and why the subject
felt that way (recall). I recorded the scores for congruent and incongruent questions, and then compared those scores between men and women, and between
different age groups. I found that, overall, subjects did slightly better on both recall (+0.17 on average out of 8) and recognition (+0.43) questions when the
facial expression was congruent with the emotion expressed. Women had a higher average score (+0.8) than men, indicating that women may have greater
sensitivity to the feelings of others than men. In older subjects, the average score went down for incongruent facial, but actually increased for congruent
expressions. Perhaps as a person's memory becomes less reliable, they focus more on remembering faces than words. Human social interactions involve
multiple levels of communication, and they depend on our ability to recall the thoughts and feelings of others. Thus, studying how these different levels of
communication contribute to memory formation will help us to understand how our minds function in social evironments.
2010 - BE044
SOCIAL EXPERIENCE MODULATES DROSOPHILA AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR
Andrew Wooyoung Kim
Cedar Shoals High School, Athens, GA
Social experience is a natural occurrence in organisms and significantly impacts the creation of feelings, behavior, and overall, actions pursued. This joint
interaction is shown to have drastic effects on two major neuropsychological functions: aggression and learning. In humans, learning triggers brain growth
caused by distinct habitualizations of synaptic connections. However in fruit flies, learning from olfactory receptors stimulates mushroom body growth. In
contrast, social limitation decreases mushroom body size, leading to an increase in aggression. Previous studies have shown that socially inexperienced flies
express more aggressive behavior and possess smaller mushroom bodies compared to socially experienced flies. The purpose of my project is to determine
the effect of social experience on synaptic protein expression in Drosophila. Individuals have various experiences during their lifetime that impact subsequent
behaviors. I hypothesize that social experience influences aggressive behavior and gene expression in the brain. The amount of social experience
was limited through isolation at the egg, larva, and adult stage. Adult flies were observed for aggression, and dissected for brain observation under a confocal
microscope. Protein expression and brain size were measured. Brains were also used for Western blotting analysis. My data shows that social
experience significantly affects Drosophila aggressive behavior and synaptic protein expression of Bruchpilot in the brain. More experienced flies have bigger
mushroom bodies, and a higher expression of Bruchpilot, but do not display aggression. Therefore, the synaptic brain protein, Bruchpilot, can be used as a
potential indicator of gene expression in the brain associated with aggressive behavior.
Second Award of $350 - Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology
2010 - BE003
IMPROVING ADHD TREATMENT: A COMPARISON OF STIMULANT MEDICATION TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH ADHD, COMPUTERIZED
COGNITIVE TRAINING OF ATTENTION AND WORKING MEMORY, AND THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO
Kevin Michael Knight
Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, FL
This experiment was designed to test a new type of treatment for children with ADHD: Computerized cognitive training programs. Then, it was compared with a
very common and widely used treatment method, stimulant medication. The purpose was, therefore, to determine if these programs were beneficial alone,
and/or in addition to the medication. I hypothesized that the combination of medication and cognitive programs would produce the most improvement, whereas
the games by themselves would produce the least improvement. I also hypothesized that, at pre-treatment, the the group on medication would have more
severe ADHD symptoms on the Vanderbilt ADD Diagnostic Parent/Teacher Rating Scale (VADPRS/VADTRS). My results indicate that, on the
VADPRS, those in the medication group had more severe symptoms than those in the non-medication group. The medication group also had lower school
performance scores, and lower relationship scores than then non-medication group. In the VADTRS, those in the medication group had lower symptom scores
than those in the non-medication group. Those in the medication group still had lower school performance and relationship scores, however. In the online
diagnostic assessments, which were used to track cognitive function improvement, those in non-medication group improved slightly more in attention and
speed and flexibility and speed. Those in the medication group, however, showed more improvement across all the other tests, including working memory and
processing speed. t-Tests were also conducted. In conclusion, the data generally supports my hypothesis.
Second Award $1,500 - National Institute on Drug Abuse, Friends of NIDA, National Institutes of Health
2010 - BE032
YOU CATCH MORE FLIES WITH HONEY!
James Michael Kobylanski
Rome Catholic High School, Rome, NY
Overall, the purpose of "You Catch More Flies With Honey!" was to prioritize potential cyber security threats at Rome Catholic School, according to critical
infrastructure information. This was done in order to illuminate the areas that require more security protocols; security protocols in the form of intrusion
detection systems, or "Honey Pots." The main procedure of the experiment included collecting, interpreting, and graphing data harvested from every student at
Rome Catholic School in grades seven through twelve. The students selected one of five desirably titled folders that represented actual "High Risk Potential"
areas. They include: 1.) Student Grades 2.) Wi-Fi Passwords 3.) Student Disciplinary Records 4.) Lunch Account Codes 
 5.) School Finances According to procedure, the subjects then followed directions on a Microsoft Word document contained inside. The directions
instructed them to list their gender, age, and grade, as well as to provide a brief explanation that would allow insight to their specific folder selection. The data
was sorted and organized into a plethora of groups, including, but not limited to: Gender, Age, Grade, Folder Preference, or any combination of the previous.
The experiment concluded after graphing and interpreting the data. Succeeding in the original purpose by locating the areas of Rome Catholic cyber
infrastructure that required more security, it was found that "Student Grades" and "School Finances" would benefit in the greatest from added security
measures.
2010 - BE035
THE PREDICTABILITY AND ABSTRACTNESS OF LANGUAGE: A STUDY IN UNDERSTANDING AND USAGE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE THROUGH
PROBABILISTIC MODELING AND FREQUENCY
Revanth Kosaraju
The Harker School, San Jose, CA
Theories of language acquisition differ significantly in their treatment of the extent of abstractness versus predictability in language. This experiment seeks to
clarify the issue by studying an important related topic: quantitatively determining frequency of occurrence of a word or phrase in the English language. Four
probabilistic models for frequency were studied. Three widely used models (Markov, general construction, and independent probability) represented abstract
learning. A new chunk model which determines frequency based on the occurrence of entire sequences of words was developed by the researcher and was
used to represent prediction-and-error learning. To compare the theoretical predictions of each model with real-life language processes, 31 children between
the ages of 3 and 4 were tested for proficiency of repetition and comprehension using 28 pairs of high and low frequency expressions. The
repetition/comprehension accuracies and delay times were recorded. This data was analyzed for statistical significance and was subsequently compared with
each of the four probabilistic models individually. A standard t-test determined that repetition accuracy for the chunk model was the sole significant measure (tstat=2.18, p<0.05). Essentially, proficiency of repetition was greater for high-frequency expressions than for their lower frequency counterparts, but
comprehension was not affected by frequency. Through a formula of correspondence established by the researcher, the chunk model was deemed 73.5%
correspondent with the data from the child study and supported the hypothesis that language is not entirely abstract but contains prediction-and-error
processes. The chunk model can be used to identify lower-frequency phrases that children have trouble learning.
2010 - BE026
DO PEOPLE READ FASTER AND COMPREHEND BETTER WHEN THEY READ ON PAPER OR ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN?
Lucy Ann Kunzler
Orion Junior High School, Harrisville, UT
Electronic media are displacing paper media, particularly with teenagers and young adults. My question is: Do people read faster and comprehend better when
they read on paper or on the computer screen? My hypothesis is that those who read from the computer screen will read faster and comprehend better than
those who read from paper. I tested 146 people from the ages of twelve to fifteen years old at my school, Orion Jr. High. I performed the actual testing in a
computer classroom at the school; the testing went on in six different class periods in the same classroom. Seventy-three students read a passage from paper
while being timed. Another seventy-three students read the same passage, on the computer screen, while being timed, and then took the same comprehension
test. The average time to complete reading the selected passage for the person using the computer screen was one minute and thirty-three seconds. The
average time to complete reading the selected passage for the person using the paper was one minute and fifty-four seconds. The average comprehension
score for the students using the computer was 7.8, while the average score for students using paper was 6.8. In conclusion, my hypothesis was supported by
my data; people ages twelve to fifteen, do read faster and comprehend better when they read on the computer than when they read on paper.
2010 - BE310
THE EFFECTS OF AN ACTION VIDEO GAME ON REDUCING THE GENDER GAP IN GEOMETRY SCORES
Angela Lee, Klaudia Kluzinski,
Forest Hills High School, Forest Hills, NY
According to PISA, the Program for International Student Assessment, the gender gap in math is present at the age of fifteen in 49 of the 57 participating
countries. It is believed that geometry skills can be improved by increasing spatial ability. It has been found that playing action video games showed
improvement in spatial ability. In this experiment, Descent 2, a 3-dimensional video game, was used to determine whether playing action video games might
help increase students’ spatial ability and improve geometry scores. Scores from two groups of high school students (control and experimental) were compared
using a SAT based geometry pre- and post-test. We hypothesized that female students would score lower than males in the pre-test but would score the same
or higher in the post-test. We found that the experimental group increased their score by 8 points over the control group, suggesting that playing Descent 2
helped improve geometry scores. Both male and female students in the experimental group were found to increase their scores by 15 points; however, little or
no difference in scores was found between male and female students. These findings suggest that video games requiring students to improve their spatial
ability may improve geometry scores.
Fourth Award of $500 - Team Projects - Presented by Intel
2010 - BE007
WHO AM I? THE ROLE SITUATIONAL FACTORS PLAY WHEN UNDERSTANDING THE SELF-CONCEPT
Jean Louise Leighton
Winona Senior High School, Winona, MN
curate are personality tests? Object vely, this experiment attempted to manipulate the outcomes of a personality test through prompting self-percept
ions. These self-perceptions create frameworks through which one sees oneself in society. It was ypothesized that participants who reviewed Type Descrip
tions and predicted their resulting type before taking the test, would be influenced by the chosen identity. The experimental group received the personal
ity Type Descriptions and predicted which type reflected their individuality. Next, they completed the personality test. The contrl received the sections in revers
e order, the test followed by the Type Descriptions. The four tpes include: Artisan, Guardian, Idealist, and Rational. Data analyss measured how close a gro
up’s (experimental or control) results were to their chosen types. The data showed significance (p=0.0831) at a significance level of 0.1, an acceptable
level in Behavioral Sciences, between the experimental and control group’s discrepancies. The procedur
s were repeated with a second, more in-depth test. I
t was hypoth
sized that the same results would occur, but the second test had no significant difference (p=0.2362). One can conclude that situational f
actors can affect how one analyzes their personality in a basic test, but not in a more in-depth test. Basic tests are poor indicators of our self-concept. This study
is important to society because personality tests are similar to learning style tests used in the educational field. In the future, one could explore the perceived
self as compared to the desired self. 
2010 - BE309
EXAMINING TOP-DOWN CONTROL IN COGNITION AND PERCEPTION
Alina Lesnovskaya, Charlotte Kleiman,
Top-down methods of control are involved in various regions of the brain, including networks involved in the fundamental functions of cognition and perception.
The ability to reduce conflict during a Stroop task is known to be modulated by a preceding trial’s congruency type, characteristic of a cognitive mechanism
known as conflict adaptation, in which conflict is detected and subsequently control processes involved in conflict reduction are implemented. It is unknown how
this reduction of conflict is affected by the length of time between the provoking and present stimuli. Research previously published by others concerning
perceptual networks has also shown that when viewing ambiguous figures, perceptual switches occur due to competition among opposing interpretations. It
has recently been observed that there is a dominant interpretation of the stimulus, known as the “default perception”. The underlying neural mechanisms of the
default network and perceptual switching remain poorly understood. We determined the duration of time the conflict reduction effect lasts for and how image
priming affects the malleability of a default network. Our behavioral results suggest conflict reduction is consistently prevalent in all inter-trial interval durations
(mean current trial- previous trial reaction time across all intervals = -.028 ms), predicting a neurocircuitry responsible for this persistent modulation of control.
Results also suggest that the default perceptions of a bilateral, ambiguous figure were manipulated by image priming for approximately 48% of trials,
emphasizing the malleability of the complex but easily influenced visual processing system. Further research may continue to investigate the anatomic aspects
of these results using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Fourth Award of $500 - Team Projects - Presented by Intel
Team Tuition Scholarship Award in the amount of $4000 to be equally divided among the team members. Trip to London International Youth Forum - Office of
Naval Research on behalf of the United States Navy and Marine Corps
2010 - BE022
THE EFFECTS OF ISSUE-BASED AND CHARACTER-BASED ATTACK ADS ON INTENT TO VOTE AND PERCEPTIONS OF CANDIDATES
Aaron Michael Levine
While many studies have been conducted on how attack ads affect political candidates, this experiment is one of the first to test the comparative effects of
character-based and issue-based ads. One hundred eighty-four voters at a school budget election were given a brief description of two candidates in a state
senate race and randomly assigned to view a character-based ad, issue-based ad, or no ad at all. Participants then rated their intent to vote in the election and
for each of the two candidates on a 6-item, 7-point Likert-type scale. Participants also reported their perceptions of the candidates on 2, 5-item, 7-point bipolar
scales. One-way ANOVAS and Tukey-Kramer post hoc tests revealed that, contrary to the findings of previous studies, neither type of attack ad affected
perceptions of the sponsor. However, participants who viewed the issue-based ad reported more negative perceptions of the targeted candidate than members
of the control group, and people who viewed the character-based ad reported the most negative perceptions of all. Similarly, participants who viewed the
character-based attack reported the greatest intent to vote for the sponsor over the target, followed by participants who saw the issue-based ad. Interestingly,
both ads increased intent to vote in general with character-based ads again having a greater effect. The implications of these findings on future campaigns, the
role of negative advertising, and the potential for reform of the system are discussed.
Third Award of $500 for excellence in Behavioral
and Social Sciences. - Illinois Institute of Technology
2010 - BE015
PERCEPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Kelly Elizabeth Liles
Oak Grove High School, Hattiesburg, MS
This purpose of this study was to determine the effect environmental awareness has on environmental involvement of students ages of 14-18 at Oak Grove
High School. A total of 200 participants were given a survey about environmental issues. Once all surveys were completed, it was found that there was a
correlation between the perception of participants' environmental views and participants' involvement in activities that protect the environment. Further research
should be done to a broader sample size and political views and religious views could be obtained to determine if there is a correlation to environmental issues
or if it simply just a stereotype.
2010 - BE027
THE INVESTIGATION OF LATIN AMERICANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES: AN INTERRACIAL SOCIALIZATION STUDY OF AMERICAN AND
BRAZILIAN PRE-ADOLESCENTS
Camila Sorese Linneman
The changing demography of the United States and census estimations that minorities will become the majority by 2050 raises the question of how our nation’s
race relations will change along with it. One hypothesized outcome is termed Latin Americanization, which suggests that the United States will move from a biracial system (identifying people as either black or white) to a multi-racial system characteristic of some Latin American countries, such as Brazil. This study
aimed to identify if Latin Americanization is occurring in the United States by determining the racial groups pre-adolescents in the U.S. identify, and the effect
this has on the willingness to interact with said racial groups (social distance.) Both American and Brazilian pre-adolescents, aged 8-12, were given 20 pictures
of a boy and girl, whose only difference was skin color (shades 1-10, taken from the NIS Skin Color Scale.) Participants were asked to divide the pictures into
groups by race and to identify which racial group they belonged in. Subjects then completed the adapted Bogardus Social Distance Scale for each group they
created, quantifying how socially close they felt to each group. There was no significant difference between the number of racial groups identified by American
(M= 3.35) and Brazilian subjects (M=3.56) (t=-.831, p=.407). However, American subjects reported a higher social distance to other racial groups than Brazilian
subjects did, despite the similar identification of racial groups (f=.4089, p=.029). These results support a shift toward the multi-racial system characteristic of
Latin Americanization.
Second Award of $1,500 - Air Force Research Laboratory on behalf of the United States Air Force
2010 - BE308
GAINING INSIGHT INTO THE LIVES OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE A CHILD WITH "SPECIAL NEEDS": A NATIONWIDE STUDY OF "TYPICALLY
DEVELOPING" SIBLINGS
Tyler Hayden Lipperman, Elyse Blueglass, Morgan Blueglass
Yorktown High School, Yorktown Heights, NY
Countless therapies and efforts are dedicated to help children with “special needs”; however, very few therapies and efforts are dedicated to helping their
“typically developing” siblings. A survey was created measuring the behaviors, attitudes, and views of “typically developing” children towards their sibling with
“special needs.” Over 1,300 surveys were sent to members of sibling support/special needs groups in 40 states across the nation. Some of the most significant
findings are as follows. If children considered themselves educated on their siblings disability, they were more likely to report “understanding” of the limitations
their sibling has a result of their disability (r = .374, p < .01). If children are asked to share the responsibility of taking care of their sibling with “special needs”,
they reported (far more often) that they feel "loving" and "understanding" towards their sibling with “special needs” (r = .35, p < .01). Those children whose
parents did not have a discussion with them regarding who will be the primary guardian of the sibling with “special needs” in the future, often reported
themselves as afraid about the situation more than those who did have a conversation about it (r = -.274, p < .01). These findings will hopefully give parents a
better understanding of how siblings of a child with “special needs” may feel and the dynamics involved in those feelings. Future research will focus on adults
who grew up with a sibling with “special needs” to study what changes and/or similarities are reported by adults in comparison with the findings of this study.
Third Award of $1,000 - Team Projects - Presented by Intel
2010 - BE036
SMART TV
Hamza Farouk Mallah
Iman High School, Saida, South, LEBANON
All parents ask their children not to sit near the TV because they are afraid of the TV to harm their kids Eyes. But most of the time parents can’t be always
around the children to force en not to sit near it. What I thought of is that why I don’t create a device which detects the position of the child if he is near
the TV. So when the child approach the TV the movie which being played will be paused and an image will appear to ask the child to step away from the TV
and sit Back, When he does so the movie will continue playing. The purpose of the project is to help parents monitor their children and give them a
safe way to let their children watch TV without being afraid the children coming near the TV.
2010 - BE305
WAKE UP TO ENVIRONMENT: METHODOLOGY PRACTICE IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTE
Marina Maciel Marques, Aline Ribeiro Pinho, Mayara Zayra Frando Araujo
Colegio Estadual Liceu de Maracanau, Maracanau, BRASIL
It is known that among the several global environmental problems, the solid waste is a concerning factor that is related to us. It is still a challenge deal with the
problem of production and disposal of waste in the educational process, because the environmental education is still handled in a theoretical and punctual way.
This project aims to develop environmental education practices which focus on a solid waste management, involving the community in order to influence it and
make it aware that local actions bring global consequences. We divide the actions in workshops: waste collection, recycling and paper production of
biodegradable inks. Each workshop consists of a cluster of initiatives that involve theoretical and environmental, social, educational and scientific practical
activities. The workshops showed significant results at world level, addressing issues such as water, energy expenditure and release of CO2. We highlight the
following results: the water can be reused in the process of recycling paper avoiding its waste, in relation to the energy wasted can be seen that for three
hundred sheets of paper from virgin fiber is consumed power 22.8 kW / h while for the manufacture of recycled papers will be spent 2.4 kW / h of energy. The
process of recycling paper also contributes to reducing the release of CO2 (gas causing the greenhouse effect) that is a global problem. These results reveal a
working foundation with the principles of sustainability, in other words, economically viable, ecologically correct and socially just.
2010 - BE319
HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION ABOUT ARCHEOLOGICAL REMAINS FOUND AT "CALERA DE LAS HUERFANAS"
Andrea Martinez Genes, Angelica Gonzalez,
Liceo Numero 2, Carmelo, Colonia, URUGUAY
The present work of investigation aimed at getting historical information for the analysis of archeological pieces, taken from diggings made at "Calera de Las
Huérfanas"(Jesuit estancia of the century XVIII). The archeological sites are real files of materials that once investigated may provide with new data or
complement the one already known from written sources. Last year`s work consisted of washing,classifying and arranging the archeological pieces
according to their digging and their materials, begin these osseous pieces, metal , china, pottery or glass. This year, the work consisted of assembling
and dating materials from the archeological site from where it was taken. Finally,from this assembling and its analysis the authors have tried to extract
information about the origin of these materials. This information added new data about the way of life the relationships of the people in this" hacienda". 
 The important quantity of pottery Portuguese objects of every day use found here, let the investigators state that the commercial trade between Jesuits
ande their Portuguese enemies from Colonia del Sacramento was very common. The slaves in the small and poor constructions where people lived used
braziers and cooking utensils made of thick pottery.
2010 - BE303
CONSTRUCTION AND VALIDATION OF AN INSTRUMENT TO MEASURE ATTITUDES OF PARENTS OF TEENAGERS TOWARD REGGAETON
Isamar Mayol-Calderon, Coral M. Reyes-Ortiz,
Episcopal Cathedral School, San Juan, PUERTO RICO
Reggaeton has become a very popular genre among children and adolescents. Allegedly, too much exposure to it may lead to three fundamentals problems:
uncontrolled sexuality, violence and drugs. Many times, this situation causes clashes in the relationships between parents and teenagers and between
generations. The purpose of this project was to construct and validate an instrument to meassure parents of teenagers attitudes toward reggaeton, to facilitate
future investigation in this area. This goal was fully achieved. A pool of 64 items, where validated. The instrument was then constituted by 47 items which were
administered to 100 parents of teenagers. After administering the sample,the discriminatory capacity of the items was evaluated through the Biserial Correlation
index. The new version of the instrument was composed of 32 items. The final form of the instrument otained an internal consistency coefficient Alpha of
Cronbach of .93. This is considered a good reliability index. The discriminatory power of the questionnarie was assessed by the Delta of Ferguson Formula,
were a coefficient of .98 was obtained. This means that the instrument discriminates well between different levels in the attitudes measured. An independentsamples t-test was conducted to compare the mean scores for mothers and fathers. There was no significant difference in their attitudes toward reggaeton. We
concluded that the instrument demonstrated a high level of reliability, validity and discriminatory power, providing a solid base for futures studies.
2010 - BE031
WORKING MEMORY SPAN AND ITS CORRELATION TO GENDER, GPA, SLEEP AND OTHER FACTORS
Kathryn Rose McClintic
Cedarcrest High School, Duvall, WA
This study explores the correlation between working memory span and differences in gender, sleep, he

Behavioral Science

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