Speed+of+eating+influence+Research

Nicole Yang Health 12 **10/29/11 **
 * < Speed of eating influence Research > **

**//Abstract //** The purpose of this experiment is to count one’s forks per minute and determine whether one can influence eating speed of others. I set up this experiment in a cafeteria during the lunch. I compared my speed of eating to four people's speed of eating. I asked someone to monitor or count other's folks per minute. There were two boys and two girls who were targets of this experiment. They had the same foods since texture or taste of foods may affect peoples' speed of eating. Their age range was fifteen through nineteen. One time, I ate Chili Mac with the speed of 15 forks per minute, and a person who monitors counted how many forks per minute other person who ate next to me had. Another time, I ate Chili Mac withthe speed of 9 forks per minute, and a person who monitors counted how many forks per minute another person who ate next to me had. Speed eater's standard speed of eating was at least 15 forks per minute. People who eat less than 15 folks per minute regard as slow eaters. I came to the conclusion that one's speed of eating tend to get affected by eating speed of others who sat close to he or she while eating because of the psychological effect which is called 'Crowd Psychology'.

**//Background //**

The purpose of this experiment is to know whether one's forks per minute (speed of eating) affects others' speed of eating or not. (Related to crowd psychology)
 * Purpose**

If one eats for the certain speed, then others who sat close to that person will get influence on speed of eating, because people easily follow others' behaviors.
 * Hypothesis **

Crowd Psychology is that individual can change his or her behavior along with the behavior of large group or others' behaviors. "What Is Crowd Psychology?" //WiseGEEK: Clear Answers for Common Questions//. Web. 21 Jan. 2012. .
 * Research **

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Variables ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> Independent: Four people I tested <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Constant: Type of food <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Dependent: Speed of eating of four people

- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Four people for a test - <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Same kind of food ( chili mac) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">- Timer <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">-A person who monitors others' folks per minute
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Requirement **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Procedure **

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">1) Seat on the same table with four people and start to eat. Make sure foods that people eat are the same foods since texture or taste of foods may affect peoples' speed of eating. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">2) Eat fast for fifteen forks per minute which is a standard of fast eater in this experiment. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">3) Measure eating speed of a person 1 as you count forks per minute of that person by using a person who will monitor <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> others' folks per minute. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">4) For the second trial, eat slowly for seven forks per minute. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">5) Measure eating speed of a person 2 as you count forks per minute of that person <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">by using a person who will monitor others' folks per minute.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">6) Repeat this trial and record others' forks per minute (eating speed of others).

**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 24px;">Results //**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">< Forks per minute Table > **
 * || <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">Forks per minute ||
 * <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">Person 1 || <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">16 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">Person 2 || <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">18 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">Person 3 || <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">7 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">Person 4 || <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 16px;">9 ||



**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Conclusion **

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">My hypothesis was right since people who sat next to me ate fast when I ate fast for fifteen forks per minute. I also ate slowly for seven forks per minute, and a people who sat next to me ate slow. Therefore, People I tested did get affected by my speed of eating. My group of subjects was two girls and two boys who were in the age range of fifteen through nineteen. The table data and graph based on my trials show that people get influence by the eating speed of others. As people watch others’ speeds of eating, most people think that they should follow along speed of eating of others. People have emotional and psychological tendency to follow other’s behaviors. According to the research, this tendency is called 'Crowd Psychology'. In next experiment, based on my limited study, I should have more people(subject) to be tested so that I can get more accurate data to support my hypothesis.