An EaRitating Task

Hypothesis:

I predict that the right ear would be more dominant than the left ear, because studies have shown that the left hemisphere controls the processing of verbal information (Hiscock and Kinsbourne 2011). In general, the functions of the left side of the body are controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain, and the right side of the body is controlled by the left hemisphere (Melina 2011). Therefore, if functions of the right ear are controlled by the left hemisphere, then more attention will be paid to information that travels through the right ear than the left ear.

​

Experimental Design:

​(1) Variables

Independent Variable:  the presentation of different words to the right and left ear

Dependent Variable:  the ability to correctly state the words that have been presented

Controlled Variables:  the volume at which the recording is played, the number of words that each participant is presented with, and the length of time after each word is played to ensure that each participant receives the same amount of time to write down the word

 

(2) Samples/Groups

Experimental Groups:

Group A: participants were given a dichotic listening task, a recording of different words being played into the left and right ear

Group B: participants were given the same dichotic listening task, but the left and right earbuds of the headphones are switched

Control Groups: participants listened to a recording that played the same word in both the right and left ear