Science Fair Presentation:

Rock, Paper, Scissors

LIZARD, SPOCK!!!!!!!!

BY MRS. FLYTE AND DR. COOPER

Research Notes

Rock, paper, scissors is a game of chance, where people, in

partners, use hand gestures to compete (throws)

Rock is the most common 1st throw (males use more than females)

Scissors is the least common throw of all (less than 30%)

In games between people who know each other, 75% of throws will

tie

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to see if there is a relationship between adding characters (lizard and Spock) and the potential outcomes in the game of “Rock, Paper, Scissors”.

The game was played with two people, who completed 50 “throws,” using all 5 types (rock, paper, scissors, lizard, and Spock)

Spock was thrown the most, while scissors was thrown the least.

Adding characters did change the outcome significantly, as each character had only a 20% chance of being “thrown”, but the actual outcomes were not equal.

Problem Question

What is the effect of introducing new

characters, Spock and Lizard, on the

outcomes in the Rock, Paper, Scissors game?

Hypothesis

If new characters, Spock and Lizard, are

introduced to the traditional “Rock, Paper, Scissors”

game, then “Rock” will be thrown much less than

75% of the time, because research shows that more

variables change probability (Evans, “Probability and Statistics

2010).

Materials & Procedures

MATERIALS

Paper and pencil

Two male subjects, 13 years old

Computer with Excel software to analyze data percentages

Room without distractions

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock rule sheet (https://www.threadless.com/designs/rock_paper_scissors_lizard_spock )

PROCEDURES

Gather materials

Have subjects sign release forms for participation in human study

Have subjects read rules and make sure they are understood

Have subjects throw 50 times, and record outcomes as tally marks

Graph data, and determine percentages of each throw

Data Table

Throw Types Number of Throws Made

Rock 8

Paper 7

Scissors 5

Lizard 9

Spock 21

THE EFFECT OF INTRODUCING “LIZARD AND SPOCK” CHARACTERS INTO

THE “ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS” GAME

Graph

16%

14%

10%

18%

42%Rock

Paper

Scissors

Lizard

Spock

THE EFFECT OF INTRODUCING “LIZARD AND SPOCK”

CHARACTERS INTO THE “ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS” GAME

Analysis/

Results

Spock was thrown the most, 21/50 times

Scissors was still the least popular throw, 5/50 times

A pattern seemed to show that the new characters were thrown more often than older ones

The probable mean of throws for each character should be 10 times (20% of all throws)

Lizard was close to the mean probability, but Spock was thrown more than twice the expected probability.

Conclusion

Purpose: to determine the effect of adding characters to “Rock,

Paper, Scissors

Research states…

The hypothesis was supported, because……

Possible errors include…..

The results make sense because…..

Future Research

Important scientific principals include….

People who _______________ would be interested in this study,

because___________________

Ideas for future research: Adding more colors to the Twister game,

adding themed categories to Apples to Apples game…….

Bibliography

(4+ bullets in MLA format)