Oak Forest HS Students Survey School to Learn Scientific Method

Oak Forest High School student Cody Toppen offers a lollipop reward for answering his and partner Alyssa Velazquez’s survey question in the Social Psychology Survey Fair: “Who is your favorite animated character?” If you were answering their survey, you would have the choice of answering Bart Simpson, Scooby Doo, Sponge Bob Squarepants, Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, or Curious George. The Social Psychology Survey Fair was hosted by OFHS teachers Jodie Hausken and Mike Daluga. Over one-third of Oak Forest High School’s population cycled through the school's IMC to attend the popular Social Psychology Survey Fair. In the social psychology survey fair, both Hausken and Daluga’s students are learning how to set up psychology research in the form of surveys and analyze the raw data that they get. The questions that students asked were very enjoyable and caused many heated discussions amongst students, who one could hear talking about the topics included on the surveys as they left. Among the questions asked this year were: Which is the Droid You’re After? Sarah Florek featured the famous Star Wars droids C3PO, R2D2, BB-80 and MSE-6 on her poster for students to choose before answering. Sarah Boblink and Yessenia Chavez posed the question: M&Ms vs. Skittles? Students taste tested the candies and then marked on the survey their favorite candy. Chavez predicted that “the answer might depend on the energy level or the mood” of the survey respondent to see how they answered. She postulated that guys might choose Skittles more because that provides more instant energy. Some students stuck to pop culture topics such as the survey that asked: Marvel or DC? OFHS Student Alex Nieszel said, “Marvel definitely. It is because Marvel has the Avengers and they are more diverse. Plus, you can’t go wrong with Deadpool.” Emily Marcheschi and Breanne Horvath asked: Which Hogwart's House do You Belong In? Students were given the choice between Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. Breanne said, “I’m definitely in Ravenclaw!” A popular topic of the surveys was television and several surveys asked questions about Stranger Things, such as the survey by Nkosi Davis, Elizabeth Tecaxco and Christina Halstead. They asked students: Stranger Things Vs. Riverdale: Which do you prefer? Students debated the merits of each show before making up their minds. According to OFHS teacher Jodie Hausken, the purpose of the administration of the surveys is, “to reinforce that psychology is, in fact, a science. Students have been using the scientific method for years but [in these surveys], they are using it in a different context.” Following the event, students analyzed their data and presented their research to the class.