Walk the Line Experiment

Introduction
Can humans really not walk in a straight line? It is said that without visual markers
humans cannot walk in a straight line. The goal of this experiment is to prove that this hypothesis
is true. We are going to test this hypothesis with the following procedure:
Procedure
1. First we gather outside on the soccer field to begin testing.
2. We would have our participant start at the closest side of the field and to the right, if your
looking at the field from the school.
3. One of the experimenters will stand with the participant while the other stands at the
closest side of the field, but to the left, if your looking at the field from the school.
4. We will explain to the participant that all they have to try to do is walk towards the other
experiment. Also we will explain they will be blindfolded and if we tap the or they feel a
tap on the shoulder they should stop walking.
5. Then we will proceed to blindfold them with a black bandanna and let them start to walk
with an experimenter following close behind to tap them to let them know to stop.
6. Once they start to veer off course we would stop them and measure the distance from the
start.
7. We would use the spray painted lines of the soccer field to tell if they veer off. (We
would be lenient if they are close to the line, as long as the white line is underneath one
foot or in between their legs)
Calculations
Equations:
𝛴𝑥
Sample Mean = 𝑛

𝛴(𝑥−𝑥̅ )2
Sample St. Deviation = √ 𝑛−1

Critical Value = 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑇(𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎, 𝑛 − 1)

𝑡𝑐 𝑆
Margin of Error = √𝑛

Confidence interval = (𝐸 − 𝑥̅ , 𝐸 + 𝑥̅ )
 472.2083
Sample Mean = = 15.74027778 ft.
30

Sample St. Deviation = 7.712847648 ft.

Critical Value = 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑇(.975, 29) = 2.04522961
2.04522961 𝑖𝑛.∗7.712847648 𝑓𝑡.
Margin of Error = = 2.880024598 ft.
√30

Confidence Interval = (12.86025 ft., 18.6203 ft.)

Conclusion
In conclusion we found that to be 95% confident students
could walk between 13 ft. and 19ft while blindfolded. For the
experiment we tested 30 students so that our calculations would be more accurate and give a
result that would be more accurate for a population. To improve upon future test we would use
ear plugs or other ear protection so that the participants do not have sound as a reference either.
We would also run the experiment longer letting the participant wonder for a longer time to see
the result. In conclusion participants were able to walk 13 to 19 feet without veering off course.