Soda+taste+test!

**  Whether or not shoppers are biased when buying soda? ** **  Mountain Lightning- Serving size-12 oz- Calories-120-Total Fat-0g-  ****  -0g  **
 * Problem: Are people biased when they are shopping for sodas?  **
 * Intro: There are a lot of different kinds of soda brands. What kind is your favorite? Why did you choose that one? I have often wondered this and I am going to check it out with a taste test! For my test I’m using Mountain Dew and its ‘copier’ Mountain lightning, and Dr. Pepper and its ‘copier’ Dr. K.  **
 * Background Info: Mountain Dew- Serving size-12 oz-Calories-170-Total Fat-0g-Carbs-46g-Protein-0g  **
 * Dr. Pepper-Serving size-12 oz-Calories-120-Total Fat-0g-Carbs-38g-Protein **

Dr. Thunder- Serving size-12oz-Calories-100-Total Fat-0g-Carbs-27g-Protein-0gCarbs-31g-Protein-0g
 * Hypothesis: The testers will choose the more ‘popular’ brand but will like the other ‘less popular’ brand.  **
 * Materials: Small cups, Mountain Dew soda, Mountain Lightning soda, Dr. Pepper soda, Dr. Thunder soda, non-buttered popcorn with salt, paper, bowl for popcorn, 5 boys, and 5 girls, and a blind fold.  **
 * Boys- Matt, Zach, Michael, Trey B., Trey W.   **
 * Girls-Victoria, Rachel, Aubrey, Caylee, Ma ry n   **
 * Procedure:  **
 * 1: Set up materials (pour soda in cups, make popcorn, ect.)  **
 * 2:Ask tester whether they would buy Mountain Dew or Mountain Lightning, then write down results.  **
 * 3:Ask tester whether they would buy Dr. Pepper or Dr. Thunder, then write down results.  **
 * 4: Have tester taste either Mountain Dew or Mountain Lightning (my random choice).  **
 * 5: Have tester eat a few pops of popcorn.  **
 * 6: Have tester taste Mountain Dew or Lightning (my random choice).   **
 * 7:Ask tester which one tasted better and write down results.  **
 * 8:Have same tester taste either Dr. Pepper or Dr. Thunder.  **
 * 9:Have tester eat a few pops of popcorn.  **
 * 10:Have tester taste either Dr. Pepper or Dr. Thunde r . **
 * 11:Ask tester which one tasted better and write down results.  **
 * 12:Repeat test with each tester.   **
 * Independent Variable: Name brand soda and off brand soda.  **
 * Dependent Variable: The type of soda they choose.  **
 * Controlled Variable: Everything will be the same so it’s fair.   **
 * Result: 1.)Victoria-Mountain Dew- Mountain Dew-Dr.Pepper-Dr.Thunder  **
 * 2.)Aubree-Mountain Dew-Mountain Lightning-Dr.Pepper-Dr.Thunder  **
 * 3.)Rachel-Mountain Dew-Mountain Dew-Dr.Pepper- Dr. Thunde r **
 * 4.)Trey W.-Mountain Lightning-Mountain Lightning-Dr.Pepper-Dr.Pepper  **
 * 5.)Matt-Mountain Dew- Mountain Lightning- Dr. Pepper- Dr.Thunder  **
 * 6.)Trey B.-Mountain Dew- Mountain Dew- Dr. Pepper- Dr. Thunder  **
 * 7.)Caylee- Mountain Dew- Mountain Lightning- Dr. Pepper- Dr. Thunder  **
 * 8.)Zach- Mountain Dew- Mountain Dew- Dr. Pepper- Dr. Thunder  **
 * 9.)Michael- Mountain Dew- Mountain Lightning- Dr. Pepper- Dr. Thunder  **
 * 10.)Andi D.- Mountain Dew- Mountain Dew- Dr. Pepper- Dr. Thunder   **
 * Conclusion: I observed that when it came to decide which was best they matched their before hand choice with the after choice mostly with the Mountain Dew and Mountain Lightning, which didn’t surprise me because the Mountain Dew and Mountain Lightning nutrients facts prove that those two sodas are really different in the ingredients area. So they would be able to tell the difference in taste. More people got it right than they got it wrong (6:4) but it was a close call. As for the Dr. Pepper and Dr. Thunder, they are more alike in the nutrients facts and that makes it harder to tell the difference but in the end most people said they would have bought Dr. Pepper before they would buy Dr. Thunder but actually liked the Dr. Thunder better. Hmmm? This could be that the Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper are the more ‘popular’ brand and people buy it for that reason. So just because a soda brand is the cheaper kind doesn’t mean it taste any worse than the other kind.   **
 * Major Observation: My testers were more focused on getting it right than being truthful and telling which one taste better.  **
 * Possible Applicant: Next time you go to buy soda, you might think twice . **
 * Possible Causes of Error: Testers not being truthful, soda amount in cups not being the same, one of the testers was not wearing the blind fold at her time.   **
 * Further Research: Some further research could be which types of sodas they liked better, Mountain Dew and Mountain Lightning vs. Dr. Pepper and Dr. Thunder. Which did they like out of them all?  **
 * Time Spent: 35 min. Sep. 15, 35 min Sep. 16, 20 min Sep. 17, 35 min Sep. 28, 35 min Sep. 29, 30 min Oct. 1, 30 min Oct. 12, 30 min Oct. 13,  **
 * Acknowledgements: Mrs. Riffel! You’re a wonderful teacher ! **
 * This experiment was constructed by Taylor Wood  **