07 11 2007 - Study 2 (New)

Study 2: Measuring Hamsters' Willingness to Play ML

A. DUARATION:

1 month

B. SUBJECT:

1. Roborovskii group
-Experimental group: Meena and J
-Control group: M

2.Winter White group
-Experimental group: E
-Control group: D

•Experimental group has been exposed to ML game and continue playing the game during testing period.
•Control group: has not been and will not be exposed to ML game.

C. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

There are two directions:

1. Compare 1st week and 4th week data
2. Compare experimental and control group’s results.

D. PROCEDURE:

• Divide the structure into 2 rooms.
• Room 1: food + moving arm/the bait
• Room 2: food
• The food is put in both rooms to ensure that hamster’s choice is not due to its preference towards food.
• Moving actuators: both sides
• Connect the cage to the structure using a T-shaped tunnel in which 2 openings lead to the 2 rooms
• Record ratio of times hamster choose room 1/room 2 during 30 mins

E. RESULTS:

• The hamsters went into each room equal times.
• This is a bit misleading as they were curious of their surroundings. They also liked to tunnel through the divider tunnel and the attractor.
• Noticed that they took almost all the seeds in the attractor room but none or very few from Room 2.

F. NEW IMPROVED METHOD

• To cover the other room opening once they choose which room to enter.
• A wheel will be put in both rooms. This is will also show whether the hamsters prefer to play ML than their normal wheel run in their cages.