Why is Gingypoo on the Laptop

Context

For those who are cat-owners, the above image will resonate.

Yes, our kitties – like my friend Janie’s beloved Gingypoo pictured here – just love to interrupt our Zoom calls by curling up on our laptops.

I’ve heard two different hypotheses to explain why cats keep clawing for our laptops:

Hypothesis A: The cats are seeking the laptops’ warmth.

Hypothesis B: The cats are seeking their owners’ attention.

Task

Part A: Design an experiment to determine whether hypothesis (a) or (b) better accounts for the cat’s behavior. Explain how your experimental design helps you to determine whether (a) or (b) is the stronger hypothesis. Note the strengths and limitations of your design.

Part B: To what extent do you think you can assess the strength of each hypothesis through observation, rather than experimentation? If you were to observe Gingypoo’s behavior to assess the two hypotheses, what might you look for?

Extensions

Can you imagine additional hypotheses for the Gingypoo’s behavior? How would you adjust your response to part A and B to test your additional hypothesis?

Grade Levels