popcorn: A 2x4 experiment to evaluate popcorn preparation.

In Rlab: Functions and Datasets Required for ST370 Class

A 2x4 experiment to evaluate popcorn preparation.

Description

The popcorn data frame has 16 rows and 6 columns. Four factors are varied to see what produces the largest volume of popcorn. The order that the observations were made is in the column order.

Format

A data frame with 16 observations on the following 5 variables.

brand

: brand of popcorn used (Orville Reddenbach or Jolly Time)

temp

: temperature of oil (hot or cold)

quantity

: quantity of oil used (3 Tsp or 1 Tsp)

shake

: whether the pan was shaken (yes or no)

volume

: volume of popcorn produced

Source

This experiment was designed and carried out by Stan Spencer for the NCSU statistics class ST516. Here is an excerpt of his report:

INTRODUCTION

Popcorn has always been a crucial element of sustenance in my life and I've always wondered what effects certain factors have in the making of a good batch. Now, having acquired some of the basic tools of statistical experimentation I have been able to optimize my frequent ritual of popping popcorn as well as understand exactly how much of an effect these factors have on the desired outcome. The purpose of the experiment was to optimize the factors involved for the maximum volume of popcorn. I focused on stovetop popping and didn't look at microwave or air-pop methods.

DESIGN AND TEST CONDITIONS

I chose the two major popcorn brands with the motive of trying to prove if Orville's claims are true. The second factor refers to the temperature of the oil at the time the popcorn was put in the pan. For the experiments requiring cold oil I added the popcorn to the oil before putting the pan on the stove. For the hot oil treatments I let it heat for 20 seconds before adding the popcorn. The quantity of oil factor required either one or three tablespoons. The last factor I thought was important was to either shake or not shake the pan during cooking. The conditions of the test that were kept constant for each treatment are: 1/2 cup of popcorn was used, the pan was cooled and washed between treatments, the gas flame was set to a constant, and the same pan and oil type were used for each treatment. The volume was measured with a measuring cup with units in mL.

Rlab documentation built on May 5, 2022, 1:05 a.m.