LAB REPORT –
EFFECTS OF READING COMPREHENSION ON SQUIRREL BEHAVIOR
Final notes: 6/8/2007

Hypothesis: If given enough information, Oberlin's squirrel population will provide small levels of support to the institution since it helps both others and themselves. Many will do so before June is over.

Method: Squirrel-sized signs were placed in and around Tappan Square, with the following phrases distributed equally across all signs:

• You are not alone: thousands of squirrels are reading this message. Also at least one chipmunk – you can ignore him.
• Small gifts matter a lot: the participation rate counts how many give, not how much they give.
• Squirrels who previously resided in Tappan provided many of the nuts you've eaten this year.
• You can direct your gift just about anywhere.
• Squeak squeak tch-tch-tch [N.b. this was the control wording]

In an initial effort to test the impact of technology on the subjects, one squirrel was provided with a laptop computer to which e-versions of the signs were sent.

Equipment: Squirrel-sized signs; laptop computer; questionnaires; tiny battering ram for hostile squirrel takeover of Cox; no one else but you read this entire sentence.

Procedure: The signs were left up for approximately four months. Two pamphlets and a series of videos were circulated, reinforcing and expanding on the signage (see additional information here). A series of multiple choice questions were then presented to the squirrels (see results below), and they were given a link to the secure donation form and a gentle reminder that gifts needed to be received by June 30 to count for this fiscal year.

Exit interviews were attempted with three of the squirrels to try and determine broader implications for the data collected. The intern is healing quite well from the bites – thank you to everyone who sent cards.

Results: Faced with some of the most gnawing questions out there, the squirrels rose to the challenge and answered with near perfect accuracy (P<.05).* A sampling of questions and their answers:

1. How much of a typical school year, at Oberlin or at other small colleges, is paid for by tuition?
A) 100% B) 80% C) 55% D) acorn.

2. What is the effect of a higher alumni giving rate?
A) Easier for faculty to get research grants B) Wealthier alums encouraged to give more
C) Improved USNews ranking D) All of the above.

3. How many different funds can one give to at Oberlin?
A) one B) over 200 C) one dozen D) one, but luckily it supports coat grooming.

*Two squirrels turned tail on the project and did not complete the questionnaire.

Conclusion: While one hates to extrapolate between species, the level of understanding reached by the squirrels is very heartening for Oberlin overall. For example, if half of Oberlin's young alumni made a gift of any size by June 30, the alumni giving rate would jump nearly ten points. Were that same group to give $20 each (which can conveniently be spread over multiple months) it would raise over $70,000 this year for scholarships and more. Our lab tech has been going nuts trying to write a closing line to this, so we'll just sign off now.

Until next year,

OCCASR Faculty, Staff, and Students