Make It Happen : March 2006

Better Bowling Through Listening

Subtitle: An outline by Curt Merrill for a joint research venture between North laboratories and Make It Happen labs, a division of Urban Honking

ABSTRACT

Studies have shown the practice of subliminal suggestion to have little or no effect. However, other observations suggest that our unconscious, shaped by life experience, is more effective than our conscious mind at making important decisions and performing in "clutch" moments. This project aims to test the effectiveness of subliminal suggestion.

HYPOTHESIS

Can listening to an audio cassette containing subliminal suggestions improve bowling performace? Because bowling, like many other activities is a combination of physical and mental acumen, I expect a slight improvement in bowling scores to be attributable to participating in a subliminal program.

MATERIALS

"Bowling: Subliminal Tape Program" cassette
Various bowling establishments and equipment
Audio/Visual recording equipment to document progress

PROCEDURE

Stage 1: Baseline
Two subjects will bowl a standard three-game series according to Professional Bowling Association (PBA) rules. Subjects will use house equipment (balls and shoes) based on their comfort level. The scores from each game will be added together to form the baseline score for each subject (900-point maximum). The baseline games will be played concurrently at the same venue. This will take place during the week of March 27 while both subjects are in Las Vegas, Nevada, host of the PBA West Region doubles tournament.

Stage 2: Calibration
Each subject will bowl a three-game series at the venue of their choice once a week for four weeks.

Stage 3: Testing
After the final series of Stage 2, Subject A will begin listening to the subliminal program cassette for one hour each day. Both subjects will continue to bowl a three-game series each week for four weeks.

DATA

Subjects will provide the following data for each three-game series rolled
- Bowling Venue
- Lane Number
- Scores of individual games
- Total score for three game series
- Weight of ball(s) used
- Size of shoes worn
- Photo of shoes worn
- Time of first ball rolled
- Time of final ball rolled
- Number and type of beers consumed on game day (ending after final ball is rolled)
- Number and identification of bowlers accompanying subject
- Photographic documentation of score sheet

VARIABLES

There are many factors that may affect the subjects' performance.

Equipment:
The calibration period will allow subjects to find the most ideal equipment available. Though it will be impossible to use the exact same ball and shoes for each game, the subjects will naturally choose equipment that most closely re-creates their ideal equipment choices. The effect of equipment will therefore be minimal.

Alcohol consumption:
The effects of alcohol consumption on physical dexterity are widely known. However, the fraternal atmosphere of amateur bowling requires moderate levels of beer consumption. The subjects will effort to consume consistent amounts of beer on performance days in order to minimize the variability of the effects of alcohol consumption. Subjects are prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages other than beer on performance days.

Varying lane conditions:
It will be nearly impossible to play each game on the same lane of the same venue. Subjects will bowl only at venues that also host league bowling events, operating under the assumption that league organizers will maintain their lanes according to consistent guidelines. Although minor variations may still appear, a skilled bowler must learn to adapt to these varying lane conditions as part of the game, therefore any effects due to condition variation are beyond the scope of this experiment.

Bowling subliminal program:
This is the key variable for this experiment. One subject will listen to the cassette according to the directions and the other will bowl without the aid of the auditory subliminal messages.

ANALYSIS

Once the data has been collected, researchers at North laboratories will examine the records kept by the subjects and attempt to determine whether or not the subliminal audio program was effective. Since the two subjects may not have the same level of bowling acumen, the net change in scores will be considered in order to compare the levels of improvement achieved by each subject.

BUDGET ESTIMATE

Bowling: $135 (3 games per week for 9 weeks per subject at $2.50 per game)
Shoe rental: $36 (9 sessions per subject at $2 per session)
Beer: $189 (3 beers per subject per week at $3.50 per beer)

Total: $360

SOURCES

Gladwell, Malcom. "Blink." New York City: Little, Brown and Company, 2005.
"Bowling Rules." Professional Bowling Association,
http://www.pba.com/resources/basics/bowling101.asp
"Subliminal message." Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation, 12 March 2006.

UPDATE: Results