Observations and results
Were more of your volunteers right-handed than left-handed? If a person was right-handed, did they usually also use their right foot, eye and ear?
You probably already know that most people are right-handed. In fact, roughly 70 to 90 percent of people are right-handed. From this activity, you probably saw that most people who are right-handed are also right-sided overall. That is, they mostly prefer to use their right foot, eye, and ear as well. But there are certainly exceptions, particularly with eyes and ears—a right-handed person may prefer using their right foot and right ear, but prefer their left eye over their right one. Similarly, a right-handed person may prefer their right foot and eye, but prefer their left ear. You may have seen a similar trend with left-handed people. Because the majority of people who are right-handed are also right-footed, in some cases where a person writes with their right hand but prefers to use their left foot, they may have been predisposed to being left-handed but were raised to use their right hand.
Overall, whereas the vast majority of the global population is right-handed, it's thought that a smaller percentage is right-footed, an even smaller percentage is right-eyed, and yet an even smaller percentage is right-eared (perhaps a little over half), but this trend is unlikely to be visible using only five volunteers. Why might people have a weaker preference for an eye or ear that matches their dominant side? Perhaps one ear or eye is stronger than the other.
More to explore
Neuroscience for Kids, from Eric H. Chudler, University of Washington in Seattle
Science Experiments for Kids: Test Your Dominant Side, from Science Kids
What Does Handedness Have to Do with Brain Lateralization?, from M. K. Holder, Indiana University Bloomington
Are You Left- or Right-Sided?, from Science Buddies
This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies
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7 Comments
Add CommentRight handed. Tried left when learning to write, but it was hopeless. Type with both hands, f&j.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLeft eared (phone).
Left eyed (astronomy), despite slightly better right eye clarity. Finder scope is positioned for right eye. Not so good.
Left footed (skate boarding, etc.).
Does it mean anything? Doubt it, but who knows?
Yes, it means that you shouldn't text while skateboarding... Stargazing a possibility.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRight-handed, left-footed, left-eyed, right-eared. I'm in balance. If I wasn't an atheist, I claim it was because I'm a Libra, LOL.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAmbidextrous on my game controller man. NASCAR and roller derby tracks are left dominated. It becomes more clear after reading M. K. Holder's article, like totally.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhen ascending or descending stairs I lead with my right foot, put my pants on right leg first and do most other things with my right side. Drummers are left or right footed so there are drum pedals made for each.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI found this article misleading. The simply right brain/left brain split is an enduring myth. An explanation is here. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-myths/201206/why-the-left-brain-right-brain-myth-will-probably-never-die
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWouldn't being either R or L handed skew the results of those other activities that include using you hands?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this