INSTRUCTIONS

In this experiment, we would like you to imagine yourself in the role of an inter-planetary
biologist who has just received a shipment of fossilized Martin organisms. These creatures
are completely new to science, and your job is to classify them – to sort them into broad
families, as well as to identify individual species.

To be clear what we mean, a biological family refers to some broad group like cats, fish,
trees, or birds. Individual species refer to specific kinds within a broader family. For example,
lion, tigers, and leopards are species of cats; trout, tuna, and sharks are species of fish; oaks,
maples, and pines are species of trees; and crows, finches, and sparrows are species of
birds.

In this study, you will examine a collection of 48 specimens (supposed fossilized organisms),
arranged in no particular pattern within a 4x12 grid. Your job will be to divide these creatures
into families and species. Specifically, you will be labeling the creatures by family (A, B, C,
etc.) and by species within each family (1, 2, 3, etc.) - giving those that you judge to be from
the same family the same letter and those that you judge to be from the same species the
same letter and number. You may label the creatures in any order and go back to adjust your
earlier labels any way you like. Once you are satisfied with all your labels, you will save the
file.

The sample page following these instructions will show you how to do this.
SAMPLE PAGE
Label the creatures below by family (A, B, C, etc.) and by species within each family (1, 2, 3, etc.), giving those
that you judge to be from the same family the same letter and those that you judge to be from the same
species the same letter and number. Feel free to label the creatures in any order, and to go back to adjust
your previous labels as desired. Once you are satisfied with all your labels, please save the file.

CONSENT FORM

INITIAL HERE TO CONSENT

Label the creatures below by family (A, B, C, etc.) and by species within each family (1, 2, 3, etc.), giving those
that you judge to be from the same family the same letter and those that you judge to be from the same
species the same letter and number. Feel free to label the creatures in any order, and to go back to adjust
your previous labels as desired. Once you are satisfied with all your labels, please save the file.

Once you are satisfied with all your labels, please save the file
.