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. 2011 Sep 22;2:231. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00231

Table 1.

The nine physical settings, the experimental variation under scrutiny, and one example item.

Setting Variation Example item
Buoyancy, static
(A) Freshwater floating on saltwater Agency:
floater vs. carrier
The fact that freshwater floats on saltwater is basically due to … □ the freshwater/□ the saltwater? [agency: floater]
(B) Wood floating on water Agency:
floater vs. carrier
The fact that wood is supported by water is basically due to … the water |———————| the wood? [agency: carrier]
(C) Cornflakes floating on milk Figure: cornflakes vs.
milk vs. none
Cornflakes are placed in a bowl containing milk. The fact that the cornflakes float on the milk is basically due to … □ the cornflakes/□ the milk?
[figure: cornflakes]
Buoyancy, dynamic
(D) –Gas rising in a substance
–CO2rising in water
Content:
abstract vs. concrete
The fact that a gas rises in a substance is basically due to … □ the substance/□ the gas? [content: abstract]
(E) –Gas staying down in a substance
–CO2staying down in air
Content:
abstract vs. concrete
The fact that CO2 stays down in air is basically due to … □ the CO2/□ the air? [content: concrete]
(F) –Gas staying down in a substance
–CO2staying down in air
Figure:
gases vs. substances
Content:
abstract. vs. concrete
CO2 rises in water. The fact that CO2 stays down in air is basically due to … □ the CO2/□ the air? [figure: substances]
Mutual attraction
(G) Vinegar and oil, not mixing Agency:
vinegar vs. oil vs. both
The fact that vinegar does not mix with oil is basically due to … □ the oil/□ the vinegar? [agency: vinegar]
(H) Water and fat, repelling Agency:
water vs. fat vs. both
The fact that water and fat repel each other is basically due to … □ the water/□ the fat? [agency: both]
(I) –Celestial bodies attracting each other
–Earth and moon attracting each other
Content:
vs. concrete
The fact that earth and moon attract each other is basically due to … □ the moon/□ the earth? [content: concrete]