Question 1

Rick has high blood pressure and decides to try an herbal supplement recommended by his friend. Which of the following questions would NOT have helped Rick scientifically evaluate his friend's recommendation before he began taking the herbal supplement?

Accepted Answer

Whether or not the supplement is all natural does not necessarily correlate with its effectiveness or safety. It is important to consider the results of clinical trials, who funded them, and how many participants were included in order to scientifically evaluate the recommendation.

Question 2

Based on the scientific evidence presented in Chapter 19 of Biology Now, which of the following is NOT the reason for the observed increase in incidence of autism in the United States and other countries since the 1970s?

Accepted Answer

The scientific evidence presented in Chapter 19 of Biology Now does not support the claim that the MMR vaccine is causing an increase in autism incidence. Numerous studies have shown that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The increase in autism incidence is more likely due to a combination of factors such as increased awareness and diagnosis, changes in diagnostic criteria, and genetic and environmental influences.

Question 3

A scientific paper that combines results from several cohort studies and a case-control study would be considered a(n)

Accepted Answer

A scientific paper that combines results from several cohort studies and a case-control study would be considered a meta-analysis. A meta-analysis is a type of research that combines data from multiple studies to arrive at a more comprehensive, accurate answer to a particular research question. In this case, the meta-analysis would be used to combine the results of several different studies to gain a better understanding of the research question being investigated.

Question 4

When Lori was diagnosed with breast cancer, the doctor recommended a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy. Lori underwent the prescribed treatment recommended by the doctor. However, she also continued to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, walk three miles every day, and complete a daily yoga practice. Within about three months Lori was cancer free. Afterwards, Lori told everyone that her healthy lifestyle had helped to cure her. Is this conclusion reasonable given the circumstances?

Accepted Answer

While Lori's healthy lifestyle likely had a positive impact on her overall health and well-being, it's impossible to know with certainty whether or not it directly contributed to her becoming cancer-free. There are numerous potential confounding factors that could have played a role in her recovery, and correlation does not necessarily imply causation. Therefore, it's not reasonable to conclude that Lori's healthy lifestyle definitively cured her cancer.

Question 5

In the fall of 2012, a veterinarian from Texas issued a press release stating that her team of scientists had completed a 5-year DNA study confirming the existence of "Sasquatch" or "Bigfoot." Which of the following statements, if true, would lend support to her claims?

Accepted Answer

Consulting with experts in the field and making DNA samples available for analysis would lend credibility to the study and support the claims. The other options suggest a lack of credible evidence and could hinder the legitimacy of the study.

Question 6

Thomas's foot began to swell after he was stung by a scorpion. Thomas's friend said his mom had an old, trusted herbal poultice remedy that would absorb the venom from the foot, reduce the swelling, and heal the foot. Thomas allowed his friend to place the herbal poultice on his foot before going to bed that night, and the swelling was gone in the morning. Which of the following can be concluded about the herbal poultice remedy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Thomas's foot began to swell after he...

Question 7

Developing a scientific understanding of a natural phenomenon typically begins by

Accepted Answer

Observing a quantifiable natural phenomenon is the first step in developing a scientific understanding, as it provides the initial data and questions that guide further scientific inquiry.

Question 8

Announcing "scientific" findings in a press conference before they have been published in an established scientific journal is an example of

Accepted Answer

Announcing scientific findings in a press conference before they have been published in an established scientific journal is not considered primary literature because it has not yet undergone peer-review by experts in the field. It is also not considered secondary literature because secondary literature refers to analysis and interpretation of primary literature, and there is no published primary literature at this point. Therefore, the best answer is C.

Question 9

A popular meme on the Internet states that hugs "transfer energy" between participants, giving them an "emotional lift." Which of the following is a scientific approach to evaluating the claim of "energy transfer" during hugs? The hypothesis for the experiment would be: If one person hugs another, the person receiving the hug will have more measureable energy after the hug.

Accepted Answer

Option A presents a controlled experiment where the subjects are randomly divided into two groups, and one group is a control group that does not receive hugs. The other group receives hugs, and both groups' energy levels are measured before and after the hugs. This procedure addresses the hypothesis correctly, thereby providing a scientific approach to evaluate the claim. Options B, C, and D use non-scientific methods such as surveys and logs that do not provide objective evidence of energy transfer.

Question 10

Announcing "scientific" findings in a press conference before they have been published in an established scientific journal

Accepted Answer

Announcing scientific findings in a press conference before they have been published in an established scientific journal raises questions about the validity of the results or conclusions. Peer-review is an important process to ensure that the study design, methodology, results, and conclusions are valid, reliable, and accurate. By bypassing this process, the findings may not have been thoroughly vetted and may be subject to errors or biases. Therefore, such an announcement should be seen as preliminary and tentative until it is accepted by the scientific community through peer-review.

Question 11

A researcher noticed that as the prevalence of cell phone usage increased between the years of 1998 and 2010 so did the number of individuals diagnosed with autism. He decided that cell phone usage by expectant mothers was causing autism. Which of the following would NOT be helpful in evaluating his assumption?

Accepted Answer

Using a small sample size of only 20 participants would not provide enough evidence to support or reject the hypothesis. It is important to have a large and diverse sample size to ensure reliable results.

Question 12

This graph shows which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The graph shows a positive correlation between the consumption of organic food and the number of individuals diagnosed with autism between 1998 and 2007. However, correlation does not imply causation, so it cannot be inferred that consuming organic food directly causes autism.

Question 13

When determining whether or not a claim about a new cleansing juice diet is scientific or pseudoscientific, which of the following is NOT a helpful question to ask yourself?

Accepted Answer

The endorsement of celebrities or large numbers of people does not necessarily make a claim scientific or pseudoscientific. It is important to focus on the credentials and possible biases of the people making the claim, whether the claim is supported by reputable scientific research, and if the research meets the standards of the scientific method.

Question 14

Sue has twin baby boys and is trying to decide whether or not to have them vaccinated against chickenpox or to take them to a "chickenpox party" where they can be naturally exposed to other children who currently have chickenpox. Which of the following would NOT be a relevant question for Sue to research before making her decision?

Accepted Answer

The endorsement of parents on the Internet may be helpful in terms of personal experiences or opinions, but it does not provide scientifically valid information about the safety or effectiveness of the vaccine or chickenpox parties. The other options (A, B, and C) all pertain to conducting scientific research and evaluating evidence-based information.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a reason to scientifically evaluate the plausibility of claims made by a psychic who states that a missing child is alive and located in a particular area of the countryside months after the child went missing?

Accepted Answer

The other options provide valid reasons for why it is important to scientifically evaluate the plausibility of the claim made by the psychic. Option D is incorrect as anecdotal evidence is not considered reliable evidence in scientific research and cannot be used to support the claim made by the psychic.

Question 16

The reliability of primary scientific literature is strengthened by the ________ in which the work is examined by other leaders in the same field. For instance, a scientific paper examining the evolution of tetrapods would be reviewed by other evolutionary biologists and paleontologists.

Accepted Answer

The peer-review process involves experts in the same field reviewing and scrutinizing a scientific paper before it is published. This helps to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the research. The other choices are not relevant to the question or do not accurately describe the process of ensuring the reliability of scientific literature.

Question 17

You are reading a paper in the journal Vaccine that analyzed and combined the results from five observational studies involving over one million children and another five studies that compared children with autism to children without autism (a total of nearly 10,000 children). The paper you are reading is best recognized as a

Accepted Answer

The paper is a meta-analysis because it combines and analyzes the results from multiple studies. It is also a primary literature source because it presents original research findings.

Question 18

The fact that the onset of autism symptoms typically occur at about the same age children receive many of their vaccinations, including the MMR, is an example of

Accepted Answer

The fact that the onset of autism symptoms typically occur at about the same age children receive many of their vaccinations, including the MMR, shows an observed correlation but does not necessarily provide strong evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship. Many scientific studies have shown no causal relationship between vaccinations and autism. Correlation does not necessarily imply causation.

Question 19

Although it seems contradictory, real science does not intend to "prove" a hypothesis to be true. This is because

Accepted Answer

Real science is based on empirical evidence and the scientific method, which requires that hypotheses be tested with experiments and observations. However, the purpose of this testing is not to prove a hypothesis to be true, but rather to gather data and evidence that supports or refutes the hypothesis. Future experiments or discoveries may provide new information that contradicts previous findings, leading to new hypotheses or revisions of existing ones. Therefore, science is an ongoing process of inquiry and refinement, and hypotheses are always subject to scrutiny and revision based on new evidence.

Question 20

Observational studies that follow a particular group of individuals over a certain time period are

Accepted Answer

Cohort studies follow a particular group of individuals over a certain time period, making it the best choice among the given options. Case-control studies compare a group with a certain condition to a group without that condition, while meta-analysis combines data from multiple studies. Beta-analysis is not a recognized type of observational study.

Quiz 24: Applying the Science