Question 1

From what you have read in this chapter,would you say a 21-year-old Caucasian female can count on caffeinated coffee to reduce her risk of Parkinson's disease?

Accepted Answer

The peer-reviewed study mentioned in the chapter only involved Japanese American males, so it is not possible to infer whether the same results would hold for a different gender or ethnicity. Therefore, a 21-year-old Caucasian female cannot count on caffeinated coffee to reduce her risk of Parkinson's disease based solely on this one study.

Question 2

In a controlled experiment,which group receives a placebo?

Accepted Answer

The control group receives a placebo in order to have a reference point for the effects of the experimental group. The purpose of a placebo is to eliminate potential biases and psychological effects that may influence the results of the experiment. The independent group and scientist group are not commonly used terms in experimental design. All groups would not receive a placebo as that would defeat the purpose of having a control group.

Question 3

In the studies of coffee and memory discussed in this chapter,the independent variable is _____ and the dependent variable is _____.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in the studies is caffeine consumption (caffeinated coffee vs decaffeinated coffee), and the dependent variable is memory. Option C correctly identifies caffeine as the independent variable and memory as the dependent variable.

Question 4

Which of the following sources is most likely to provide the most scientifically rigorous and accurate information?

Accepted Answer

A randomized clinical trial is considered the gold standard in scientific research because participants are randomly assigned to the treatment and control groups, minimizing biases and confounding variables. This makes the results more reliable and accurate compared to non-randomized studies or epidemiological studies. Endorsements by celebrities or reports presented by news organizations may be biased or less rigorous in their methodology.

Question 5

When is a hypothesis considered scientific?

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is considered scientific when it can be tested and potentially proven false through experimentation. Option A is incorrect because a hypothesis must be based on observation to be scientifically valid. Option C is incorrect because anecdotal evidence is not a reliable or controlled method of observation. Option D is incorrect because mystical explanations are not testable or falsifiable through experimentation. Option E is incorrect because a hypothesis is not automatically deemed scientific without being tested or refutable.

Question 6

You conduct a clinical trial to test whether a new drug relieves the symptoms of arthritis better than a placebo.You have four groups of participants,all of whom have moderately painful arthritis (rated 7 on a scale of 1 to 10).Each group receives a daily pill as follows: group 1-placebo;group 2-15 mg;group 3-25 mg;group 4-50 mg.At the end of 2 weeks,participants in each group are asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
Based on the process of science,what should your next step be?

Accepted Answer

The next step should be to run a statistical analysis on the data collected to determine if there are any significant differences in pain relief between the groups. This will help determine if the drug is effective at relieving arthritis pain and at what dosage. It is important to use statistics to analyze the data rather than making conclusions based on personal opinions or biases.

Question 7

Can an epidemiologist who finds a correlation between the use of tanning beds and melanoma (an aggressive form of skin cancer)in college-age women conclude that tanning beds cause skin cancer?

Accepted Answer

Correlation between two variables does not prove causation. There may be other factors at play that are not accounted for in the study. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that tanning beds cause melanoma based solely on finding a correlation in college-age women. Further research is needed to establish causation.

Question 8

Of the following,which is the first step in the scientific process?

Accepted Answer

The first step in the scientific process is to make observations and ask questions. This leads to developing questions that can be answered through experimentation, which is the next step. Generating a hypothesis, conducting an experiment, analyzing data, and drawing a conclusion all come after the initial step of developing questions based on observations.

Question 9

You are listening to a news report that claims a new study has found convincing evidence that a particular weight-loss product is much more effective than diet and exercise Which statement would be an example of scientifically "convincing" evidence in this case?

Accepted Answer

Statistical tests showing significantly more weight loss in the participants who used the weight-loss product than those who relied on diet and exercise would be an example of scientifically convincing evidence. This demonstrates a significant difference between the two groups, which is a commonly used standard for determining the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention. The other options do not provide sufficient evidence to support the claim that the weight-loss product is more effective than diet and exercise.

Question 10

In a controlled experiment,which group receives the placebo?

Accepted Answer

In a controlled experiment, the control group receives the placebo. The control group is used as a comparison group to determine if the treatment or intervention used in the experimental group had an effect. The experimental group receives the actual treatment or intervention being tested. The dependent variable is measured in both groups to compare the results. The independent variable is manipulated in the experimental group to see if it has an effect on the dependent variable.

Question 11

A close friend has joined a clinical trial.When you ask her about the types of treatment she might be given,she tells you that neither she nor the doctor running the trial will know until the process has been completed.What type of trial has she joined?

Accepted Answer

In a double-blind clinical trial, neither the participant nor the doctor knows which group (experimental or control) the participant has been assigned to until the end of the trial. This is done to reduce bias and ensure the most accurate results.

Question 12

Can an epidemiologist who finds a correlation between the use of tanning beds and melanoma (an aggressive form of skin cancer)in college-age women conclude that tanning beds cause skin cancer?

Accepted Answer

Correlation alone does not provide evidence of causation. Other factors may be involved in the relationship between tanning bed use and melanoma, and further research would be needed to establish a causal link.

Question 13

In the studies of coffee and memory discussed,the independent variable is _____ and the dependent variable is _____.

Accepted Answer

In the studies discussed, the researchers manipulated the amount of caffeine (independent variable) given to the participants and measured the effect on memory (dependent variable), hence the independent variable is caffeine and the dependent variable is memory.

Question 14

Use the following information for the question below:
You conduct a clinical trial to test whether a new drug relieves the symptoms of arthritis better than a placebo.You have four groups of participants,all of whom have moderately painful arthritis (rated 7 on a scale of 1 to 10).Each group receives a daily pill as follows: group 1-placebo;group 2-15 mg;group 3-25 mg;group 4-50 mg.At the end of 2 weeks,participants in each group are asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Use the following information for the question...

Question 15

In which of the following would you have the most confidence?

Accepted Answer

Randomized clinical trials are considered to be the highest level of evidence in biomedical research. The larger the sample size, the more reliable the results are likely to be. Therefore, option A, with a larger sample size, would provide the most confidence in the study findings.

Question 16

Which of these is NOT a factor that may lead to different conclusions from two different studies investigating the same thing (eg. ,the relationship,if any,between caffeinated coffee and memory)?

Accepted Answer

Using a control group is a factor that can help ensure consistency and accuracy in both studies. The other factors listed (sample size, types of participants, amounts of caffeine, and ways of evaluating memory) can all potentially lead to different conclusions if they differ between studies.

Question 17

You carry out a clinical trial to test whether a new drug relieves the symptoms of arthritis better than a placebo.You have four groups of participants,all of whom have mildly painful arthritis (rated 6 on a scale of 1 to 10).Each group receives a daily pill as follows: group 1 (control),placebo;group 2,15 mg;group 3,25 mg;group 4,50 mg.At the end of 2 weeks,participants in each group are asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10.What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in this experiment is the drug, as it is being manipulated by the researcher to see if it has an effect on the relief of arthritis symptoms. The other options are either dependent variables or irrelevant to the experimental manipulation.

Question 18

You hear a news report about a new asthma treatment.What information is NOT something you would want to know before asking your doctor if this treatment was right for you?

Accepted Answer

The information about whether or not asthma is a genetic disorder is not relevant to whether or not the new asthma treatment is right for the individual. It is important to consider information about the clinical trial, including the size, population, and results, to make an informed decision with the help of a medical professional.

Question 19

How can statistics be used in a scientific study?

Accepted Answer

Statistics are used to determine whether or not observed differences between groups or variables are statistically significant, which means they are unlikely to have occurred by chance. This can help scientists determine whether the results of their study support or reject their hypothesis. Additionally, statistics can also be used to determine the effect size of a phenomenon or relationship, which can further contribute to the interpretation of the study's findings.

Question 20

When scientists carry out an experiment,they are testing a _____.

Accepted Answer

When scientists carry out an experiment, they are testing a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about what the outcome of an experiment will be. It is different from a theory, which is a well-supported explanation of a natural phenomenon, and a question, which simply poses a query without making any predictions. Control and variable are terms used to describe the experimental design, but not the purpose of the experiment itself.

Quiz 1: Process of Science