Question 1

The government agency that enforces consumer protection laws by investigating false or misleading health-related claims is the

Accepted Answer

The FTC is responsible for preventing fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices, including false or misleading health claims made by companies. They investigate claims such as "miracle cures" or "quick fixes" for health conditions without scientific evidence to back them up. The other agencies listed have different focuses and responsibilities, but do not specifically enforce consumer protection laws related to health-related claims.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Developing a research question is a crucial step in the scientific method and helps to guide the study. Option A is incorrect as in single-blind studies, the researchers know the grouping of subjects but the subjects do not. Option B is incorrect as animal testing is usually done before human studies to establish safety and efficacy. Option D is incorrect as a control group is essential in an experimental study to compare the treatment group with a standard or placebo group.

Question 3

A nutrition researcher adds 30 mg of the mineral iron to the daily diet of 50 4-week-old laboratory mice. After ten weeks, the scientist takes blood samples from each mouse. According to his findings, the mice developed abnormal red blood cells. Based on this information and your knowledge of scientific research, what would you tell him?

Accepted Answer

The scientist's study lacks a control group, which is essential for determining the effect of the added iron on the development of abnormal red blood cells. Without a control group, it's impossible to know if the iron caused the abnormalities or if they would have occurred naturally.

Question 4

A medical researcher asked 50 people with painful, arthritic knees to rub a cream that contained vitamin E on their knees for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, she asked the subjects whether their knee pain improved, stayed about the same, or worsened during the treatment period. All 50 subjects reported improvement in their knee pain. Based on this information, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Without a control group, it is impossible to determine whether the improvement in knee pain was actually due to the vitamin E cream or just a placebo effect. Therefore, the results are questionable and further research with a control group is needed to confirm the efficacy of the treatment.

Question 5

Zack takes 500 mg of vitamin C daily. He advises his friends to take the vitamin C pills, because he claims the vitamin protects him from cold viruses. His information about the usefulness of the vitamin is a(an)

Accepted Answer

Zack's claim is based on his personal experience rather than scientific evidence, making it an anecdote. An anecdote is a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person, often used to support or demonstrate some point but not considered scientific evidence.

Question 6

You recently watched an infomercial at an Internet website in which an actor promoted a new weight loss product. The actor stated that you'll lose weight almost instantly by consuming the product, because it contains a secret herbal formula that's both safe and effective. The promoter also said that you can continue to eat all of your usual foods and still lose weight, while taking the herbal formula. You're concerned that people might waste their money on this product. Which agency should you contact to file a complaint about the website?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for dealing with false advertising and deceptive marketing practices. They have the authority to investigate and take action against companies that make false claims about their product. Therefore, contacting the FTC would be the best choice in this situation.

Question 7

Researchers at a major American university plan a scientific study to investigate lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease. Which of the following activities is most likely to be a component of their research efforts?

Accepted Answer

Submitting an article describing the study and its results to a peer-reviewed journal is the most likely component of their research efforts. This is because peer-reviewed journals are a standard in scientific research and provide a platform for the study to be reviewed and verified by other experts in the field. Announcing the results on a TV program is not a standard practice in scientific research and may not provide the same level of scrutiny as peer-reviewed journals. Obtaining the approval of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is not necessary for this type of research but obtaining approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) would be required. Using a single-blind study that includes placebos to test the question may or may not be a component of the research efforts, as this would depend on the specific research question and design.

Question 8

A scientist conducts a study to determine the effects of the mineral cadmium on the weight of mice. She adds 5 mcg of the mineral to the daily diet of 100 4-week-old laboratory mice. Every week, the researcher records the weight of each mouse. At the end of the study, the scientist notes that 3 mice died, 40 mice lost weight, 40 mice gained weight, and the remaining 17 mice didn't gain or lose weight during the 12-week period. Based on this information, what would you tell the researcher about her findings?

Accepted Answer

The study lacks a control group that didn't receive cadmium, making it difficult to determine whether the weight changes were due to the mineral or another factor. Additionally, the sample size is relatively small, and the study only lasted 12 weeks, which may not be sufficient time to observe long-term effects of cadmium on weight. Therefore, the findings are not meaningful because of the way the scientist designed her study.

Question 9

Researchers are conducting a study to determine the effects of vitamin C on the human immune system. The study involves providing pills that contain vitamin C to one group of human subjects and pills that do not contain vitamin C or other active ingredients to another group of people. The pills that do not contain the vitamin are

Accepted Answer

The pills that do not contain vitamin C or other active ingredients are placebos, which are used as a control in the study. Placebos are used to ensure that any observed effects are truly due to the vitamin C and not a result of other factors such as the placebo effect.

Question 10

Researchers are conducting a study to determine the effects of the mineral zinc on the human body. The study involves providing pills that contain zinc to one group of human subjects and pills that do not contain zinc or other active ingredients to another group of people. The pills that do not contain zinc are

Accepted Answer

The pills that do not contain zinc are placebos. Placebos are inactive substances that are given to a control group in a study to compare the effects of the active treatment group. This helps to determine whether the effects observed in the treatment group are due to the active ingredient or to other factors such as the placebo effect or natural variations in the body.

Question 11

Mitch recently tried a hair-restoring product that he purchased from an Internet website. The package's label displayed the following claim: "Rubbing a tablespoon of 'NutraTerraMino' on your scalp each day will cure the hair loss associated with the aging process." After a month of using "NutraTerraMino" daily, he stopped because the product made his hair fall out. Based on this information, Mitch should file a complaint with the

Accepted Answer

Mitch should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission because the claim made by the product's label appears to be false and may be considered deceptive advertising. The FTC is responsible for investigating and taking action against companies that engage in such practices. The other options, such as the Bureau of Health Fraud, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Public Safety, do not have jurisdiction over deceptive advertising claims.

Question 12

Researchers are conducting a study to determine the effects of vitamin D on the human body. The study involves providing pills that contain vitamin D to one group of human subjects and pills that do not contain the vitamin or other active ingredients to another group of people. The pills that do not contain vitamin D are

Accepted Answer

The pills that do not contain vitamin D are placebos. A placebo is a substance or treatment that has no therapeutic effect, used as a control in clinical trials to test the efficacy of another substance or treatment. In this study, the group receiving the placebo pills will serve as a control group to compare the effects of the vitamin D pills on the other group.

Question 13

Derek consumes a protein-rich drink before and after his workouts. He told his workout partner that he became 200% stronger within a couple of months after he added the drink to his diet. His report about the positive effects of the special drink is an example of a(an)

Accepted Answer

An anecdote is a personal story or account of an experience, which is what Derek is sharing about the effects of the drink.

Question 14

A researcher observes that first-grade children who only eat foods sweetened with honey seem to behave the same as first-grade children who eat foods sweetened with cane sugar. After making the observation, the researcher decides to conduct a study to explore whether eating honey has any affect on school-age children's behavior. The researcher wants to follow the basic steps of the scientific method. Now that he's made the observation, his next step will be to

Accepted Answer

The next step in the scientific method is to develop a research question based on the observation. The researcher needs to develop a question that can be tested through research, such as "Does eating honey affect the behavior of school-age children?" This question will guide the rest of the research process. The other options provided are not the next logical step in the scientific method.

Question 15

Phil is a participant in a study designed to examine the effects of taking a new protein-containing product on muscle tissue development. Phil suspects he's in the experimental group, because he's certain his muscles are bigger and stronger as a result of taking the product supplied by the researchers. When the study is completed, Phil learns that he didn't receive the new source of protein. Phil thinks the researchers made a mistake-he's certain his muscle mass increased while he consumed the product. According to this information, Phil's belief that his physical condition improved while he participated in the study is an example of

Accepted Answer

Phil's belief that the protein-containing product caused his muscles to grow, despite not actually receiving the product, is an example of the placebo effect. The placebo effect is the phenomenon where a person experiences an improvement in their condition or symptoms solely based on their belief that they are receiving an effective treatment, regardless of whether the treatment is actually effective or not.

Question 16

Dylan takes garlic pills to lower his blood cholesterol level, and he recommends the pills to his friends, because he thinks the pills are helpful. Dylan's nutrition-related advice to his friends is an example of a(an)

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dylan takes garlic pills to lower his...

Question 17

A group of researchers wants to conduct a scientific study to investigate dietary factors that affect the development of obesity. Which of the following activities is likely to be the first step of their research efforts?

Accepted Answer

The first step in scientific research is typically to observe and gather information about the phenomenon being studied. In this case, the researchers would likely begin by observing the dietary practices of obese individuals in order to identify potential dietary factors that contribute to obesity. Only after this preliminary observation would they design and conduct an experiment to test their hypotheses, which would involve analyzing data collected during the study. The other options (submitting an article that explains the experiment's design to a newspaper and reporting results on a popular television program) would not be appropriate initial steps in the scientific research process.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is untrustworthy or misleading because it contains a "red flag" of unreliable nutrition-related information?

Accepted Answer

The statement that vitamin C pills have been clinically proven to cure cancer is a red flag of unreliable nutrition-related information. There is no evidence to support such a claim, and it is not recommended as a treatment for cancer.

Question 19

Having a control group enables researchers to

Accepted Answer

A control group provides a baseline for comparison with the experimental group, allowing researchers to determine the effectiveness of the treatment or intervention being tested. This also helps to ensure that any observed effects are not simply due to chance or other factors, such as participants' expectations or the placebo effect.

Question 20

Emily has brittle fingernails that crack and split easily. Emily's mother advises her daughter to take gelatin pills 3 times/day, because she's heard the practice strengthens fingernails. The mother's nutrition-related advice about the benefit of taking gelatin pills is an example of a(an)

Accepted Answer

The mother's advice is based on personal or second-hand experience rather than scientific evidence, making it an anecdote.

Quiz 2: Nutrition Information: Fact or Fiction