Question 1

Researchers at a major American university plan a 10-year scientific study to investigate lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease.Which of the following activities is likely to be a component of their research efforts?

Accepted Answer

Submitting an article to a peer-reviewed journal is a common and appropriate way to disseminate research findings in the scientific community. It undergoes a rigorous evaluation by other experts in the field to ensure accuracy and validity of the study. Option A, contacting the news station, may be useful for publicizing the study, but it is not a component of the research itself. Option C, posting findings on a personal website, may not reach a wider audience or go through proper evaluation. Option D, establishing a place for the subjects to live, is important for the study but it is a logistical aspect rather than a research effort.

Question 2

A group of scientists suspects that certain dietary practices are partially responsible for different rates of hypertension among adults of different ethnic/racial groups.To test their hypothesis,the researchers examine data concerning the different population groups' hypertension rates and their past dietary practices.This research is a ________ study.

Accepted Answer

A retrospective study looks back at data collected in the past to analyze outcomes, which is what the scientists are doing by examining past dietary practices and their relation to hypertension rates.

Question 3

Which of the following kinds of studies would be the best to use when designing a scientific investigation to determine whether there is an association between consuming diets low in calcium during adolescence and developing osteoporosis (bone disease)in older adulthood?

Accepted Answer

An observational study would be the best choice for investigating the association between consuming diets low in calcium during adolescence and developing osteoporosis in older adulthood. In an observational study, researchers would observe and gather data on a group of individuals over a long period of time and look for any patterns or correlations between low calcium intake and osteoporosis. An experimental study would involve manipulating the calcium intake of a group of individuals, which may not be ethical or feasible. Single-blind and double-blind studies are experimental study designs that focus on controlling for bias in the data collection process, but they would not be the most appropriate for investigating this particular research question.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

It is well-established that a scientist's affiliations and funding sources can influence their research findings, whether consciously or unconsciously. This is why it is important for scientific studies to disclose their funding sources and potential conflicts of interest.

Question 5

Scientists who investigate lifestyle factors that influence the prevalence of obesity among different population groups are conducting a(n)________ study.

Accepted Answer

Epidemiological studies investigate the distribution and determinants of health and disease within populations. In this case, scientists are investigating lifestyle factors that influence the prevalence of obesity among different population groups, which falls under the realm of epidemiology. Technological studies involve the application of technology to solve specific problems, pathological studies focus on the nature and cause of diseases, and in vitro studies are conducted in a laboratory setting.

Question 6

A group of nutrition researchers interviews 100 adults who have chronic high blood pressure to determine whether there is an association between consuming diets low in calcium during adolescence and developing high blood pressure in adulthood.This study is an example of a ________ study.

Accepted Answer

This study is retrospective because it looks back in time to assess dietary habits during adolescence and their potential association with high blood pressure in adulthood.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is false?

Accepted Answer

According to scientific research, most dietary supplements do not provide considerable health benefits, so statement B is false.

Question 8

A scientist adds 5 mcg of the mineral cadmium to the daily diet of 100 4-week-old laboratory mice.After 12 weeks,the researcher weighs and takes blood samples from each mouse.According to her findings,the mice lost weight during the 12-week period,and they have abnormal levels of certain hormones in their blood.Based on this information and your knowledge of scientific research,what would you tell the researcher about her findings?

Accepted Answer

The study design is lacking a control group and a randomized selection of the mice. Without these elements, it cannot be determined if the weight loss and abnormal hormone levels are due to the addition of cadmium or other factors. Therefore, the findings are not meaningful or valid.

Question 9

Scientists enroll 500 healthy adults in a study and collect dietary and other lifestyle information about the group.After 6 years,the scientists determine that study participants who ate at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily were less likely to develop high blood pressure than participants who ate fewer than 5 servings of these foods daily.This study is an example of a(n)________ study.

Accepted Answer

This is a prospective study as the scientists enrolled the participants and collected data over a period of time to observe the outcomes, in this case, the likelihood of developing high blood pressure.

Question 10

A medical researcher reads an article in Today's Health-Conscious Woman magazine about the benefits of using the phytochemical capsaicin to treat knee pain.She asks 10 people with arthritic knees to rub a cream that contains the phytochemical on their knee joints for 2 weeks.At the end of the 2 weeks,the researcher asks the subjects whether their knee pain improved,stayed about the same,or worsened during the treatment period.After collecting responses from the people,the researcher reports the results of her study during a popular TV show that is hosted by a doctor.Based on this information, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

The researcher did not divide the subjects of her study into control and treatment groups, which is a fundamental aspect of standard scientific design for research involving human subjects. This means that there is no way to determine if the benefits observed were due to the treatment or to other factors, such as the placebo effect. Additionally, there is no mention of a review of scientific literature or peer review, so options B and C cannot be chosen as correct.

Question 11

A group of scientists conducts a scientific study to investigate dietary factors that influence the development of breast cancer.Which of the following activities is NOT likely to be a component of their research efforts?

Accepted Answer

Posting findings at the main researcher's personal website is not a necessary component of scientific research. Findings should be published in a peer-reviewed journal to ensure quality and accuracy.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

The FDA has the authority to recall a dietary supplement when there is evidence that it is harmful. This is important for consumer protection as not all dietary supplements have been thoroughly researched and critically evaluated by scientists before being marketed. The EPA regulates environmental issues, not dietary supplements. Medicinal herbs do not have to undergo FDA testing for safety and effectiveness before being marketed.

Question 13

Which of the following kinds of studies would be the best to use to identify lifestyle factors that may be related to the development of liver cancer in an adult population?

Accepted Answer

Retrospective studies, also known as case-control studies, are best suited for identifying lifestyle factors that may contribute to the development of a particular disease. These types of studies compare the past behaviors or exposures of individuals who have the disease (cases) to those who do not (controls). This allows researchers to identify potential risk factors that may be associated with the disease. In this case, a retrospective study would be the best option to identify lifestyle factors that may be related to the development of liver cancer in an adult population.

Question 14

According to the observations of a nutrition scientist,laboratory mice are healthier when their diet contains physiological levels of vitamin D than when their diet lacks the micronutrient.The scientist hypothesizes that mice will be less likely to develop cancer when they consume a diet that supplies megadoses of vitamin D.Based on this information,the scientist is ready to

Accepted Answer

The best choice would be to conduct a controlled laboratory experiment to test the vitamin D and cancer hypothesis in mice since it provides a controlled environment to test the hypothesis and allows for the manipulation of variables. A retrospective study (A) would not be ideal since the scientist already has a hypothesis and would need to test it in a controlled manner. A double-blind study (B) would require a large number of mice and also would not be ideal for testing the hypothesis. An experimental epidemiological study (D) would be better for testing the hypothesis in humans rather than mice.

Question 15

Which of the following kinds of studies would be the best to use when investigating whether cigarette smoking influences weight gain?

Accepted Answer

A cohort study would be the best choice because it involves identifying a group of individuals (in this case, smokers), following them over time, and collecting data on their exposure to cigarette smoking and their weight gain. This type of study allows for the observation of changes in weight gain patterns over time as they relate to smoking habits. The other study types listed are not as well suited for investigating this specific question.

Question 16

A nutrition researcher adds 30 mg of the mineral iron to the daily diet of 50 4-week-old laboratory mice.After 10 weeks,the scientist takes blood samples from each mouse.According to his findings,the mice developed abnormal levels of certain enzymes in their red blood cells.Based on this information and your knowledge of scientific research,what would you tell him?

Accepted Answer

The scientist should consider his findings as an observation and redesign the study to include a control group. The abnormal levels of certain enzymes in the red blood cells may be due to factors other than the added iron, and the lack of a control group makes it difficult to determine whether the observed effects are due to the added iron or some other factor. The study needs to be redesigned with appropriate controls to determine if the added iron caused the observed effects.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Scientific studies can have different findings due to various factors, such as study design, sample size, and methodology. It is important to consider the results of multiple studies before drawing conclusions. A, C, and D are not true statements. Researchers typically strive to minimize bias in their analyses, control groups are important in all types of research, and a single-blind experiment involves only the subjects being unaware of their treatment group, whereas the investigator is aware.

Question 18

Over a 2-year period,a team of scientists records the eating behaviors and physical activity patterns of a group of healthy 8-year-old children to determine whether these factors are associated with weight gain.This study is an example of a(n)________ study.

Accepted Answer

This is a prospective study because the scientists are following the children over a period of time to observe and record their behaviors and determine if there is an association with weight gain. A case-control study involves comparing individuals with a certain condition to those without it, and a retrospective study involves looking back at past events or data rather than following individuals over time. In vitro studies are conducted in a laboratory setting using isolated cells or tissues rather than living organisms.

Question 19

A nutrition researcher would like to determine whether women who take fish oil supplements during pregnancy give birth to babies who score higher on basic intelligence tests when they are 5 years of age than the 5-year old children that were born to women who did not take the fish oil supplements during pregnancy.This kind of research is a(n)________ study.

Accepted Answer

This study is a prospective study because the researcher is identifying a group of women at the beginning of their pregnancies and following them over time to assess the outcomes of their children after 5 years. A case-control study would involve comparing a group of women who gave birth to children with high intelligence scores to a group with low scores and looking back to see if there were differences in their fish oil supplement use during pregnancy. Double-blind and in vivo are not relevant to the type of study being conducted.

Question 20

A group of registered dietitian nutritionists is planning to conduct a scientific study to investigate the effects of eating honey on behavior in school-aged children.To start,the researchers will

Accepted Answer

Before forming a hypothesis or collecting data, researchers often begin with observations to identify areas of interest or potential relationships to investigate further.

Quiz 2: Evaluating Nutrition Information

Researchers at a major American university plan a 10-year scientific study to investigate lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease.Which of the following activities is likely to be a component of their research efforts?

Which of the following kinds of studies would be the best to use when designing a scientific investigation to determine whether there is an association between consuming diets low in calcium during adolescence and developing osteoporosis (bone disease) in older adulthood?

Which of the following statements is true?

Scientists who investigate lifestyle factors that influence the prevalence of obesity among different population groups are conducting a(n) ________ study.

A group of nutrition researchers interviews 100 adults who have chronic high blood pressure to determine whether there is an association between consuming diets low in calcium during adolescence and developing high blood pressure in adulthood.This study is an example of a ________ study.

Which of the following statements is false?

A group of scientists conducts a scientific study to investigate dietary factors that influence the development of breast cancer.Which of the following activities is NOT likely to be a component of their research efforts?

Which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following kinds of studies would be the best to use to identify lifestyle factors that may be related to the development of liver cancer in an adult population?

Which of the following kinds of studies would be the best to use when investigating whether cigarette smoking influences weight gain?

Which of the following statements is true?

Over a 2-year period,a team of scientists records the eating behaviors and physical activity patterns of a group of healthy 8-year-old children to determine whether these factors are associated with weight gain.This study is an example of a(n) ________ study.

A group of registered dietitian nutritionists is planning to conduct a scientific study to investigate the effects of eating honey on behavior in school-aged children.To start,the researchers will