Chapter 3: Evidence-Based Nutrition And Practice

Question 1

Science

Answer 1

A method of attempting to arrive at objective truths.

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

A proposed explanation for a problem or set of observations.

Question 3

The Scientific Method

Answer 3

The process of formulating explanations about the natural world and testing those explanations with experiments and data.

Question 4

Evidence-Based Practice

Answer 4

A three-pronged approach to working with clients, which consists of making decisions based on the weight of the scientific evidence, field observations, and individual client needs and preferences.

Question 5

Prediction

Answer 5

An expected outcome generated from a hypothesis.

Question 6

True or False? Scientists identify what is most likely to be true by demonstrating what is not true.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

Theory

Answer 7

A hypothesis or set of hypotheses for which a large body of high-quality evidence has been accumulated.

Question 8

Anecdote

Answer 8

An account of a person’s experience or event.

Question 9

Uncontrolled Variable

Answer 9

A variable in an experiment that a scientist makes no effort to manipulate or account for.

Question 10

Primary Research

Answer 10

Original research where scientists perform experiments and collect data – this is in contrast to secondary research where scientists analyze data that has already been collected or published elsewhere.

Question 11

Observational Research

Answer 11

Research in which a researcher observes ongoing behaviors to determine correlation.

Question 12

Correlation

Answer 12

A relationship between two or more variables.

Question 13

Randomized Control Trial (RCT)

Answer 13

A type of scientific study/trial where participants are randomly assigned into different groups – one or more will be the intervention to be tested and one will be the control group. Groups are randomized and a control is used in an attempt to reduce potential bias in the trial.

Question 14

Independent Variable

Answer 14

The variable scientists manipulate in an experiment.

Question 15

External Validity

Answer 15

The ability to generalize the results of a study.

Question 16

Systematic Review

Answer 16

A review where scientists systematically gather all research on a topic and evaluate it based on predefined criteria and rules.

Question 17

Meta-Analysis

Answer 17

A statistical analysis of a group of studies to assess the overall weight of the evidence.

Question 18

True or False? A scientific theory is just a guess.

Answer 18

False

Question 19

Empirical

Answer 19

Based on observation or experience.

Question 20

Test-Retest Reliability

Answer 20

The ability to get similar results when something is measured under the same conditions.

Question 21

Reliability

Answer 21

The consistency of a measure.

Question 22

Validity

Answer 22

The assessment of whether a tool is measuring what it is supposed to measure.

Question 23

Selection Bias

Answer 23

A sample of people under study is not representative of the larger population that scientists are looking to make inferences about.

Question 24

Retrospective

Answer 24

Describes a study that looks backward in time.

Question 25

Recall Bias

Answer 25

The inability to accurately remember past behaviors.

Question 26

Peer Review

Answer 26

The critical evaluation of a study by other scientists.

Question 27

True or False? Scientific evidence is fixed and immutable.

Answer 27

False

Question 28

True or False? The uncertainty of science is a strength, as nothing is ever 100% certain.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

Which term describes the phenomena when a group does not represent the population a scientist is intending to study?

Answer 29

Selection bias

Question 30

Fructose has been shown in studies to have adverse effects on blood triglycerides when consumed in excess of calorie needs. However, moderate doses of fructose have been shown to have no effect. Which of the following items best describes the conclusion that should be drawn from this data?

Answer 30

Fructose intake poses no risk to triglycerides when consumed within energy needs, but caution is warranted if calorie intake is high.

Question 31

Which term describes how a body of knowledge is based on observation and experience?

Answer 31

Empirical

Question 32

Scientists perform a study tracking 10,000 people over a 10-year period. They look at their sugar intake at the beginning of the study and then see who develops diabetes over the study duration. Which term best describes this study?

Answer 32

Cohort study

Question 33

Which term encompasses the weight of the scientific evidence, field observations, and individual client needs?

Answer 33

Evidence-based practice

Question 34

A scientist hypothesizes that a supplement will increase resistance training performance. A study is carried out, and the results do not support the hypothesis. Multiple studies by independent labs also fail to support the hypothesis. What is the appropriate response regarding the hypothesis?

Answer 34

The predictions have been falsified and the hypothesis is discarded.

Question 35

Scientists find that a protein supplement increases lean mass in the elderly. However, they caution that the results may not apply to other populations, like younger people. What term best describes what the scientists are referring to?

Answer 35

External validity

Question 36

Which of the following represents a critical evaluation of a study by other scientists?

Answer 36

Peer Review

Question 37

A scientist proposes that sugar is inherently fattening, independent of its calorie content. If that proposal is true, then that would mean that high-sugar diets should increase fat gain independent of their calorie content. What term describes this potential consequence?

Answer 37

Prediction

Question 38

Which observational study design allows scientists to hypothesize a potential causal association?

Answer 38

Cohort study

Question 39

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) involves collecting health-related information via telephone interview across the United States. Which term best describes this research?

Answer 39

Survey

Question 40

A scientist observes that people tend to perform better in a weight training session after consuming a pre-workout supplement. The scientist proposes that the caffeine in the supplement is increasing arousal, leading to increased performance. Which term best describes this scientist’s proposal?

Answer 40

Hypothesis

Question 41

Which item represents a high quality, non-peer reviewed source of information?

Answer 41

Academic textbook

Question 42

Which term describes a variable in an experiment for which a scientist takes no steps to account for?

Answer 42

Uncontrolled variable

Question 43

Scientists perform a diet study in which they assign half the people to a continuous dieting group and the other half to an intermittent fasting group. Which term best describes this study design?

Answer 43

Parallel