Model 7

Question 1

Mod 7 – Question 1
A scientist is conducting an experiment on a group of organisms.
Which of the following could help eliminate discrepancies caused by variation within the group?
A. Observe one individual continuously
B. Use many organisms of the same species
C. Conduct breeding experiments on the organisms
D. Repeat the experiment on one individual many times

Answer 1

B. Use many organisms of the same species

Question 2

Mod 7 – Question 3
Which of the following is NOT a feature of a double-blind trial?
A. The researcher ensures that only female participants receive the control
B. The participants are unaware of the specific treatment they each receive
C. Some participants receive the treatment while others receive the control
D. The researcher is unaware of the specific treatment each trial participant receives

Answer 2

A. The researcher ensures that only female participants receive the control

Question 3

Mod 7 – Question 4
The following is a graph showing lottery ticket sales and number of people killed by snakes.
Which of the following best describes the relationship present in the graph?
A. Causation – the more money you win in the lottery, the more likely you are to be killed by a snake
B. Correlation – the more money you win in the lottery, the more likely you are to be killed by a snake
C. Causation – the more lottery tickets you buy, the more people killed that year by snakes
D. Correlation – the number of lottery tickets sold and the number of deaths from snakes follow the same trend

Answer 3

D. Correlation – the number of lottery tickets sold and the number of deaths from snakes follow the same trend

Question 4

Mod 7 – Question 7
If many scientists perform several different experiments and obtain results which do not agree with a certain theory, we could conclude that
A. the theory has been disproved.
B. no change in the theory is needed.
C. the experiments are poorly designed.
D. the theory should not have been proposed.

Answer 4

A. the theory has been disproved.

Question 5

Mod 7 – Question 8
Why is the atomic theory considered a scientific theory?
A. It has not yet been proved correct.
B. There is conflict between it and some beliefs.
C. There are other competing explanations for the same evidence.
D. It accounts for the evidence and enables predictions to be made.

Answer 5

D. It accounts for the evidence and enables predictions to be made.

Question 6

Mod 7 – Question 9
How does sharing research and ideas through peer-reviewed articles help advance science?
A. Experiments in the articles do not need to be repeated.
B. Ideas in the articles always support and strengthen dominant scientific theories.
C. Scientists reading the articles may come up with new questions to study and research.
D. The articles are only published when the ideas they contain have been accepted by most of the scientific community.

Answer 6

C. Scientists reading the articles may come up with new questions to study and research.

Question 7

Mod 7 – Question 11 (5 marks)

Explain the importance of random sampling, repetition and replication in experimental 5 design.

Answer 7

Sample answer:
Choosing a random sample in scientific investigations reduces the effect of bias. Absence of bias increases the reliability of the data collected. It will also increase the validity of the data by controlling random variables. Repetition – increasing the number of trials and replication and having other investigators carry out the investigation could increase the reliability of the investigation, if the results obtained are consistent. Repetition of the investigation will increase the number of trials. If an average of the results is found this will reduce the effect of outliers. Independently replicating an investigation and obtaining similar results increases the validity of the investigation by suggesting that the stated investigation is what is being tested. Replication also increases the reliability by obtaining similar results.

Question 8

Mod 7 – Question 12 (7 marks)
It is widely claimed that taking vitamin C tablets can prevent the development of the 7 common cold.
Explain how this claim can be tested using a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation.
You may assume that the necessary approvals to conduct the investigation have been obtained and that the safety of the participants has been considered.

Answer 8

Enlist a sufficiently large number of people into the investigation to ensure that the results would be statistically meaningful.
Prepare bottles containing either vitamin C or the placebo (inert substance). Each bottle should have enough tablets to last the planned duration of the investigation period. It would be important that the vitamin C and the placebo be presented so that a person taking or dispensing either had no way of telling which they were taking.
Label the bottles with a number sequentially and use the number to identify which substance the bottle contains. The bottles are then given to people (say doctors) who dispense them to the people who are the subjects of the trial. The doctors record the number on the bottle and the names of the subjects receiving each bottle.
The subjects take the tablets for the duration of the trial and record whether they develop any colds. The duration needs to be the same for both groups. It would probably need to be a long time to cover ‘cold season’ when people are more likely to get colds. One uncontrolled variable is exposure to viruses. Possibly one way to reduce this effect is to have all the participants working under similar conditions, eg all office workers, all school teachers.
Because neither the doctors nor the subjects of the trial know whether they are getting a placebo or the vitamin C, this is a double-blind investigation.
At the end of the trial period, the doctors would send back the data. This data would include the identifying number from the bottle and how many colds the person taking the tablets recorded during the investigation period. The number of colds reported by the people taking the vitamin C would then be compared with the number reported by the people taking the placebo to determine whether taking vitamin C resulted in significantly fewer people getting colds.

Question 9

Mod 7 – Question 13 (4 marks)

Contrast correlation and causation. Provide a real-world example of each.

Answer 9

‘Correlation’ refers to a relationship between two or more things, or is a measure of how two disparate things are related. Correlation indicates that a relationship exists. An example of correlation would be a link between more hours spent studying and a higher mark on an exam. While there may be a clear relationship between hours spent studying and results achieved, the data does not take into account additional factors such as natural student ability, the type of study being undertaken or additional support given by the tutors or teachers.
‘Causation’ is the relationship between the cause of an issue and the effect. In other words, a change in one variable directly affects the other variable. To determine causation, scientific investigations must be carried out to limit the influence of external factors. For example, if a pharmaceutical company wants to know if a new drug is having a positive impact on the health of patients, specific variables need to be controlled to ensure it is the drug having the positive impact, not other factors like an improved diet or increase in exercise.

Question 10

Mod 7 – Question 15 (4 marks)
Describe the strategies that an industry could use to influence the design, conduct and 4 publication of scientific research.

Answer 10

The industry may provide funding to universities, research institutions and individual researchers to conduct and publish studies that support its position. It may also fund research to discredit studies that are unfavourable to its reputation. Within its own research funding scheme, it may seek to suppress studies that have obtained undesirable results.
In some cases, it may seek to change the standard for scientific research. For example, the satisfactory level of toxicity may be slightly lifted to make the results look more acceptable. The industry may also choose what type of data to release and to whom they release the information (eg politicians and interest groups who are sympathetic to their causes).

Question 11

1. Scientific method is:

Answer 11

The best tool we have to test and evaluate claims on the truth

Question 12

2. An investigation can be determined as not valid, if the sample is :

Answer 12

• a small sample size
• a voluntary response sample
• gathered by convenience sampling

Question 13

3. A scientist needs to determine which nutrient is most effective for the growth of a particular pea plant. Which of the following describes the control used in the investigation.

(a) Same amount of water is added to all plants
(b) Some plants are only given water
(c) Each plant is grown in the same pot size
(d) The air temperature is the same for all plants

Answer 13

(a) Same amount of water is added to all plants

Question 14

4. To determine if a child needs Ritalin medication to help with ADHD, the child is given one week of a capsule containing Ritalin and the next week the child is given an empty capsule, without child or parent knowing which is which. The purpose of the empty capsule is:

Answer 14

• To create a double-blind test

* To test the placebo effect

Question 15

5. In 1966, Cesare Emiliani predicted that there would be another ice age. His interpretation was most likely:

Answer 15

Biased by personal and sociological experiences

Question 16

6. To determine the public opinion about a product, a survey is conducted by asking questions to consumers inside the shop that sells the product. This data collection is an example of:

Answer 16

• Convenience sampling
• Voluntary response sampling
• Sample bias

Question 17

7. A placebo is:

Answer 17

A capsule with nothing inside it, to test the psychological effect of taking a drug

Question 18

8. The difference between correlation and causation is:

Answer 18

When two variables are correlated, there is a strong association between the two variables, but it does not necessarily mean that one causes the other

Question 19

9. The Hawthorne effect demonstrates the importance of:

Answer 19

• The use of a control group to eliminate bias

* Being aware that investigators can inadvertently influence the behaviour that they are studying

Question 20

10. Hormone replacement therapy studies showed:

Answer 20

People from a higher socioeconomic background tend to have better education and healthier diets, thus are less prone to heart disease

Question 21

11. A belief is commonly known as

Answer 21

Based on faith where there is no need for evidence

Question 22

12. Lung cancer used to be a rare disease. A dramatic increase in the 1940’s and 50’s stimulated research into the cause of the disease. Despite the growing evidence, the cigarette manufacturers denied the evidence and tried to persuade the public that filters made smoking safe. This is an example of:

Answer 22

A conflict of interest

Question 23

13. The Mozart effect was:

Answer 23

An unsupported claim that children would be more intelligent by listening to classical music

Question 24

14. The halo effect in media is:

Answer 24

When a respected public figure is used to prove scientific knowledge

Question 25

15. Fake science journals:

Answer 25

• Use scientific language to confuse the public
• Are published only on-line, and are not peer-reviewed
• Are published for profit

Question 26

16. An example of Pseudoscience is:

Answer 26

Astrology

Question 27

17. An example of a fraudulent journal article is:

Answer 27

• The association between autism and vaccinations (by Andrew Wakefield)
• Longevity for red wine drinkers (by Dipak K. Das)
• Cold fusion (by Pons and Fleishmann)

Question 28

Describe the GM free (Genetically Modified free) health claim. (2 marks)

Answer 28

GM foods are food that have been genetically modified. This means that the structure of the organisms DNA has been alter through scientific technology such as CRISPA. The health claim suggest that GM free foods are nutritional beneficial. This is indicated by the green tick next to the label GM free. However, this claim is spreading misinformation as there is no current scientific evidence to support this claim.

Question 29

Does evidence support this claim? For example, is GM free nutritionally healthier? Are there any other important environmental or social/ economic issues regarding GM food? Hint: You will need to source a wide range of sources to gain an understanding on this topic. Use the links provided to you in the textbook and find some of your own.

Answer 29

Currently there is no scientific evidence to support the health claim. Genetically modified foods are produced by changing the arrangement of proteins in the structure of the DNA. There are no chemicals involved within this process. GMO food reduces the need to percids and other chemicals to be used on the foods which is healthier. The claim GM free foods have health benefits is not valid as there is no scientific evidence to support the claim.

Question 30

Statistical Bias

Collection

Answer 30

Means of producing bias

Convenience sampling, voluntary selection sampling and survivor selection causes the sample size not properly representing the population.
Consequently, the results will favour the population surveyed.

Example

IQ test is written in english therefore will disadvantage people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Other examples included uncalibrated equipment and using observation or question are subjected to bias of personal beliefs.

Means of overcoming bias

To reduces bias, ensure that the population surveyed is representee of population.

Check all the equipment is calibrated so you know your measurements are accurate.

Ensure the person conducting the observation or questionary uses objective language.

Question 31

Statistical Bias

Analysis

Answer 31

Means of producing bias

Depending on the type of statistical technique used the results can be sway to make them appear higher or lower.

Statistical techniques include

• Mean
• Medium
• Mode

Example

Calculating the number of bird eggs laid to determine whether the population of birds is high enough to permit logging within that area.

Depending on what the situation is the statical techniques used to produce accurate results that are closest to the true value will vary.

Mean – sway the result higher
Mode - closest to true value

Means of overcoming bias

By selecting the most suited statistical technique to ensure the results is closest to the true value.
Using scientific terms properly. E.g., do not use the mean and average as interactable terms.

Question 32

Statistical Bias

Presentation

Answer 32

Means of producing bias

Scientist can influence their own personal opinions in their work through how their data is presented. Researchers can be manipulated and presented in a certain format to influence the viewers to reflect their own personal beliefs.

Means of overcoming bias
Present all the data collected. Additionally use correct graph techniques and accurate scale.

Question 33

Explain how scientists can unintentionally introduce bias into their investigations due to observer expectancy, stereotypes and their own sociological experience and personal experience.

Answer 33

Scientist can introduce bias into their investigation through observer-expectancy, stereotypes, their own sociological experience and personal experiences.  
Observer-expectancy effect had has been observed in Roberts Rosenthal investigation.  Rosenthal students conducted and experiment on rats in a maze.  Before conducting the experiment, he told the students that one group of rates were smarter.  The students were convinced that the group of ‘smarter’ rates were better despite there being no different between the two groups.
Furthermore, this is commonly seen in medical studies for drug trials as the doctor introduces their own bias onto their patent though their body language, language and tone which can give away their expectations of the outcome of the trial.  For this reason, the gold class study is a double-blind study as it eliminates this error. 
Stereotypes is seen in medicine when medical professional dismiss patients based on certain characterises like gender and racial minorities. Specifically female of colour. This leads to a delayed treatment and diagnosis.  In some case even death. 
Sociological experiences and persona experiences can led to researchers to sway the data set to fit the researcher preconceived notions.  This is done through researchers manipulating the data set to start from a number higher than 0.  For instant people personal belief is not believe in climate change can sway the data to a line with there beliefs.  This can be seen below.

Question 34

Hawthorn effect

Answer 34

Details of study

The study was conducted by the
National Research Council and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US during 1984 to investigate wheather increasing light levels had an effect on the productivity of workers.

Correlation
Increased light levels increased the productivity of there workers

Error made
Light increasing productivity but icnored the fact that productivity also improved amongst the control group.

Correction made
Control sample related that there was another facter as there was on direct link.

Question 35

Hormone replacement therapy

Answer 35

Details of study
To determine the factors that increase an individual’s risk of developing heart disease.

Correlation
The hormone replacement was correlated with lowering women risk of developing heart disease

Error made
The study didn’t consider the other potential life factors. These included eat nutriuos and health food, have a high socioeconomic backround.

Correction made
Consider other factors that could contribute.

Question 36

Mozart effect

Answer 36

Details of study
Mothers playing music to her unborn baby will increase its intelligent.

Correlation
The study conculed that listening to classical music can rewire the brain and increase the IQ score

Error made
The study sample size was small this is large susceptible to bias.

The study assumed it enhances overall intelligent. However, the affect was only temporary wasn’t lifelong.

Correction made
Music can temporary increase spatial rezoning on specific tasks.

Question 37

Discuss the conflict of interests of these research groups. How it can result in evidence
being supressed or misinterpreted.

Answer 37

The conflict of interest between the research groups is that one of the research groups is funded by a corporation who will benefit from proving CO2 is good. Therefore, the evidence produced under the corporation research is subjective to a conflict of interest which leads to the data being supressed or misinterpreted. Subsequently, the researcher wanting to please the big corporation so they will have more funding to conduct future research. In comparison to the non-corporation researchers who will receive no benefit for reporting that CO2 is good. Therefore, there is not a conflict of interest, the evidence is not being suppressed or misinterpreted consequently the results produced is valid, accurate and reliable.

Question 38

Compare and contrast the issue of Global warming to the Tobacco industry supressing the evidence of lung cancer.

Answer 38

Similar sequences of events followed the global warming incident to the tobacco industry scandal. In both incidents the corporation and industry aimed to minimise the information and addressing the problem on other factors. Therefore, the data presented the organisation showed a minimal effect in contrast to studies conducted by non-corporation or non-industry researchers.
In the global warming research conducted by the corporations they supressed the evident and manipulated the data by claiming that “CO2 is good”. The research was conducted under the cooperation funding. The research’s suppressed evident to please the cooperation in order to continue to receive funding for future research. In contrast the non-corporation came to a different conclusion. The discrepancy in the information present within the corporation is 0.15 in 2010 compared to non-cooperative being 0.01.

The tobacco industry studies conducted by the industry own research supress data, and only showed the correlation between a chemical which caused cancer. The industry misinformed the public by reporting their findings were inconclusive despite independent researched has previously confirmed the link between smoking and lung cancer. This is caused by a conflict of interest as the tobacco industry will experience revenues fall it their product is linked to developing serious health condition such as cancer.

The conflict of interest has led to both company supressing evidence so they can continue to make a profit.