Question 1

Why is the scientific method used?

Accepted Answer

A)  to answer specific questions about the natural world 
B)  to determine absolute truth 
C)  to distinguish good from evil 
D)  to establish moral codes 
A)  to answer specific questions about the natural world 
B)  to determine absolute truth 
C)  to distinguish good from evil 
D)  to establish moral codes

Question 2

The average annual temperature among geographic regions is plotted on the x-axis of a graph and the spiciness of local food in that region is plotted on the y-axis. If the hotness of local food increases as the average annual temperature increases, then what can be concluded?

Accepted Answer

A)  The spiciness of local food does not correlate with the regional average annual temperature. 
B)  Food is spicy in warm climates because the warm temperatures make local foods more spicy. 
C)  The relationship between the two variables shows causation but is not correlation. 
D)  Spiciness of food and annual average temperature are correlated, but causation is not implied. 
A)  The spiciness of local food does not correlate with the regional average annual temperature. 
B)  Food is spicy in warm climates because the warm temperatures make local foods more spicy. 
C)  The relationship between the two variables shows causation but is not correlation. 
D)  Spiciness of food and annual average temperature are correlated, but causation is not implied.

Question 3

What would result from an ideal experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  high sampling error 
B)  small treatment effect 
C)  low standard error 
D)  large confidence interval 
A)  high sampling error 
B)  small treatment effect 
C)  low standard error 
D)  large confidence interval

Question 4

Why might scientists often be hesitant to believe the results of a single experiment testing a particular treatment, even when the results are peer reviewed and statistically significant?

Accepted Answer

A)  The experimental and control groups may be too alike. 
B)  The results may not be true for humans if the experiment used a model organism. 
C)  A single experiment may have eliminated most of the alternative hypotheses. 
D)  The experiment was likely to have had many biases that affected the results. 
A)  The experimental and control groups may be too alike. 
B)  The results may not be true for humans if the experiment used a model organism. 
C)  A single experiment may have eliminated most of the alternative hypotheses. 
D)  The experiment was likely to have had many biases that affected the results.

Question 5

What type of subject is treated as closely as possible to an experimental subject except that he or she does not get the experimental treatment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of subject is treated as...

Question 6

Which of the following is a true statement about experimentation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Variables in an experiment cannot be manipulated by the researcher. 
B)  Some hypotheses cannot be tested by experimentation. 
C)  Experimentation should test at least two or more hypotheses at the same time. 
D)  True randomization of subjects is impossible during experimentation. 
A)  Variables in an experiment cannot be manipulated by the researcher. 
B)  Some hypotheses cannot be tested by experimentation. 
C)  Experimentation should test at least two or more hypotheses at the same time. 
D)  True randomization of subjects is impossible during experimentation.

Question 7

What would a news report on CNN that describes recently published research on a new treatment for colds be an example of?

Accepted Answer

A)  anecdote 
B)  primary source 
C)  secondary source 
D)  peer-reviewed report 
A)  anecdote 
B)  primary source 
C)  secondary source 
D)  peer-reviewed report

Question 8

Which group would be the most effective control subjects in a test of an experimental treatment?

Accepted Answer

A)  The control group should be a different age or gender than the experimental subjects. 
B)  The control group should be given different doses of the experimental treatment. 
C)  The control group should be kept well informed of what treatment they are getting. 
D)  The control group should have characteristics very similar to the experimental subjects. 
A)  The control group should be a different age or gender than the experimental subjects. 
B)  The control group should be given different doses of the experimental treatment. 
C)  The control group should be kept well informed of what treatment they are getting. 
D)  The control group should have characteristics very similar to the experimental subjects.

Question 9

According to scientific evidence, what is the best prevention method known for reducing the chance of contracting a common cold?

Accepted Answer

A)  drinking Echinacea tea at least once a day 
B)  eating 500 mg of vitamin C a day 
C)  using throat lozenges that contain zinc 
D)  washing your hands frequently and effectively 
A)  drinking Echinacea tea at least once a day 
B)  eating 500 mg of vitamin C a day 
C)  using throat lozenges that contain zinc 
D)  washing your hands frequently and effectively

Question 10

When is an experiment considered to be double-blind?

Accepted Answer

A)  The hypothesis being tested is not based on previous observations. 
B)  It has already been performed by different researchers. 
C)  Neither the subjects nor the researchers know who is in the experimental and control groups. 
D)  The results of the experiment are only revealed to certain researchers. 
A)  The hypothesis being tested is not based on previous observations. 
B)  It has already been performed by different researchers. 
C)  Neither the subjects nor the researchers know who is in the experimental and control groups. 
D)  The results of the experiment are only revealed to certain researchers.

Question 11

What is an intentionally ineffective treatment given to members of a control group in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is an intentionally ineffective treatment given...

Question 12

Which situation describes potential observer bias in an experimental process?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dr. Jones is evaluating cancer patients for their responses to a new therapeutic drug. She knows which patients are receiving the placebo and which are receiving the drug. 
B)  Mr. Bromley is conducting a survey of weight loss for his professor. He asks each student in the study the same questions. 
C)  Ms. Bradley is an outside consultant who is conducting a health and wellness survey for a pharmaceutical company. She does not know the name of the company nor does she know the name of the drug being tested during the survey. 
D)  Dr. Postgate is analyzing biopsy samples from rats that have been given either a placebo or an experimental drug believed to reduce inflammation. Each sample is identified by a code number so that Dr. Postgate cannot tell which treatment the rats received. 
A)  Dr. Jones is evaluating cancer patients for their responses to a new therapeutic drug. She knows which patients are receiving the placebo and which are receiving the drug. 
B)  Mr. Bromley is conducting a survey of weight loss for his professor. He asks each student in the study the same questions. 
C)  Ms. Bradley is an outside consultant who is conducting a health and wellness survey for a pharmaceutical company. She does not know the name of the company nor does she know the name of the drug being tested during the survey. 
D)  Dr. Postgate is analyzing biopsy samples from rats that have been given either a placebo or an experimental drug believed to reduce inflammation. Each sample is identified by a code number so that Dr. Postgate cannot tell which treatment the rats received.

Question 13

What type of reasoning is used to make predictions based on a hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of reasoning is used to...

Question 14

What does sampling error refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  the difficulty in accurately measuring results that are incalculable 
B)  the differences between a group of experimental subjects and the population as a whole 
C)  the experimental results that do not support the hypothesis being tested 
D)  the intentional biases on the part of researchers 
A)  the difficulty in accurately measuring results that are incalculable 
B)  the differences between a group of experimental subjects and the population as a whole 
C)  the experimental results that do not support the hypothesis being tested 
D)  the intentional biases on the part of researchers

Question 15

When an experiment has a large sample size, and there is a large difference between the results in the experimental and control groups, how likely is it that the experimental results are statistically significant?

Accepted Answer

A)  very unlikely 
B)  unlikely 
C)  somewhat likely 
D)  very likely 
A)  very unlikely 
B)  unlikely 
C)  somewhat likely 
D)  very likely

Question 16

What type of reasoning takes the form of "if/then" statements?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of reasoning takes the form...

Question 17

Which microbiologists contributed to the germ theory of disease?

Accepted Answer

A)  Warren and Marshall 
B)  Pasteur and Koch 
C)  Watson and Crick 
D)  Jacob and Monod 
A)  Warren and Marshall 
B)  Pasteur and Koch 
C)  Watson and Crick 
D)  Jacob and Monod

Question 18

Why are double-blind experiments used?

Accepted Answer

A)  The results will be more biased. 
B)  The results will be more controlled. 
C)  The results will be more objective. 
D)  The results will be more statistically significant. 
A)  The results will be more biased. 
B)  The results will be more controlled. 
C)  The results will be more objective. 
D)  The results will be more statistically significant.

Question 19

When would an experimental result be considered statistically significant?

Accepted Answer

A)  The experiment is double blind. 
B)  Experimental and control subjects are randomly assigned. 
C)  The result is unlikely to be due to chance alone. 
D)  The result supports the hypothesis being tested. 
A)  The experiment is double blind. 
B)  Experimental and control subjects are randomly assigned. 
C)  The result is unlikely to be due to chance alone. 
D)  The result supports the hypothesis being tested.

Exam 1: Can Science Cure the Common Cold Introduction to the Scientific Method

Why is the scientific method used?

The average annual temperature among geographic regions is plotted on the x-axis of a graph and the spiciness of local food in that region is plotted on the y-axis. If the hotness of local food increases as the average annual temperature increases, then what can be concluded?

What would result from an ideal experiment?

Why might scientists often be hesitant to believe the results of a single experiment testing a particular treatment, even when the results are peer reviewed and statistically significant?

What type of subject is treated as closely as possible to an experimental subject except that he or she does not get the experimental treatment?

Which of the following is a true statement about experimentation?

What would a news report on CNN that describes recently published research on a new treatment for colds be an example of?

Which group would be the most effective control subjects in a test of an experimental treatment?

According to scientific evidence, what is the best prevention method known for reducing the chance of contracting a common cold?

When is an experiment considered to be double-blind?

What is an intentionally ineffective treatment given to members of a control group in an experiment?

Which situation describes potential observer bias in an experimental process?

What type of reasoning is used to make predictions based on a hypothesis?

What does sampling error refer to?

When an experiment has a large sample size, and there is a large difference between the results in the experimental and control groups, how likely is it that the experimental results are statistically significant?

What type of reasoning takes the form of "if/then" statements?

Which microbiologists contributed to the germ theory of disease?

Why are double-blind experiments used?

When would an experimental result be considered statistically significant?

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