Question 1

In a scientific study evaluating the beneficial effects of caffeine on the elderly,who would be the best subjects to test?

Accepted Answer

A)  elderly men and women 
B)  elderly women 
C)  pregnant women 
D)  elderly men 
E)  teenagers 
A)  elderly men and women 
B)  elderly women 
C)  pregnant women 
D)  elderly men 
E)  teenagers

Question 2

In a controlled experiment,which group receives a placebo?

Accepted Answer

A)  the experimental group 
B)  the control group 
C)  the scientist group 
D)  the independent group 
E)  all groups 
A)  the experimental group 
B)  the control group 
C)  the scientist group 
D)  the independent group 
E)  all groups

Question 3

A correlation in a scientific study indicates

Accepted Answer

A)  insufficient data. 
B)  a cause and effect between variables. 
C)  a clear link between two variables. 
D)  a possible link between two variables. 
E)  the necessity for a new hypothesis. 
A)  insufficient data. 
B)  a cause and effect between variables. 
C)  a clear link between two variables. 
D)  a possible link between two variables. 
E)  the necessity for a new hypothesis.

Question 4

Statistical significance

Accepted Answer

A)  indicates a high likelihood that your results are due to your treatment versus due to chance. 
B)  is more likely to be reliable if you have a small sample size versus a large sample size. 
C)  is a requirement of the data from a scientific experiment. 
D)  indicates that the hypothesis should be rejected. 
E)  depends on large data sets. 
A)  indicates a high likelihood that your results are due to your treatment versus due to chance. 
B)  is more likely to be reliable if you have a small sample size versus a large sample size. 
C)  is a requirement of the data from a scientific experiment. 
D)  indicates that the hypothesis should be rejected. 
E)  depends on large data sets.

Question 5

A hypothesis can be everything EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  proven true. 
B)  not supported. 
C)  supported. 
D)  falsifiable. 
E)  testable. 
A)  proven true. 
B)  not supported. 
C)  supported. 
D)  falsifiable. 
E)  testable.

Question 6

A study is conducted to see if walking reduces joint stiffness in people suffering from arthritis of the knee.Half the participants are instructed to walk an additional 1 mile every day,while the other half are told to go about their normal daily routine with no additional exercise.In this study,the group that walks an extra mile every day is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

A)  control group. 
B)  experimental group. 
C)  placebo group. 
D)  dependent group. 
E)  independent group. 
A)  control group. 
B)  experimental group. 
C)  placebo group. 
D)  dependent group. 
E)  independent group.

Question 7

Studies involving the benefits or risks of drinking coffee may be obscured by

Accepted Answer

A)  side effects of caffeine. 
B)  how the coffee was roasted or processed. 
C)  other chemicals in coffee. 
D)  the age of the people studied. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  side effects of caffeine. 
B)  how the coffee was roasted or processed. 
C)  other chemicals in coffee. 
D)  the age of the people studied. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 8

Use the following information for the question below:
You conduct a clinical trial to test whether a new drug relieves the symptoms of arthritis better than a placebo.You have four groups of participants,all of whom have moderately painful arthritis (rated 7 on a scale of 1 to 10).Each group receives a daily pill as follows: group 1-placebo;group 2-15 mg;group 3-25 mg;group 4-50 mg.At the end of 2 weeks,participants in each group are asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  the level of pain experienced 
B)  the different drug treatment groups 
C)  the degree to which symptoms changed 
D)  the drug itself 
E)  the amount of pain experienced at the end of the experiment by the different drug treatment groups 
A)  the level of pain experienced 
B)  the different drug treatment groups 
C)  the degree to which symptoms changed 
D)  the drug itself 
E)  the amount of pain experienced at the end of the experiment by the different drug treatment groups

Question 9

Increasing sample size increases

Accepted Answer

A)  the control group. 
B)  the experimental group. 
C)  randomness. 
D)  reliability of data. 
E)  variation. 
A)  the control group. 
B)  the experimental group. 
C)  randomness. 
D)  reliability of data. 
E)  variation.

Question 10

Peer review means what in relation to scientific journals?

Accepted Answer

A)  Review by specialists in the field 
B)  Review by the editor 
C)  Review by top scientists 
D)  Review by an editorial board 
E)  Review by people of the same age,gender,and ethnicity 
A)  Review by specialists in the field 
B)  Review by the editor 
C)  Review by top scientists 
D)  Review by an editorial board 
E)  Review by people of the same age,gender,and ethnicity

Question 11

Correlation is

Accepted Answer

A)  a problem encountered when the drug under study causes many different reactions. 
B)  a type of study in which researchers examine what happens to a group of people over time. 
C)  when one variable causes an observed result. 
D)  when two variables are related to one another in a predictable manner. 
E)  when the effect of one variable hides the effect of the other variable. 
A)  a problem encountered when the drug under study causes many different reactions. 
B)  a type of study in which researchers examine what happens to a group of people over time. 
C)  when one variable causes an observed result. 
D)  when two variables are related to one another in a predictable manner. 
E)  when the effect of one variable hides the effect of the other variable.

Question 12

A controlled experiment must

Accepted Answer

A)  have a dependent variable. 
B)  have an independent variable. 
C)  be falsifiable. 
D)  be repeatable. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  have a dependent variable. 
B)  have an independent variable. 
C)  be falsifiable. 
D)  be repeatable. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 13

Can an epidemiologist who finds a correlation between the use of tanning beds and melanoma (an aggressive form of skin cancer)in college-age women conclude that tanning beds cause skin cancer?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes,as long as the correlation was statistically significant. 
B)  Yes,but only for college-age women. 
C)  Yes,but only melanoma skin cancer,not other forms of skin cancer 
D)  No;the study would have to be done with a wider range of participants (males and females of different ages)before it can be concluded that tanning beds cause melanoma. 
E)  No;correlation is not proof of causation. 
A)  Yes,as long as the correlation was statistically significant. 
B)  Yes,but only for college-age women. 
C)  Yes,but only melanoma skin cancer,not other forms of skin cancer 
D)  No;the study would have to be done with a wider range of participants (males and females of different ages)before it can be concluded that tanning beds cause melanoma. 
E)  No;correlation is not proof of causation.

Question 14

You conduct a clinical trial to test whether a new drug relieves the symptoms of arthritis better than a placebo.You have four groups of participants,all of whom have moderately painful arthritis (rated 7 on a scale of 1 to 10).Each group receives a daily pill as follows: group 1-placebo;group 2-15 mg;group 3-25 mg;group 4-50 mg.At the end of 2 weeks,participants in each group are asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
Based on the process of science,what should your next step be?

Accepted Answer

A)  invest in the drug company 
B)  conclude that the drug relieves arthritis pain 
C)  run a statistical analysis on the data collected 
D)  conclude that the drug doesn't work very well 
E)  Develop a new hypothesis based on the unanalyzed data. 
A)  invest in the drug company 
B)  conclude that the drug relieves arthritis pain 
C)  run a statistical analysis on the data collected 
D)  conclude that the drug doesn't work very well 
E)  Develop a new hypothesis based on the unanalyzed data.

Question 15

Rank the following in order from most reliable to least reliable sources of information.

Accepted Answer

A)  scientific journals$\rightarrow$magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist$\rightarrow$public opinion 
B)  scientific journals$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist$\rightarrow$magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$public opinion 
C)  magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$scientific journal$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist$\rightarrow$public opinion 
D)  magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$scientific journal$\rightarrow$public opinion$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist 
E)  magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist$\rightarrow$scientific journal$\rightarrow$public opinion 
A)  scientific journals$\rightarrow$magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist$\rightarrow$public opinion 
B)  scientific journals$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist$\rightarrow$magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$public opinion 
C)  magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$scientific journal$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist$\rightarrow$public opinion 
D)  magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$scientific journal$\rightarrow$public opinion$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist 
E)  magazine article written by scientist$\rightarrow$magazine article written by journalist$\rightarrow$scientific journal$\rightarrow$public opinion

Question 16

In a clinical trial with 400 subjects,the most reliable results would be obtained if ____subjects were in the experimental group and ____in the control.

Accepted Answer

A)  200;200 
B)  300;100 
C)  100;300 
D)  350;50 
E)  50;350 
A)  200;200 
B)  300;100 
C)  100;300 
D)  350;50 
E)  50;350

Question 17

What is the importance of statistical analyses?

Accepted Answer

A)  They can reveal whether or not the data have been fabricated. 
B)  They can be used to support or reject the hypothesis. 
C)  They can be used to determine whether any observed differences between two groups are real or a result of chance. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
E)  They can be used to either support or reject the hypothesis,or to determine whether any observed differences between two groups are real or a result of chance. 
A)  They can reveal whether or not the data have been fabricated. 
B)  They can be used to support or reject the hypothesis. 
C)  They can be used to determine whether any observed differences between two groups are real or a result of chance. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
E)  They can be used to either support or reject the hypothesis,or to determine whether any observed differences between two groups are real or a result of chance.

Exam 1: Process of Science

In a scientific study evaluating the beneficial effects of caffeine on the elderly,who would be the best subjects to test?

In a controlled experiment,which group receives a placebo?

A correlation in a scientific study indicates

Statistical significance

A hypothesis can be everything EXCEPT

Studies involving the benefits or risks of drinking coffee may be obscured by

Increasing sample size increases

Peer review means what in relation to scientific journals?

Correlation is

A controlled experiment must

Can an epidemiologist who finds a correlation between the use of tanning beds and melanoma (an aggressive form of skin cancer)in college-age women conclude that tanning beds cause skin cancer?

Rank the following in order from most reliable to least reliable sources of information.

In a clinical trial with 400 subjects,the most reliable results would be obtained if ____subjects were in the experimental group and ____in the control.

What is the importance of statistical analyses?

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In a clinical trial with 400 subjects,the most reliable results would be obtained if subjects were in the experimental group and in the control.