Question 1

________ reasoning is used to make a hypothesis based on previously established observations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ reasoning is used to make a...

Question 2

Double-blind experiments are used so that the results will be more

Accepted Answer

A)  biased. 
B)  controlled. 
C)  objective. 
D)  statistically significant. 
A)  biased. 
B)  controlled. 
C)  objective. 
D)  statistically significant.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a cohort study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Compare lifetime exposure to coal plant emissions between individuals with lung cancer and individuals without lung cancer in the general population. 
B)  Measure lifetime exposure to coal plant emissions and the incidence of lung cancer in a group of individuals living in a small town. 
C)  Question all people in an area about their exposure to coal plant emissions and whether they have any lung diseases. 
D)  Examine the incidence of lung disease in all females over the age of 50 in a city that is close to a coal plant. 
A)  Compare lifetime exposure to coal plant emissions between individuals with lung cancer and individuals without lung cancer in the general population. 
B)  Measure lifetime exposure to coal plant emissions and the incidence of lung cancer in a group of individuals living in a small town. 
C)  Question all people in an area about their exposure to coal plant emissions and whether they have any lung diseases. 
D)  Examine the incidence of lung disease in all females over the age of 50 in a city that is close to a coal plant.

Question 4

Scientists are often hesitant to believe the results of a single experiment testing a particular treatment, even when the results are peer reviewed and statistically significant. This is because

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

Which of the following is a standard probability that is accepted by most researchers as statistical significance?

Accepted Answer

A)  10% 
B)  5% 
C)  0.05% 
D)  0.01% 
A)  10% 
B)  5% 
C)  0.05% 
D)  0.01%

Question 6

Which of the following is a disadvantage of a correlational experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  subjects may not know exposure levels 
B)  it is expensive and time consuming 
C)  it is not feasible for rare diseases or environmental factors of interest 
D)  it is only feasible for hypotheses for which an experimental treatment can be applied 
A)  subjects may not know exposure levels 
B)  it is expensive and time consuming 
C)  it is not feasible for rare diseases or environmental factors of interest 
D)  it is only feasible for hypotheses for which an experimental treatment can be applied

Question 7

Deductive reasoning is used to make ________ based on a hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

A)  correlations 
B)  data 
C)  predictions 
D)  statistical tests 
A)  correlations 
B)  data 
C)  predictions 
D)  statistical tests

Question 8

A(n)________ is an intentionally ineffective treatment given to members of a control group in an experiment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n)________ is an intentionally ineffective treatment given...

Question 9

Imagine that the average annual temperature among geographic regions is plotted on the x-axis of a graph, and the spiciness of local food (ranked on a relative "spiciness" scale)in that region is plotted on the y-axis. If the data conform to a very tight relationship, for example, 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 average annual temperature in a region. 
B)  Food is spicy in warm climates because the environmental conditions (warm temperatures) make local foods more spicy. 
C)  The relationship between the two variables is not correlation, but it is actually an example of causation. 
D)  Spiciness of food and annual average temperature are correlated, but the relationship is not the result of causation. 
A)  The spiciness of local food does not correlate with the average annual temperature in a region. 
B)  Food is spicy in warm climates because the environmental conditions (warm temperatures) make local foods more spicy. 
C)  The relationship between the two variables is not correlation, but it is actually an example of causation. 
D)  Spiciness of food and annual average temperature are correlated, but the relationship is not the result of causation.

Question 10

Ideally, an experiment studying the effect of a cold medicine should have

Accepted Answer

A)  no control group. 
B)  double-blind procedures. 
C)  a small sample size. 
D)  subjects of only one gender. 
A)  no control group. 
B)  double-blind procedures. 
C)  a small sample size. 
D)  subjects of only one gender.

Question 11

Which of the following would be a control in an experiment testing the prediction that a certain drug prevents cataracts in females over the age of 65?

Accepted Answer

A)  male subjects 
B)  female subjects younger than 65 
C)  alternative drugs that are suspected to prevent cataracts 
D)  female subjects over 65 that are given placebos 
A)  male subjects 
B)  female subjects younger than 65 
C)  alternative drugs that are suspected to prevent cataracts 
D)  female subjects over 65 that are given placebos

Question 12

Suppose that a botanist is interested in the effect of light on plants. In an experiment she conducts, 50 individuals of a single species of flowering plant are grown for 60 days under different lengths of artificial daylight. The plant species has flowers that can be either white or pink, depending on the genetics of the parent plants. The amount of water and fertilizer provided to each plant is constant. At the end of the experiment, the size of each leaf of every plant is measured. The dependent variable in this experiment is the

Accepted Answer

A)  duration of artificial daylight. 
B)  flower's color. 
C)  leaf's size. 
D)  duration of the experiment. 
A)  duration of artificial daylight. 
B)  flower's color. 
C)  leaf's size. 
D)  duration of the experiment.

Question 13

A news report is an example of a(n)________ source of scientific information.

Accepted Answer

A)  primary 
B)  secondary 
C)  tertiary 
D)  anecdotal 
A)  primary 
B)  secondary 
C)  tertiary 
D)  anecdotal

Question 14

An experiment is called double-blind when

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 15

Which of the following statements is an example of anecdotal evidence?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dr. Chowdury's research on bowel disorders, which was published in a scientific journal. 
B)  Dr. Jackson's statement in his infomercial that "I believe my personal cure for bowel disorders is more effective than any drug I've ever prescribed in 20 years of practicing medicine." 
C)  Information about side effects on the label of a bowel disorder drug. 
D)  An article on bowel disorders on a medical website. 
A)  Dr. Chowdury's research on bowel disorders, which was published in a scientific journal. 
B)  Dr. Jackson's statement in his infomercial that "I believe my personal cure for bowel disorders is more effective than any drug I've ever prescribed in 20 years of practicing medicine." 
C)  Information about side effects on the label of a bowel disorder drug. 
D)  An article on bowel disorders on a medical website.

Question 16

In statistics, a sample is a

Accepted Answer

A)  mean of a population. 
B)  small subgroup of a population. 
C)  correlation between the experimental factor on the subject's response. 
D)  range of values that has a high probability of containing the true mean. 
A)  mean of a population. 
B)  small subgroup of a population. 
C)  correlation between the experimental factor on the subject's response. 
D)  range of values that has a high probability of containing the true mean.

Question 17

It has been observed that people with relatively high stress levels get a relatively high number of colds. This is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  correlation. 
B)  experiment. 
C)  variable. 
D)  hypothesis. 
A)  correlation. 
B)  experiment. 
C)  variable. 
D)  hypothesis.

Question 18

Correlations are less convincing than controlled experimental results because correlations

Accepted Answer

A)  are subject to greater bias than experimental results. 
B)  cannot be observed outside the laboratory. 
C)  cannot be statistically significant. 
D)  do not eliminate as many alternative hypotheses as experimental results. 
A)  are subject to greater bias than experimental results. 
B)  cannot be observed outside the laboratory. 
C)  cannot be statistically significant. 
D)  do not eliminate as many alternative hypotheses as experimental results.

Question 19

A statistically significant result is one that

Accepted Answer

A)  is unlikely due to chance. 
B)  has real-world importance but is not necessarily based on mathematical probability. 
C)  is likely due to chance differences between groups. 
D)  the media can report as valid but scientists must consider as unsupported by research. 
A)  is unlikely due to chance. 
B)  has real-world importance but is not necessarily based on mathematical probability. 
C)  is likely due to chance differences between groups. 
D)  the media can report as valid but scientists must consider as unsupported by research.

Question 20

The scientific method is used to

Accepted Answer

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

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

________ reasoning is used to make a hypothesis based on previously established observations.

Double-blind experiments are used so that the results will be more

Which of the following is an example of a cohort study?

Scientists are often hesitant to believe the results of a single experiment testing a particular treatment, even when the results are peer reviewed and statistically significant. This is because

Which of the following is a standard probability that is accepted by most researchers as statistical significance?

Which of the following is a disadvantage of a correlational experiment?

Deductive reasoning is used to make ________ based on a hypothesis.

A(n)________ is an intentionally ineffective treatment given to members of a control group in an experiment.

Ideally, an experiment studying the effect of a cold medicine should have

Which of the following would be a control in an experiment testing the prediction that a certain drug prevents cataracts in females over the age of 65?

A news report is an example of a(n)________ source of scientific information.

An experiment is called double-blind when

Which of the following statements is an example of anecdotal evidence?

In statistics, a sample is a

It has been observed that people with relatively high stress levels get a relatively high number of colds. This is an example of a(n)

Correlations are less convincing than controlled experimental results because correlations

A statistically significant result is one that

The scientific method is used to

Are We Alone in the Universe? Water, Biochemistry, and Cells

Is It Possible to Supplement Your Way to Better Health?

Fat: How Much is Right for You? Enzymes, Metabolism, and Cellular Respiration

Life in the Greenhouse: Photosynthesis and Global Warming

Cancer: DNA Synthesis, Mitosis, and Meiosis

Are You Only as Smart as Your Genes? Mendelian and Quantitative Genetics

DNA Detective: Complex Patterns of Inheritance and DNA Fingerprinting

Genetically Modified Organisms: Gene Expression, Mutation, and Cloning

Where Did We Come From? The Evidence for Evolution

An Evolving Enemy: Natural Selection

Who Am I? Species and Races

Prospecting for Biological Gold: Biodiversity and Classification

Is the Human Population Too Large? Population Ecology

Conserving Biodiversity: Community and Ecosystem Ecology

Where Do You Live? Climate and Biomes

Organ Donation: Tissues Organs and Organ Systems

Clearing the Air: Respiratory Cardiovascular and Excretory Systems

Vaccinations: Protection and Prevention or Peril? Immune System

Sex Differences and Athleticism: Endocrine Skeletal and Muscular Systems

Is There Something in the Water? Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Attention Deficit Disorder: Brain Structure and Function

Feeding the World: Plant Structure and Growth

Growing a Green Thumb: Plant Physiology

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