Deck 1: Process of Science

Question 1

From what you have read in this chapter,would you say a 21-year-old Caucasian female can count on caffeinated coffee to reduce her risk of Parkinson's disease?

A) Yes,because the results of a peer-reviewed study indicated that drinking caffeinated beverages reduced the risk of Parkinson's disease.
B) No,because participants in that peer-reviewed study were Japanese American males;it cannot be inferred that the same results would hold for Caucasian females.
C) No,she would have to restrict her consumption of coffee to decaffeinated coffee to reduce her risk of Parkinson's disease.
D) Yes,the peer-reviewed study proved that coffee reverses the symptoms of Parkinson's disease in people of all ethnicities and ages.
E) No data are available on the relationship between drinking caffeinated beverages and Parkinson's disease because it would be unethical to conduct such an epidemiological study.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In a controlled experiment,which group receives a placebo?

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

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In the studies of coffee and memory discussed in this chapter,the independent variable is _____ and the dependent variable is _____.

A) caffeinated coffee;decaffeinated coffee
B) memory;caffeinated coffee
C) caffeine;memory
D) memory;caffeine
E) decaffeinated coffee;caffeinated coffee

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following sources is most likely to provide the most scientifically rigorous and accurate information?

A) a non-randomized clinical trial with 15,000 subjects
B) a randomized clinical trial with 15,000 subjects
C) an epidemiological study with 15,000 subjects
D) an endorsement of a product by a movie star
E) a report on a study presented by a news organization

Question 5

When is a hypothesis considered scientific?

A) when it is based on something other than observation
B) when it can be tested and is refutable
C) when it relies on anecdotal evidence
D) when it relies on mystical explanations
E) All hypotheses are considered scientific until experiments determine otherwise.

Question 6

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?

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 7

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?

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 8

Of the following,which is the first step in the scientific process?

A) generating a hypothesis
B) analyzing data
C) conducting an experiment
D) drawing a conclusion
E) developing questions based on observations

Question 9

You are listening to a news report that claims a new study has found convincing evidence that a particular weight-loss product is much more effective than diet and exercise Which statement would be an example of scientifically "convincing" evidence in this case?

A) The study has a hypothesis.
B) Statistical tests showed significantly more weight loss in the participants who used the weight-loss product than those who relied on diet and exercise.
C) All the participants lost at least 10 pounds.
D) Only the participants who used the weight-loss product lost weight.
E) The participants who used the weight-loss product lost an average of 3 pounds,whereas the participants who used diet and exercise lost an average of 2 pounds.

Question 10

In a controlled experiment,which group receives the placebo?

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

Question 11

A close friend has joined a clinical trial.When you ask her about the types of treatment she might be given,she tells you that neither she nor the doctor running the trial will know until the process has been completed.What type of trial has she joined?

A) peer reviewed
B) double-blind
C) epidemiological
D) unsafe
E) theoretical

Question 12

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?

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 correlation would have to hold with males and females and in different age groups.
E) No,correlation is not proof of causation.

Question 13

In the studies of coffee and memory discussed,the independent variable is _____ and the dependent variable is _____.

A) caffeinated coffee;decaffeinated coffee
B) memory;caffeinated coffee
C) caffeine;memory
D) memory;caffeine
E) decaffeinated coffee;caffeinated coffee

Question 14

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?

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 15

In which of the following would you have the most confidence?

A) a randomized clinical trial with 15,000 subjects
B) a randomized clinical trial with 5,000 subjects
C) an epidemiological study with 15,000 subjects
D) an endorsement of a product by a movie star
E) a report on a study presented by a news organization

Question 16

Which of these is NOT a factor that may lead to different conclusions from two different studies investigating the same thing (eg. ,the relationship,if any,between caffeinated coffee and memory)?

A) different sample sizes
B) different types of participants (eg. ,participants of different ages or professions)
C) different amounts of caffeine
D) different ways of evaluating memory (eg. ,long-term vs.short-term memory)
E) using a control group

Question 17

You carry out 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 mildly painful arthritis (rated 6 on a scale of 1 to 10).Each group receives a daily pill as follows: group 1 (control),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?

A) the amount of pain experienced at the start of the experiment
B) the amount of pain experienced at the end of the experiment
C) the degree to which pain symptoms changed between the start and the end of the experiment
D) the drug
E) All of the answers could be the independent variable.

Question 18

You hear a news report about a new asthma treatment.What information is NOT something you would want to know before asking your doctor if this treatment was right for you?

A) Was the drug tested in a randomized clinical trial?
B) How many participants were in the trial?
C) Was there a statistically significant difference between the effect of the new drug and the treatment used in the control group?
D) In what populations were the clinical trials conducted?
E) Is asthma a genetic disorder?

Question 19

How can statistics be used in a scientific study?

A) They can reveal whether or not the data have been fabricated.
B) They can only be used to support the hypothesis.
C) They determine whether observed differences are significant or a result of chance.
D) They can only be used to refute the hypothesis.
E) They can determine whether the hypothesis is testable and falsifiable.

Question 20

When scientists carry out an experiment,they are testing a _____.

A) theory
B) question
C) hypothesis
D) control
E) variable

Question 21

From what you have read in this chapter,would you say a 21-year-old Caucasian female can count on caffeinated coffee to reduce her risk of Parkinson disease?

A) yes,because the results of a peer-reviewed study showed that drinking caffeinated beverages reduced the risk of Parkinson disease
B) no,because participants in that peer-reviewed study were Japanese-American males;it cannot be inferred that the same results would hold for Caucasian females
C) no;she would have to restrict her consumption of coffee to decaffeinated coffee to reduce her risk of Parkinson disease
D) yes;coffee is known to reverse the symptoms of Parkinson disease
E) There are no data on the relationship between drinking caffeinated beverages and Parkinson disease because it would be unethical to conduct such an epidemiological study.

Question 22

What conclusions can be drawn from a hypothesis?

A) If evidence supports the hypothesis,the hypothesis is considered scientific theory.
B) If evidence rejects the hypothesis,then it can be removed from the list of possible answers to the original question.
C) If data support the hypothesis,then it is accepted and further testing is not warranted.
D) If there is data to support the hypothesis,then it is accepted until further testing suggests otherwise.
E) Both B and D.

Question 23

You are listening to a news report that claims a new study has found convincing evidence that a particular weight-loss product is much more effective than diet and exercise.What can you infer about the "convincing evidence" in this case?

A) It agrees with the hypothesis.
B) Statistical tests showed significantly more weight loss in the participants who used the weight-loss product than those who relied on diet and exercise.
C) All the participants lost at least 10 pounds.
D) Only the participants who used the weight-loss product lost weight.
E) The participants who used the weight-loss product lost an average of 3 pounds,while the participants that used diet and exercise lost an average of 2 pounds.

Question 24

A hypothesis is a statement that

A) can be changed throughout the experiment.
B) can be avidly accepted by scientists.
C) can be tested and proven true.
D) can be tested and proven false.
E) precedes a theory.

Question 25

You hear a news report about a new asthma treatment.What would you want to know before you asked your doctor if this treatment was right for you?

A) Was the drug tested in a randomized clinical trial?
B) How many participants were in the trial?
C) Was there a significant difference between the effect of the new drug and the treatment used in the control group?
D) Did any of the researchers have financial ties to the manufacturer of the new asthma drug?
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 26

What are the criteria for a good hypothesis?

A) It must be realistic and have only one possible result.
B) It must have only one possible result and be peer reviewed.
C) It must be based on anecdotal evidence and be testable.
D) It must be based on peer-reviewed journal articles and be realistic.
E) It must be testable and falsifiable.

Question 27

You carry out 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 mildly painful arthritis (rated 6 on a scale of 1 to 10).Each group receives a daily pill as follows: group 1 (control),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.The mean pain rating of the participants was 6.5 for the placebo,6.0 for 15 mg of the drug,4.5 for 25 mg of the drug,and 4.5 for 50 mg of the drug.What is your next step?

A) Invest in the drug company.
B) Conclude that the drug relieves arthritis pain.
C) Run a statistical analysis to determine if the differences are significant.
D) Conclude that the drug doesn't work very well (even the placebo group went down on the pain scale,and there was no difference in results between doses of 25 mg and 50 mg of the drug).
E) Both investing in the drug company and concluding that the drug relieves arthritis pain.

Question 28

What are the steps used in the process of a scientific study?

A) making initial observations that generate questions,studying the literature,generating hypotheses that are both testable and falsifiable,testing the hypothesis with experiments and analyzing the data,and making conclusions that are supported by data
B) generating hypotheses,conducting experiments,researching literature,making conclusions supported by the literature,and analyzing data
C) making initial observations that generate questions,generating hypotheses,studying the literature,conducting experiments based on literature,and making conclusions supported by data
D) generating hypotheses based on published literature,testing hypotheses,and making conclusions supported by data
E) None of the above.

Question 29

What is the importance of statistical analyses?

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.

Question 30

A hypothesis can be everything EXCEPT

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

Question 31

I notice that all the students in my class seem very drowsy 45 minutes into my class period.Knowing that it could not possibly be my lecture putting them to sleep,I consider other factors such as the fact that my class is at 5 P.M.and the sun is usually setting at that time of the day,which I think may make people drowsy.What type of evidence am I collecting in making this observation?

A) experimental
B) anecdotal
C) peer reviewed
D) coincidental
E) untestable

Question 32

The scientific process from beginning to end can be outlined as:

A) hypothesize,test,analyze,and conclude.
B) observe,hypothesize,test,analyze,and conclude.
C) observe,question,test,analyze,and conclude.
D) observe,test,analyze,and conclude.
E) observe,test,hypothesize,analyze,and conclude.

Question 33

Where are the most reliable scientific results published?

A) in the daily news
B) in science magazines
C) in science journals
D) on scientific websites
E) in peer-reviewed scientific journals

Question 34

All of the following are true of a scientific hypothesis EXCEPT

A) it is an opinion.
B) it is an educated guess to explain an observation.
C) there must be a way to test the hypothesis.
D) there must exist a possibility of obtaining a result that could prove your hypothesis wrong.
E) there must exist a possibility of obtaining a result that could support your hypothesis.

Question 35

How can two different studies investigating the same thing (e.g. ,the relationship,if any,between caffeinated coffee and memory)come to different conclusions?

A) They may have had different sample sizes.
B) They may have used different types of participants (e.g. ,participants of different ages or professions).
C) They may have used different amounts of caffeine.
D) They may have evaluated memory differently (e.g. ,long-term vs.short-term memory).
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 36

What is the importance of peer review in the scientific process?

A) It helps a scientist formulate a hypothesis.
B) It helps a scientist choose test subjects.
C) It ensures that a study has been appropriately designed and correctly interpreted.
D) It helps the scientist collect data.
E) It is the first step in any scientific study.

Question 37

Which of the following places the steps of the scientific process in the correct order?

A) experiment $\rightarrow$ questions $\rightarrow$ hypothesis $\rightarrow$ read literature $\rightarrow$ conclusions
B) questions $\rightarrow$ experiment $\rightarrow$ read literature $\rightarrow$ hypothesis $\rightarrow$ conclusions
C) read literature $\rightarrow$ experiment $\rightarrow$ questions $\rightarrow$ conclusion $\rightarrow$ hypothesis
D) questions $\rightarrow$ read literature $\rightarrow$ hypothesis $\rightarrow$ experiment $\rightarrow$ conclusions
E) read literature $\rightarrow$ questions $\rightarrow$ experiment $\rightarrow$ hypothesis $\rightarrow$ conclusions

Question 38

Observations used as scientific evidence should NOT include

A) peer-reviewed scientific literature.
B) previous data generated.
C) observations about past work.
D) anecdotal evidence.
E) other people's data.

Question 39

What is the first step in the scientific process?

A) designing an experiment
B) choosing test subjects
C) peer review of your study
D) analyzing your data
E) formulating a hypothesis

Question 40

Based on previous published data and some preliminary experiments done in my lab,I hypothesize that a drug called "shrinkase" will inhibit the growth of a particular type of cancerous tumor.What is my next step in the scientific process?

A) find people with that kind of tumor
B) obtain a large supply of shrinkase
C) determine what my control and experimental groups will be
D) submit my hypothesis for peer review
E) analyze the results of my experiments

Question 41

Two groups of people are given a drug that they are told will make them drowsy.However,only one group actually receives this drug,while the other group secretly receives a sugar pill.Strangely,both groups report feeling very tired 30 minutes later.The group receiving the sugar pill is said to be experiencing the

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

Question 42

Scientific journals send out potential articles to other scientists working in the same research area,and those scientists make comments regarding the research.This is known as

A) jurisprudence.
B) peer rebuttal.
C) journalistic integrity.
D) journalistic license.
E) peer review.

Question 43

In a well-designed experiment the independent variable

A) does not depend on another factor or condition.
B) changes from subject to subject randomly.
C) can never be manipulated by the researcher.
D) will depend on the dependent variable.
E) None of the above.

Question 44

You have the following known facts: Smoking causes accumulation of materials in the lungs,thereby decreasing oxygen-absorbing capability of the lungs.Long-term smoking causes more accumulation of materials in the lungs.Decreased lung capacity increases the workload of the heart.Which of the following hypotheses can you make from these observations?

A) People who never smoke will never develop lung problems.
B) Long-term smokers have poorer heart health than nonsmokers.
C) New smokers have poorer heart health than long-term smokers.
D) Stopping smoking eliminates lung problems within two years.
E) Stopping smoking eliminates heart problems within two years.

Question 45

A controlled experiment must

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

Question 46

Which is NOT an everyday (nonscientific)theory?

A) If you carry an umbrella it won't rain.
B) Evolution occurs by natural selection.
C) The freezer is the best place for valuables.
D) Wearing bright clothes cheers one up.
E) 3,000 subjects perform better after a full night's sleep.

Question 47

If the results of an experiment contradict the hypothesis,you have _____ the hypothesis.

A) supported
B) falsified
C) proved
D) failed
E) verified

Question 48

A placebo is given to the:

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

Question 49

A hypothesis must be ____ and _____.

A) logical;verifiable
B) logical;falsifiable
C) testable;logical
D) irrefutable;testable
E) testable;falsifiable

Question 50

You finish a research project and submit your findings to a journal for peer review.The reviewers decide that they do not think your experimental results were convincing enough to support or disprove your hypothesis.What is your next step?

A) cry
B) formulate a new hypothesis that better fits your data
C) design and carry out more experiments to support or disprove your hypothesis
D) reanalyze your data
E) fix your results so they better fit your hypothesis

Question 51

In a controlled experiment usually only one factor is changed,which is the

A) placebo.
B) controlled variable.
C) coordinate variable.
D) independent variable.
E) dependent variable.

Question 52

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

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

Question 53

Evidence that is not based on systematic scientific study is known as ____ evidence.

A) empirical
B) causational
C) anecdotal
D) logical
E) statistical

Question 54

In a controlled experiment,the control and experimental groups differ in the

A) environmental variable.
B) controlled variable.
C) independent variable.
D) dependent variable.
E) result.

Question 55

A study was conducted to determine if the growth rate of babies differs between babies that are bottle-fed and babies that are breast-fed.In this experiment,growth rate is referred to as the

A) controlled variable.
B) experimental variable.
C) dependent variable.
D) independent variable.
E) placebo variable.

Question 56

A controlled experiment describes the use of

A) separate control and experimental groups.
B) precise measurements.
C) accurate and careful measurements.
D) more than one variable changing separately.
E) careful testing of the hypothesis.

Question 57

Which of the following is an example of an everyday (nonscientific)theory?

A) Objects are attracted to one another by gravity.
B) Broccoli tastes better than cauliflower.
C) All life forms are related to each other through common ancestry.
D) All living things are made of cells.
E) The universe was created from a large cosmic explosion.

Question 58

What is the importance of a placebo?

A) It allows the researcher to treat control and experimental groups differently while allowing them to believe they are being treated the same.
B) It allows the researcher to treat control and experimental groups the same while allowing them to believe they are being treated differently.
C) It allows the researcher to use an experimental drug on more people.
D) It removes the need for a control group.
E) All of the above.

Question 59

Use the following information to answer this question:
A scientific study looked at the effect of tanning beds on DNA damage.The scientists took skin cells and exposed them to UV radiation (the type used in indoor tanning beds)for different lengths of time: some for 1 minute,some for 5 minutes,some for 15 minutes,and some for 30 minutes.They then looked for signs of DNA damage and compared the results to cells that had never been exposed to UV light.
What is the control in this experiment?

A) the number of skin cells
B) the type of light
C) the length of time the cells are exposed to UV light
D) the untreated cells
E) the amount of DNA damage in the cells

Question 60

Use the following information to answer this question:
A scientific study looked at the effect of tanning beds on DNA damage.The scientists took skin cells and exposed them to UV radiation (the type used in indoor tanning beds)for different lengths of time: some for 1 minute,some for 5 minutes,some for 15 minutes,and some for 30 minutes.They then looked for signs of DNA damage and compared the results to cells that had never been exposed to UV light.
What is the independent variable in this experiment?

A) the number of skin cells
B) the type of light
C) the length of time the cells are exposed to UV light
D) the untreated cells
E) the amount of DNA damage in the cells

Question 61

In everyday usage,the word "theory" is used to mean an untested idea.Which of the following scientific terms is most similar to the everyday usage of "theory"?

A) concept
B) conclusion
C) observation
D) hypothesis
E) theory

Question 62

Increasing a sample size

A) provides more reliable data.
B) increases likelihood of getting a positive result.
C) increases likelihood of getting a negative result.
D) provides better variables.
E) provides better controls.

Question 63

Statistical significance

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 64

A significant result from a scientific study indicates

A) a statistical error.
B) it occurred by chance.
C) a positive result.
D) a negative result.
E) a nonrandom result.

Question 65

I observe that squirrels that live in the southeastern United States are much thinner than squirrels that live in the northeastern part of the country.I theorize that this is because the squirrels that live in the northeast have greater fat reserves for the winter months when food is scarce.Is this a scientific theory?

A) Yes,it is a good educated guess.
B) Yes,I am taking into consideration physiological reasons for their larger size,so it's scientific.
C) No,it's just a hypothesis;it has not been proven to be true through extensive experimentation or quantification.
D) No,it cannot be proven true.
E) Yes,I theorized it so it qualifies as a theory.

Question 66

An idea that has been examined numerous times and has never been falsified may be called a

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) conclusion.
D) conundrum.
E) ideology.

Question 67

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.

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

Question 68

In designing a scientific research project,the ideal control group should

A) be identical to the placebo group.
B) be identical to the experimental group but receive the placebo.
C) receive the placebo or receive no experimental manipulation.
D) be identical to the experimental group.
E) be identical to the independent variable.

Question 69

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

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 70

Which of the following is NOT a scientific theory?

A) Cells come from pre-existing cells.
B) Objects are attracted to one another by gravity.
C) A hypothesis supported by results from an experiment with 3,000 subjects.
D) All life forms are related to each other through common ancestry.
E) The universe was created from a large cosmic explosion.

Question 71

A hypothesis is

A) an idea that has been rigorously tested and never been disproven.
B) an idea that has been rigorously tested and only been disproven a few times.
C) an idea that can be tested and falsified.
D) an opinion.
E) an idea based on a person's experience or knowledge.

Question 72

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

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

Question 73

Would it be possible for a scientist to bias a scientific study?

A) No,there are so many checks and balances outside of the scientist's control that it's impossible to show bias in a scientific study.
B) No,because all scientific experiments are designed to be fair.
C) Yes,if the scientist used a large number of test subjects.
D) Yes,if the scientist chose specific individuals to include in the study.
E) Yes,if it was a randomized double-blind study.

Question 74

Increasing sample size increases

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

Question 75

A scientific theory

A) is a hypothesis that has been upheld by many experiments.
B) is an uneducated guess.
C) has not been tested.
D) is an educated guess.
E) can never be proven wrong.

Question 76

A scientific theory is

A) a hypothesis that has been rigorously tested and never been disproven.
B) a hypothesis that has been rigorously tested and only been disproven a few times.
C) a hypothesis that has been tested at least five times.
D) an opinion.
E) an idea based on a person's experience or knowledge.

Question 77

An experiment was performed using 1000 nonsmoking males ages 18 to 22.Which of the following experimental groups would most likely produce the most similar results?

A) 800 nonsmoking females ages 30 to 45
B) 800 smoking males ages 30 to 45
C) 1000 smoking females ages 25 to 40
D) 1000 nonsmoking males ages 30 to 55
E) 800 nonsmoking males ages 20 to 25

Question 78

Two studies were carried out to determine if children in daycare got more ear infections than children who stayed at home.The first study compared ear infection rates in 50 Canadian girls ages 1 to 2,half of whom attended daycare and half of whom stayed home.The second study compared ear infection rates in 1000 Swedish boys ages 3 to 4,half of whom attended daycare and half of whom stayed home.The results of these two studies differed greatly.
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be the cause of such differences?

A) different genders
B) different mothers
C) different ages
D) different sample sizes
E) different countries

Question 79

Studies involving coffee drinking have shown

A) a link to pancreatic cancer.
B) no link to pancreatic cancer.
C) a link to infertility.
D) a lowering of the incidence of ovarian cancer.
E) All of the above.

Question 80

A large sample size is important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

A) large sample sizes reduce the possibility that results are due to chance alone.
B) large sample sizes increase the likelihood of finding a statistically significant result.
C) large sample sizes make the results more reliable.
D) large sample sizes increase the accuracy of the results.
E) large sample sizes increase the likelihood that a very rare result will be noticed.