Question

A pharmaceutical company wanted to test a new drug developed to lessen the effects of the common cold. To test this drug, scientists tested 50 volunteers, each of whom was suffering the effects of a cold. Twenty five of the people were given the drug, while the other 25 were given a placebo, a sugar pill. None of the participants knew who was taking which pill. All participants received a pill at 8:00 am daily for the first three days of the study. All participants lived in the same environment, with the same climate, eating the same diet, and having the same level of activity. The severity of the cold, hence the effectiveness of the pill, was determined by the number of tissues each person used within 24 hours. At the end of a seven day period, it was concluded that those with the sugar pill had their symptoms disappear as well as those who had taken the new wonder drug. The executive committee decided to produce the drug anyway thinking that the public would do anything to relieve the symptoms of a cold. Type of Variable Description Dependent Variable that the researchers actually measurers, counts or observes. It is what the researcher thinks will change in response to the experimental treatment. Independent Variable that is intentionally changed by the researcher. Standardized or Controlled These variables are held constant between each group to help prevent these factors from influencing the dependent variable. Table Source: CA Surmacz (2004) Inquiring Minds Want to know: Introducing Freshmen to Experimental Design. In Tested studies for laboratory teaching. MA O'Donnell, Ed. Vol 25 Mini Workshops. Assoc. Biology Laboratory Education pp. 316-327.

1) State the research question the study aimed to address
2) What is the hypothesis?
3) Identify the independent variable versus the dependent variable.
4) What variables were held constant in this study?
5) What was the control group?
6) What data was collected during the study?
7) What this data qualitative or quantitative?
8) What was the study's conclusion?

Answer 1

1. Research question is a question which is the aim of any experiment or research, in this case, the question addressed by the study is - Testing the effects of a newly developed drug to lessen the effects of the common cold.

2. Hypothesis is an explanation for the reason for any problem it does not need the evidence and completely based on logic.

The newly developed drug is able to lessen the symptoms of a common cold.

3. Independent variable is a variable manipulated or changed during the experiment:

Administration of drug or placebo (sugar pill)

4. Dependent variable is the response to the effect of the independent variable:

Number of tissues for each volunteer

5. Control group is available that remain constant throughout the study or used to compare the results:

Administration of sugar pill to 25 volunteers

6. Data is the result that the study generated -

At the end of the 7 days or one week period, symptoms of common cold disappear in both sets of volunteers who had taken either the drug or the placebo.

7. Data in this study is found is Qualitativedata as the drug is not administrated in doses.

8. Conclusion of the study is that the Placebo effect present as sugar pills relieve the common cold so This drug needs even more analysis.