Read the passage about bird food and bird watching. Noted scientist Dr. Elsa Birde described the effect of adding a mixture of dried apples and raisins to the previous feed of sunflower seeds, millet, thistle seed, and cracked corn in bird feeders in her yard. Over three years, Dr. Birde observed that the new mixture increased the number of songbirds at her feeders, especially during the months of April and May. As she has done for several years, Dr. Birde recorded, at the same time each day, the number of birds at each of her four feeders. She noted that the third year using the mixture coincided with the largest increase. There was a twenty-five percent increase in the number of songbirds over times when this mixture was not used. Dr. Birde also noted that in the third year she used a specific ratio of the ingredients, carefully measuring, which she had not done in previous years. The third year also had a warmer than normal spring, and a construction project began in a neighborhood near Dr. Birde’s. Dr. Birde is now going to produce this formula for sale and advertise to customers that they may see the same twenty-five percent increase in songbirds at their feeders.Dr. E. Birde, Journal of Scientific Bird FeedingWhich might be a cause for the increase in songbirds at the feeders?
Which statement best describes a valid scientific claim?
A science class tested ways to clean water after an oil spill. Each group of students was given 100 mL of vegetable oil, 100 mL of engine oil, and 800 mL of water in a rectangular plastic container. Each container also held five floating wooden cubes (5 cubic centimeters each) representing animals in the water. Each group was tasked with removing as much oil as possible in a 20 minute period, leaving “clean water” in the container, using whatever tools they brought to class. The results of the “clean-up” are presented in the table below.Group Vegetable oil removed (mL)Engine oil removed (mL)1102021101303604048070Based on the results above, which group’s data are obviously unreliable?
Read the passage about acupuncture. Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that uses wire-thin needles inserted by a trained practitioner into specific points in the body. This ancient form of pain relief and stimulation is said to benefit patients by blocking channels which practitioners claim allow pain to travel within the body. This practice became more widely recognized and used after a New York Times reporter wrote in 1971 of a positive experience with it after surgery. Those who doubt the effectiveness of this treatment for pain attribute the pain relief to a placebo effect: if a patient believes something will reduce their pain, they will experience some relief. The National Institutes of Health says that acupuncture relieves pain and reduces nausea and vomiting, although it is unclear how it works. The few adverse effects reported are due to improperly sterilized needles or improper delivery, making this still a fairly low risk option. For anyone considering acupuncture, they should first research its effectiveness for their specific condition.Summary of statements published by the National Institutes of HealthAfter reading the passage about acupuncture, identify which scientific claim explains why some people say acupuncture does not truly relieve pain.
According to a recent encyclopedia entry about dog breeds, Labrador retrievers come in two specific breeds: English and American. The article cites six studies from several scientific journals about dog breeding showing that males of both breeds usually average 29-41 kg (65-90 lb) in weight, and females usually average 25-32 kg (55-70 lb) in weight. Anna’s female Labrador retriever weighs 38 kg (83 lb). What does Anna’s dog’s weight indicate about the reliability of this source?
Some studies have shown that peppermint odor increases people’s mental sharpness, especially when they solve math problems. Which best describes how this could be a valid scientific claim?
Shawna is very knowledgeable about cars. She subscribes to several different automobile magazines, has interviewed people who work on cars for a living, and has researched many types of cars. She started a blog with the information she has gathered. On her blog, she offers opinions about which cars are the best value for the money and which are the most difficult to repair. Which best describes the reliability of her work?
One way that scientists ensure that data are reliable is through
Which factor is found in a scientific claim?
Read the passage below about acupuncture. Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that uses wire-thin needles inserted by a trained practitioner into specific points in the body. This ancient form of pain relief and stimulation is said to benefit patients by blocking channels which practitioners claim allow pain to travel within the body. This practice became more widely recognized and used after a New York Times reporter wrote in 1971 of a positive experience with it after surgery. Those who doubt the effectiveness of this treatment for pain attribute the pain relief to a placebo effect: if a patient believes something will reduce their pain, they will experience some relief. The National Institutes of Health says that acupuncture relieves pain and reduces nausea and vomiting, although it is unclear how it works. The few adverse effects reported are due to improperly sterilized needles or improper delivery, making this still a fairly low risk option. For anyone considering acupuncture, they should first research its effectiveness for their specific condition.Summary of statements published by the National Institutes of HealthWhich statement best explains the scientific claim about how acupuncture treatment reduces pain?
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