Methods of Gathering Data

For two months, three watermelon plants are given regular tap water, and three are given distilled water. Their growth rates and overall sizes are recorded weekly.

• This is an experiment.
• This is an observational study.

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You want to find out student opinions on the location for the prom. What should you use?

• A survey.
• An observational study.
• An experiment.
• A simulation

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You are trying to determine if pregnancy affects sleep levels. What is the best method?

• A survey
• An observational study.
• An experiment.
• A simulation

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You are trying to find out which is better - studying for a test over the course of a week, or all the night before. What is the best method?

• Survey.
• Observational study.
• Experiment.
• Simulation.

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When one examines the entire population instead of a subgroup of the population, this is called a ____________.

• Sampling
• Census
• Bias

Is diet or exercise effective in combating insomnia? Some believe that cutting out desserts can help alleviate the problem, while others recommend exercise. Forty volunteers suffering from insomnia agreed to participate in a month-long experiment. Half were randomly assigned to a special no-desserts diet; the others continued desserts as usual. Half of the people in each of these groups were randomly assigned to an exercise program, while the others did not exercise. Those who ate no desserts and engaged in exercise showed the most improvement. 

• Observational Study
• Experiment

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Researchers have linked an increase in the incidence of breast cancer in Italy to dioxin released by an industrial accident in 1976. The study identified 981 women who lived near the site of the industrial explosion and were under age 40 at the time. Fifteen of the women had developed breast cancer, at an unusually young average age of 45. Medical records showed that these women had heightened concentrations of dioxin in their blood, and that each 10-fold increase in dioxin level was associated with a doubling of the risk of breast cancer. (Science News, Aug. 3, 2002)

• Observational Study
• Experiment

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To research the effects of "dietary patterns" on blood pressure in 459 subjects, subjects were randomly assigned to three groups and had their meals prepared by dieticians. Those who were fed a diet low in fat and cholesterol and high in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods (known as the DASH diet) lowered their systolic blood pressure by an average of 6.7 points when compared with subjects fed a control diet. 

• Observational Study
• Experiment

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The May 4, 2000, issue of Science News reported that, contrary to popular belief, depressed individuals cry no more often in response to sad situations than non-depressed people. Researchers studied 23 men and 48 women with major depression, and 9 men and 24 women with no depression. They showed the subjects a sad film about a boy whose father has died, noting whether or not the subjects cried. Women cried more often than men, but there were no significant differences between the depressed and non-depressed groups. 

• Observational Study
• Experiment

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What should you use when determining the number of people who will be coming to your birthday party?

• Census
• Sample
• Simulation
• Experiment

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