Science Homework Help

Written Assignment: Trace the Scientific Method in a Primary Scientific Article

Addresses course outcomes 1 and 4:

• recognize and explain how the scientific method is used to solve problems.
• weigh evidence and make decisions based on strengths and limitations of scientific knowledge and the scientific method.

A primary research article is an article in which authors conduct experiments and report their original findings, while a secondary research article reports or summarizes information presented from another source (for information of primary and secondary sources please go to Online Guide to Writing and Research).

For this assignment we will use a secondary article to trace the scientific method in a primary article.

Before starting this assignment, revisit the Scientific Method Tutorial in the Science Learning Center under the Content area.

Summary of Instructions:

Select a topic from the article options below. Next, click on the associated link to read the Science Daily article (the peer-reviewed scholarly primary article is also provided. Use this article as needed for additional details). Finally, write a paper that addresses the points outlined below.

Article options (choose one):

Gut bacteria from wild mice boost health in lab mice. Researchers recently reported that laboratory mice that are given the gut bacteria of wild mice are better able to survive an infection of the flu virus as well as fighting colorectal cancer.

Gut bacteria from wild mice boost health in lab mice

Journal Reference: Rosshart S. P.,Vassallo, B. G.,Angeletti, D., Hutchinson, D. S.,Morgan, A. P.,Takeda, K.,Hickman H. D.,McCulloch, J. A.,Badger, J. H., Ajami, N. J.,Trinchieri, G.,Pardo-Manuel de Vilena F.,Yewdell, J. W.,Reherman, B.et al. Wild Mouse Gut Microbiota Promotes Host Fitness and Improves Disease Resistance. Cell, 2017 Nov 16;171(5):1015-1028.e13.2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.09.016

Multivitamins in pregnancy may be linked to lower autism risk in children. An international research team set out to assess whether nutrient supplementation during pregnancy is associated with reduced risk of autism spectrum disorder, with and without intellectual disability.

Multivitamins in pregnancy may be linked to lower autism risk in children

Journal Reference: DeVilbiss, E. A., Magnusson, C., Gardner, R. A.,Rai, D., Newschaffer, C.J. Lyall, K., Dalman, C. Lee, B.K., Antenatal nutritional supplementation and autism spectrum disorders in the Stockholm youth cohort: population based cohort study. BMJ, 2017 Oct 4;359:j4273. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.j4273

Higher dose of vitamin D increases bone density in premature babies. Recent investigations suggest that if the standard supplementation of 400 IUs of vitamin D is increased to 800 IUs daily there are reductions in the number of premature and preterm babies with extremely low bone density.

Higher dose of vitamin D increases bone density in premature babies

Reference retrieved from:

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185950

High blood pressure lowers significantly after drinking tart montmorency cherry juice. Drinking tart Montmorency cherry juice significantly reduces human blood pressure at a level comparable to that achieved by medication.

High blood pressure lowers significantly after drinking tart montmorency cherry juice

Journal Reference: Keane KM, George TW, Constantinou CL, Brown MA, Clifford T, Howatson G (2016), Effects of Montmorency tart cherry (Prunus Cerasus L.) consumption on vascular function in men with early hypertension, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103 (6), 1531–1539, https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.115.123869

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/103/6/1531/4569616?login=true

After selecting a topic and reading both the Science Daily article (see above) and the provided peer-reviewed primary research article as a reference, please write a paper adhering to the following guidelines:

Paper submission – upload to the appropriate assignment folder by the set deadline

1. Use the Science Daily article, and if needed also the scholarly article, to identify and describe the steps of the scientific method. Which observations do you think the scientists made leading up to this research study? Given your understanding of the experimental design, formulate a specific hypothesis that is being tested in this experiment. If a hypothesis is stated, please rewrite it IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Describe the experimental design including control and treatment group(s), and dependent and independent variables. Summarize the results and the conclusion (50 points)
2. Criticize the research described. Things to consider: Were the test subjects and treatments relevant and appropriate? Was the sample size large enough? Were the methods used appropriate? Can you think of a potential bias in a research study like this? What are the limitations of the conclusions made in this research study? Address at least two of these questions in your critique of the research study (20 points).
3. Discuss the relevance of this type of research, both for the world in general and for you personally (20 points). Proper grammar will count for 10 points.
4. Write a paper with title page, introduction, paragraphs addressing the questions, conclusion and references. As a minimum, you should have TWO references (the Science Daily article and the Journal Reference). You must write in your own words and paraphrase information from the selected information sources, addressing each of the questions for your chosen topic. Your paper should consist of less than 10% direct quotes. Your paper should be 500 – 750 words, excluding references and title page. Use APA style for references, see https://www.umgc.edu/library/libhow/apa_tutorial.cfm . Spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence construction, and paragraph construction will be considered in the grading of this assignment.
5. Submit your assignment to the Assignment folder by the due date listed in the course schedule. This assignment will automatically be checked for originality by Turnitin after submission. Please review the Originality Report and when needed, submit a revised assignment before the deadline.

Grading

	Excellent (90 – 100%)	Good (75 – 89%)	Adequate (50 – 74%)	Unacceptable (0-49%)
The Scientific Method 45 points	All steps of the scientific method in the provided research study is clearly and accurately identified and described. 40-45 points	One of the steps in the scientific method in the provided research study is not described and/or minor issues with clarity and accuracy in identifying and describing the steps of the scientific method. 33-39 points	Two of the steps in the scientific method in the provided research study are not described and/or major issues with clarity and accuracy in identifying and describing the steps of the scientific method. 25-32 points	Most or all of the steps in the scientific method is not described. 0-24 points
Critique of Research 20 points	Clear, accurate, relevant and well organized critique of research, commenting on at least two issues. 18-20 points	Minor issues with clarity, accuracy, relevance or organization in critique of research. 15-17 points	Major issues with clarity, accuracy, relevance or organization in critique of research, and/or commenting on only one issue. 10-14 points	No or minimal critique of research. 0-9 points
Discussion of Relevance 15 points	Discussion of the relevance of this research study, both to the world and to you personally, is clear and accurate. 13-15 points	Minor issues with clarity or accuracy in the discussion of the relevance of this research study to the world and to you personally. 10-12 points	Major issues with clarity and accuracy in the discussion of the relevance of this research study or missing relevance to world or to you personally. 6 – 9 points	No or minimal discussion of relevance to world or you personally. 0-6 points
Grammar/ Spelling 10 points	Less than 3 minor spelling/grammatical errors 9-10 points	4-8 spelling/grammatical errors 7-8 points	9-12 spelling/grammatical errors 5-6 point	More than 13 spelling /grammatical errors. 0-4 points
References 5 points	References to both the Science Daily article and the Scholarly article are listed at the end, in-text citations are included, all references in correct APA format. 5 points	References to the Science Daily article and the Scholarly article are listed at the end, but with minor errors in APA format and/or in-text citations missing. 3-4 points	Reference to either the Science Daily or the Scholarly article missing, and/or major errors in APA format. 1-2 points	No references included. 0 points
Length of Paper 5 points	Paper is between 500 and 750 words 5 points	Paper is between 350-499 or 751-900 words 4 points	Paper is between 200-399 or 900 – 1049 words 3 points	Paper is less than 199 or more than 1050 words