Skip to main content
 

Is the Data Dirty or Clean?

The Role of Experimental Design in Human Health Studies

By Chantilly A. Apollon

Is the Data Dirty or Clean?


 

Abstract

This case study challenges students to differentiate between anecdotal evidence and science-based evidence related to human health. The case uses a "flipped" approach in which students watch two preparatory videos prior to attending class. The first video defines anecdotal evidence while the second characterizes the different categories of scientific studies that generate evidence that is not anecdotal. Students watch the videos, analyze scenarios for anecdotal evidence, and think about what types of evidence they use to make health-related decisions. When students meet in class, they work in groups to compare and contrast these different categories of scientific studies and classify actual research studies aided by a dichotomous key for distinguishing between different types of studies related to human health. Primarily designed for students in introductory general biology courses, the activity could also be useful for lower division nutrition, physiology, or non-major biology courses or any course where students need to differentiate between science and pseudoscience.

   

Date Posted

08/22/2017

Overview

Objectives

  • Identify differences between pseudoscience and scientific evidence.
  • Classify experimental design approaches in studies involving human health.
  • Evaluate the credibility of evidence from various types of human studies.

Keywords

clinical trial; human subjects; epidemiological studies; scientific method; intervention; observation; correlation vs. causation; placebo; pseudoscience; anecdotal evidence; evidence-based medicine

  

Subject Headings

Biology (General)
Medicine (General)
Nutrition
Public Health
Science (General)
Statistics

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, General public & informal education

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

Scientific method, Pseudoscience

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Discussion, Flipped, Jig-Saw

 

 

Asset 2