OSAT OSAT Scientific Inquiry and Principles 5

Question 1

A study finds a strong positive correlation between ice cream sales and drowning rates. The BEST interpretation of this finding is:

Accepted Answer

A third variable (hot weather) likely explains both

Answer

Correlation does not imply causation; a confounding variable like hot weather can drive both trends simultaneously.

Question 2

The process of converting a broad research question into a specific, measurable investigation is called:

Accepted Answer

Operationalization

Answer

Operationalization is the process of defining how abstract concepts will be specifically measured in a study.

Question 3

Which of the following represents a valid use of a double-blind study design?

Accepted Answer

Neither participants nor researchers know who receives the treatment vs. placebo

Answer

In a double-blind study, neither participants nor researchers know group assignments, eliminating bias from both sides.

Question 4

In scientific notation, 0.000345 is correctly written as:

Accepted Answer

3.45 × 10⁻⁴

Answer

0.000345 = 3.45 × 10⁻⁴ because the decimal moves 4 places to the right to get 3.45.

Question 5

A scientist reports a p-value of 0.03 in an experiment with a significance level of 0.05. This means the results are:

Accepted Answer

Statistically significant

Answer

A p-value of 0.03 is below the 0.05 threshold, meaning the results are statistically significant.

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