Assignment
Manufacturers often make claims of "scientific" or "clinical" evidence for their product's effectiveness. How valid are such claims?
Locate from a secondary media source (can be a website [NOT WIKIPEDIA]) an advertisement for a product that is claimed to be scientifically tested, clinically tested, or proven effective.
I. Summarize the claims made, and attach a hyperlink of the advertisement.
II. Critically analyze the advertisement from a scientific perspective, and assess the validity of the claims by answering the following questions:
1. A. Was a control group used in the investigation?
B. What is the importance of a control group to a scientific investigation?
2. A. How many subjects were included in the study?
B. Why is it important to have as many subjects as possible in an investigation?
3. A. How were the subjects assigned to the study groups?
B. Why is the manner in which subjects are assigned to study groups important to the validity of scientific investigations?
4. A. What variables were controlled for in the investigation?
B. Why is it important to the validity of the results that particular variables be controlled for?
5. A. Are the results of the investigation (data) presented?
B. Why is providing the results of the investigation important?
6. A. Is enough information provided so that the investigation can be replicated?
B. Why is providing this information vital to a scientific claim?
7. A. Is the data statistically analyzed to draw conclusions?
B. Why is it important that statistical tests be used to analyze experimental results?
8. A. Is anecdotal evidence (testimonials) presented?
B. What are the limitations/weaknesses of anecdotal evidence?
9. A. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?
B. What is the role of peer review in the science?
Explain why you think the claims made in the advertisement are, or are not, scientifically valid.