Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills, Study notes of Design of Wood Structures

Download Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills and more Study notes Design of Wood Structures in PDF only on Docsity! Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills Directions: There are 28 multiple-choice questions. You will have about 35 minutes to work on the questions. Be sure to answer as many of the questions as you can in the time allotted. You will receive attendance points for completing the entire assignment today. Your grade will depend on completeness and thoroughness, not on correct answers. But, try your best, your honest answers will help us better prepare the materials for the remainder of the semester. Mark your answers on the scantron sheet. Bubble in your #ID on your scantron. Do NOT use a calculator. Thank you for your participation in this project! 1. Which of the following is a valid scientific argument? a. Measurements of sea level on the Gulf Coast taken this year are lower than normal; the average monthly measurements were almost 0.1 cm lower than normal in some areas. These facts prove that sea level rise is not a problem. b. A strain of mice was genetically engineered to lack a certain gene, and the mice were unable to reproduce. Introduction of the gene back into the mutant mice restored their ability to reproduce. These facts indicate that the gene is essential for mouse reproduction. c. A poll revealed that 34% of Americans believe that dinosaurs and early humans co-existed because fossil footprints of each species were found in the same location. This widespread belief is appropriate evidence to support the claim that humans did not evolve from ape ancestors. d. This winter, the northeastern US received record amounts of snowfall, and the average monthly temperatures were more than 2°F lower than normal in some areas. These facts indicate that climate change is occurring. 2. While growing vegetables in your backyard, you noticed a particular kind of insect eating your plants. You took a rough count (see data below) of the insect population over time. Which graph shows the best representation of your data? Time (days) Insect Population (number) 2 7 4 16 8 60 10 123 3. A study about life expectancy was conducted using a random sample of 1,000 participants from the United States. In this sample, the average life expectancy was 80.1 years for females and 74.9 years for males. What is one way that you can increase your certainty that women truly live longer than men in the United States’ general population? a. Subtract the average male life expectancy from the average female expectancy. If the value is positive, females live longer. b. Conduct a statistical analysis to determine if females live significantly longer than males. c. Graph the mean (average) life expectancy values of females and males and visually analyze the data. d. There is no way to increase your certainty that there is a difference between sexes. Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills 4. Which of the following research studies is least likely to contain a confounding factor (variable that provides an alternative explanation for results) in its design? a. Researchers randomly assign participants to experimental and control groups. Females make up 35% of the experimental group and 75% of the control group. b. To explore trends in the spiritual/religious beliefs of students attending U.S. universities, researchers survey a random selection of 500 freshmen at a small private university in the South. c. To evaluate the effect of a new diet program, researchers compare weight loss between participants randomly assigned to treatment (diet) and control (no diet) groups, while controlling for average daily exercise and pre-diet weight. d. Researchers tested the effectiveness of a new tree fertilizer on 10,000 saplings. Saplings in the control group (no fertilizer) were tested in the fall, whereas the treatment group (fertilizer) were tested the following spring. 5. Which of the following actions is a valid scientific course of action? a. A government agency relies heavily on two industry-funded studies in declaring a chemical found in plastics safe for humans, while ignoring studies linking the chemical with adverse health effects. b. Journalists give equal credibility to both sides of a scientific story, even though one side has been disproven by many experiments. c. A government agency decides to alter public health messages about breast-feeding in response to pressure from a council of businesses involved in manufacturing infant formula. d. Several research studies have found a new drug to be effective for treating the symptoms of autism; however, a government agency refuses to approve the drug until long term effects are known. Background for question 6: The following graph appeared in a scientific article1 about the effects of pesticides on tadpoles in their natural environment. 6. When beetles were introduced as predators to the Leopard frog tadpoles, and the pesticide Malathion was added, the results were unusual. Which of the following is a plausible hypothesis to explain these results? a. The Malathion killed the tadpoles, causing the beetles to be hungrier and eat more tadpoles. b. The Malathion killed the tadpoles, so the beetles had more food and their population increased. c. The Malathion killed the beetles, causing fewer tadpoles to be eaten. d. The Malathion killed the beetles, causing the tadpole population to prey on each other. 1 Modified from Relyea, R.A., N.M. Schoeppner, J.T. Hoverman. 2005. Pesticides and amphibians: the importance of community context. Ecological Applications 15: 1125-1134 Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills Background for questions 11 – 14: Use the excerpt below (modified from a recent news report on MSNBC.com) for the next few questions. “A recent study, following more than 2,500 New Yorkers for 9+ years, found that people who drank diet soda every day had a 61% higher risk of vascular events, including stroke and heart attack, compared to those who avoided diet drinks. For this study, Hannah Gardner’s research team randomly surveyed 2,564 New Yorkers about their eating behaviors, exercise habits, as well as cigarette and alcohol consumption. Participants were also given physical check-ups, including blood pressure measurements and blood tests for cholesterol and other factors that might affect the risk for heart attack and stroke. The increased likelihood of vascular events remained even after Gardener and her colleagues accounted for risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. The researchers found no increased risk among people who drank regular soda.” 11. The findings of this study suggest that consuming diet soda might lead to increased risk for heart attacks and strokes. From the statements below, identify additional evidence that supports this claim: a. Findings from an epidemiological study suggest that NYC residents are 6.8 times more likely to die of vascular-related diseases compared to people living in other U.S. cities. b. Results from an experimental study demonstrated that individuals randomly assigned to consume one diet soda each day were twice as likely to have a stroke compared to those assigned to drink one regular soda each day. c. Animal studies suggest a link between vascular disease and consumption of caramel-containing products (ingredient that gives sodas their dark color). d. Survey results indicate that people who drink one or more diet soda each day smoke more frequently than people who drink no diet soda, leading to increases in vascular events. 12. The excerpt above comes from what type of source of information? a. Primary (Research studies performed, written and then submitted for peer-review to a scientific journal.) b. Secondary (Reviews of several research studies written up as a summary article with references that are submitted to a scientific journal.) c. Tertiary (Media reports, encyclopedia entries or documents published by government agencies.) d. None of the above 13. The lead researcher was quoted as saying, “I think diet soda drinkers need to stay tuned, but I don’t think that anyone should change their behaviors quite yet.” Why didn’t she warn people to stop drinking diet soda right away? a. The results should be replicated with a sample more representative of the U.S. population. b. There may be significant confounds present (alternative explanations for the relationship between diet sodas and vascular disease). c. Subjects were not randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. d. All of the above 14. Which of the following attributes is not a strength of the study’s research design?” a. Collecting data from a large sample size. b. Randomly sampling NYC residents. c. Randomly assigning participants to control and experimental groups. d. All of the above. Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills 15. Researchers found that chronically stressed individuals have significantly higher blood pressure compared to individuals with little stress. Which graph would be most appropriate for displaying the mean (average) blood pressure scores for high-stress and low-stress groups of people? Average Systolic Blood Pressure for High-Stress versus Low-Stress Groups 0 50 100 150 200 High Low Stress Sy st ol ic B lo od P re ss ur e Average Blood Pressure (Systolic) Average Systolic Blood Pressure for High-Stress versus Low-Stress Groups Low Stress High Stress Average Systolic Blood Pressure for High-Stress versus Low-Stress Groups 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 0 2 4 6 8 10 Stress Level ( 0 = Lowest; 10 = Highest) Sy st ol ic B lo od P re ss ur e Average Systolic Blood Pressure for High-Stress versus Low-Stress Groups 0 50 100 150 200 High Low Stress Level Sy st ol ic B lo od P re ss ur e Average Blood Pressure (Systolic) Background for question 16: Energy efficiency of houses depends on the construction materials used and how they are suited to different climates. Data was collected about the types of building materials used in house construction (results shown below). Stone houses are more energy efficient, but to determine if that efficiency depends on roof style, data was also collected on the percentage of stone houses that had either shingles or a metal roof. 16. What proportion of houses were constructed of a stone base with a shingled roof? a. 25% b. 36% c. 48% d. Cannot be calculated without knowing the original number of survey participants. 17. The most important factor influencing you to categorize a research article as trustworthy science is: a. the presence of data or graphs b. the article was evaluated by unbiased third-party experts c. the reputation of the researchers d. the publisher of the article A B C D Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills 18. Which of the following is the most accurate conclusion you can make from the data in this graph3? a. The largest increase in meat consumption has occurred in the past 20 years. b. Meat consumption has increased at a constant rate over the past 40 years. c. Meat consumption doubles in developing countries every 20 years. d. Meat consumption increases by 50% every 10 years. 19. Two studies estimate the mean caffeine content of an energy drink. Each study uses the same test on a random sample of the energy drink. Study 1 uses 25 bottles, and study 2 uses 100 bottles. Which statement is true? a. The estimate of the actual mean caffeine content from each study will be equally uncertain. b. The uncertainty in the estimate of the actual mean caffeine content will be smaller in study 1 than in study 2. c. The uncertainty in the estimate of the actual mean caffeine content will be larger in study 1 than in study 2. d. None of the above 20. A hurricane wiped out 40% of the wild rats in a coastal city. Then, a disease spread through stagnant water killing 20% of the rats that survived the hurricane. What percentage of the original population of rats is left after these 2 events? a. 40% b. 48% c. 60% d. Cannot be calculated without knowing the original number of rats. 3 Modified from Rosenthal, Elizabeth. 2008. As More Eat Meat, a Bid to Cut Emissions. New York Times, December 3, 2008. Accessed June 9, 2011 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/science/earth/04meat.html Appendix B: Test of Scientific Literacy Skills Background for question 28: Researchers interested in the relation between River Shrimp (Macrobrachium) abundance and pool site elevation, presented the data in the graph below. Interestingly, the researchers also noted that water pools tended to be shallower at higher elevations. 28. Which of the following is a plausible hypothesis to explain the results presented in the graph? a. There are more water pools at elevations above 340 meters because it rains more frequently in higher elevations. b. River shrimp are more abundant in lower elevations because pools at these sites tend to be deeper. c. This graph cannot be interpreted due to an outlying data point. d. As elevation increases, shrimp abundance increases because they have fewer predators at higher elevations. M ea n # of s hr im p pe r p oo l Appendix C: TOSLS Skills and Answer Key (28Qs)  SKILL DESCRIPTION Question Correct Answer ͳ  ͺ  1 ȋ͵•Ȍ †‡–‹ˆ›ƒ˜ƒŽ‹†•…‹‡–‹ˆ‹…ƒ”‰—‡–ȋ‡Ǥ‰Ǥǡ”‡…‘‰‹œ‹‰™Š‡ •…‹‡–‹ˆ‹…‡˜‹†‡…‡•—’’‘”–•ƒŠ›’‘–Š‡•‹•Ȍ ͳͳ  ͳͲ  ͳʹ  ͳ͹  ʹʹ  2 ȋͷ•Ȍ ‘†—…–ƒ‡ˆˆ‡…–‹˜‡Ž‹–‡”ƒ–—”‡•‡ƒ”…Šȋ‡Ǥ‰Ǥ˜ƒŽ—ƒ–‡–Š‡˜ƒŽ‹†‹–› ‘ˆ•‘—”…‡•ȋ‡Ǥ‰Ǥǡ™‡„•‹–‡•ǡ’‡‡””‡˜‹‡™‡†Œ‘—”ƒŽ•Ȍƒ† †‹•–‹‰—‹•Š„‡–™‡‡–›’‡•‘ˆ•‘—”…‡•Ȍ ʹ͸  ͷ  ͻ  3 ȋ͵•Ȍ ˜ƒŽ—ƒ–‡–Š‡—•‡ƒ†‹•—•‡‘ˆ•…‹‡–‹ˆ‹…‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ȋ‡Ǥ‰ ‡…‘‰‹œ‡ƒ˜ƒŽ‹†•…‹‡–‹ˆ‹……‘—”•‡‘ˆƒ…–‹‘ǡ†‹•–‹‰—‹•Š–Š‡ ƒ’’”‘’”‹ƒ–‡—•‡‘ˆ•…‹‡…‡–‘ƒ‡•‘…‹‡–ƒŽ†‡…‹•‹‘•Ȍ ʹ͹  Ͷ  ͳ͵  ͳͶ  4 ȋͶ•Ȍ †‡”•–ƒ†‡Ž‡‡–•‘ˆ”‡•‡ƒ”…Š†‡•‹‰ƒ†Š‘™–Š‡›‹’ƒ…– •…‹‡–‹ˆ‹…ˆ‹†‹‰•Ȁ…‘…Ž—•‹‘•ȋ‡Ǥ‰Ǥ‹†‡–‹ˆ›•–”‡‰–Š•ƒ† ™‡ƒ‡••‡•‹”‡•‡ƒ”…Š”‡Žƒ–‡†–‘„‹ƒ•ǡ•ƒ’Ž‡•‹œ‡ǡ ”ƒ†‘‹œƒ–‹‘ǡ‡š’‡”‹‡–ƒŽ…‘–”‘ŽȌ ʹͷ  5 ȋͳȌ ƒ‡ƒ‰”ƒ’Š  ͳͷ  ʹ  ͸  ͹  6 ȋͶ•Ȍ ‡ƒ†ƒ†‹–‡”’”‡–‰”ƒ’Š‹…ƒŽ”‡’”‡•‡–ƒ–‹‘•‘ˆ†ƒ–ƒ ͳͺ  ͳ͸  ʹͲ  7 ȋ͵•Ȍ ‘Ž˜‡’”‘„Ž‡•—•‹‰“—ƒ–‹–ƒ–‹˜‡•‹ŽŽ•ǡ‹…Ž—†‹‰’”‘„ƒ„‹Ž‹–› ƒ†•–ƒ–‹•–‹…•ȋ‡Ǥ‰…ƒŽ…—Žƒ–‡‡ƒ•ǡ’”‘„ƒ„‹Ž‹–‹‡•ǡ’‡”…‡–ƒ‰‡•ǡ ˆ”‡“—‡…‹‡•Ȍ ʹ͵  ͵  ͳͻ  8 ȋ͵•Ȍ †‡”•–ƒ†ƒ†‹–‡”’”‡–„ƒ•‹…•–ƒ–‹•–‹…•ȋ‡Ǥ‰Ǥ‹–‡”’”‡–‡””‘” „ƒ”•ǡ—†‡”•–ƒ†–Š‡‡‡†ˆ‘”•–ƒ–‹•–‹…• ʹͶ  ʹͳ 9 ȋʹ•Ȍ —•–‹ˆ›‹ˆ‡”‡…‡•ǡ’”‡†‹…–‹‘•ǡƒ†…‘…Ž—•‹‘•„ƒ•‡†‘ “—ƒ–‹–ƒ–‹˜‡†ƒ–ƒ ʹͺ   Appendix D: Student Interview Scoring Rubric  Skill Correctreasoning Question Correct Answer ͳ  ͺ  1 ȋ͵•Ȍ ˜ƒŽ—ƒ–‹‘‘ˆŠ›’‘–Š‡•‹•™‹–Š‡š’‡”‹‡–Ǣ‡’‹”‹…ƒŽ–‡•–Ǣ†”ƒ™• …‘…Ž—•‹‘–Šƒ–‹•„ƒ•‡†‘•–”‘‰‡˜‹†‡…‡Ǣ’”‘˜‹†‡•”‡ƒ•‘‹‰ ˆ‘”‡˜ƒŽ—ƒ–‹‰‡˜‹†‡…‡Ǣ˜ƒŽ—ƒ–‡•–Š‡‡š’‡”‹‡–ƒŽ†‡•‹‰ǡ ”‡…‘‰‹œ‹‰…‘ˆ‘—†•‘”‡‡†ˆ‘””ƒ†‘•‡Ž‡…–‹‘ǡ‘”‘–Š‡” ‹†‡’‡†‡–˜ƒ”‹ƒ„Ž‡• ͳͳ  ͳͲ  ͳʹ  ͳ͹  ʹʹ  2 ȋͷ•Ȍ ‡…‘‰‹œ‡•‘—”…‡•‘ˆ„‹ƒ•Ǣ“—‘–‹‰”‡•‡ƒ”…Š‡”†‘‡•‘–‹†‹…ƒ–‡ ’”‹ƒ”›•‘—”…‡Ǣ”‡˜‹‡™•ƒ”‡‘–’”‹ƒ”›Ǣ‡†‹ƒ”‡’‘”–•ƒ”‡ –‡”–‹ƒ”›Ǣ’‡‡””‡˜‹‡™ƒ†‹’‘”–ƒ…‡‘ˆ‡˜ƒŽ—ƒ–‹‘„›͵”†’ƒ”–› ‡š’‡”–• ʹ͸  ͷ  ͻ  3 ȋ͵•Ȍ ‡…‘‰‹œ‡„‹ƒ•’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ‘”ˆ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽ‹ˆŽ—‡…‡••Š‘—Ž†‘–—•‡†–‘ ’”‡••—”‡ˆ‹†‹‰•ǡ…‘…Ž—•‹‘•ǡ”‡’‘”–‹‰ǡ‘”•‘…‹ƒŽ†‡…‹•‹‘•Ǣ †‡…‹•‹‘••Š‘—Ž†„‡„ƒ•‡†‘‡˜‹†‡…‡Ǣ“—‡•–‹‘ƒ„Ž‡‡–Š‹…•‘ˆ ’—„Ž‹•Š‹‰™‘”–Šƒ–Šƒ•‘–„‡‡˜‡”‹ˆ‹‡†Ǣ“—‡•–‹‘ƒ„Ž‡‡–Š‹…•‘ˆ †‹•–”‹„—–‹‰ƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ•–‘„‹ƒ•’ƒ”–‹…‹’ƒ–•Ǣ“—‡•–‹‘ƒ„Ž‡‡–Š‹…•‘ˆ ”‡Œ‡…–‹‰•–—†‹‡•„ƒ•‡†‘…‘–”‘˜‡”•›  ʹ͹  Ͷ  ͳ͵  ͳͶ  4 ȋͶ•Ȍ ‘…‘ˆ‘—†‹‰ˆƒ…–‘”•ȋ‡Ǥ‰Ǥǡ†‹ˆˆ‡”‡…‡•‹•ƒ’Ž‡•‹œ‡ǡ•ƒ’Ž‡ •‡Ž‡…–‹‘ǡ•ƒ’Ž‡ƒ‡—’ȌǢƒ‡š’Žƒƒ–‹‘‘ˆŠ‘™…‘–”‘Ž•ƒ”‡ —•‡†–‘‡†‹ƒ–‡…‘ˆ‘—†‹‰ˆƒ…–‘”•Ǣ‹†‡–‹ˆ›‹‰•–”‡‰–Š•ƒ† ™‡ƒ‡••‡•‘ˆ‡š’‡”‹‡–ƒŽ†‡•‹‰ȋ‡Ǥ‰Ǥǡ”ƒ†‘ƒ••‹‰‡––‘ …‘–”‘Žƒ†–”‡ƒ–‡–‰”‘—’•Ȍ ʹͷ  5 ȋͳȌ ‹•–‘‰”ƒ‹•–Š‡„‡•–™ƒ›–‘…‘’ƒ”‡‡ƒ•   ͳͷ  ʹ  ͸  ͹  6 ȋͶ•Ȍ ‹˜‡†ƒ–ƒǡ„‡ƒ„Ž‡–‘‡š’Žƒ‹™Šƒ––Š‡‰‡‡”ƒŽ•Šƒ’‡‘ˆ–Š‡ ‰”ƒ’Š™‘—Ž†„‡ȋ‡š’‘‡–‹ƒŽȀŽ‘‰‘”‹–Š‹…˜•Ž‹‡ƒ”ȌǢ‡š’Žƒ‹™Š› –Š‡‘–Š‡”•Šƒ’‡•ƒ”‡‘–…‘””‡…–Ǣ‹–‡”’”‡––Š‡‰”ƒ’Šƒ†‹ˆ‡” …ƒ—•‡ȋ‡Ǥ‰Ǥǡ’‡•–‹…‹†‡‹ŽŽ‡†–Š‡„‡‡–Ž‡•™Š‹…Š…ƒ—•‡†‘”‡ –ƒ†’‘Ž‡•–‘„‡‡ƒ–‡ȌǢ‡š–”ƒ…–—‡”‹…ƒŽ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ˆ”‘‰”ƒ’Š ƒ†—•‡–Šƒ––‘ƒ‡…‘’ƒ”‹•‘•‘”…‘…Ž—•‹‘•Ǣ‹–‡”’”‡– •Šƒ’‡‘ˆƒ‰”ƒ’Š–‘”‡ƒ…Šƒ…‘…Ž—•‹‘ ͳͺ  ͳ͸  ʹͲ  7 ȋ͵•Ȍ ‘Ž˜‡ƒŽ‰‡„”ƒ‹……ƒŽ…—Žƒ–‹‘•ƒ……—”ƒ–‡Ž›    ʹ͵