Using the Scientific Process Scenario-Based Practice

Scenario 1 A physician researcher conducted a study to test the effectiveness of a new flu medication. The physician researcher believes the new flu medication that he has developed will be more effective at treating and reducing flu symptoms than Tamiflu, the medication customarily prescribed by doctors to treat the flu. The physician enrolled 100 patients in her study. All of these patients had just been diagnosed with influenza A. 50 of the 100 patients were prescribed Tamiflu. The other 50 patients were prescribed the new flu medication. All patients returned to the doctor's office one week after the initial encounter. At this point in time, 40 of the 50 patients who were given Tamiflu were no longer experiencing flu symptoms. Conversely, 10 of the 50 patients who were given the new flu medication were no longer experiencing flu symptoms. What is the question or problem? What is the hypothesis? Which patients are in the control group? What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? What should the physician researcher's conclusion be? Why do you think the 10 people who received the new flu medication reported getting better? Scenario 2 A diesel mechanic wants to make sure he is using the highest quality motor oil in the trucks in his company's fleet. Over a period of time, he conducts three trials testing the effect of 4 different brands of motor oil on the engine of one of the company's trucks. He uses the mileage of the truck as the comparison factor for the effectiveness of each brand of motor oil. Prior to the start of his investigation, the mechanic thought that Brand 1, the most expensive brand of motor oil he tested, would yield the best mileage for the truck. The actual results of his investigation are included in the chart below. What is the question? What is the hypothesis? What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? What should the mechanic's conclusion be? Are the results reliable? Describe one potential fault of this experiment.