Homework #2 Examples

Below are examples of this homework assignment from last year. The first two are examples of what is expected for homework #2 for full credit (some minor problems are indicated). The third example illustrates what not to do; this assignment did not receive a good score. Comments on an assignment are included in CAPITALIZED LETTERS IN RED. Pay close attention to the format and simplicity of some of the answers. Be sure to view the website instructions for Assignment 2. If you have any questions don't hesitate to e-mail us or stop by during office hours.

 

GOOD EXAMPLE 1

Article:

Title: "Unlocking the Heart's Secrets"

Source: US. News and World Report

Date: September 7, 1998

I. Goal

To determine why 1 in 4 men age 55 or older develop heart disease in Framingham Mass.

II. Model Being Tested

Different factors, such as diet, genes, smoking age, etc., may contribute to heart disease.

III. Design Feature

A. Explicit Protocol

1. Relevant: Yes.

2. Status: Present

3. Quotes: "The medical probing every two years for the original group, every four years for their offspring included taking systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and a base-line heart rate. Then researchers asked nosy questions about frequency of anxiety, how the subjects slept or didn't sleep, if they experienced nervousness, how often they had headaches, whether they worried, how much alcohol they drank, how many cigarettes they smoked, what education they had, and how they responded to anger. They asked detailed questions about eating habits. Researchers performed 84 medical test on each volunteer, adding hundreds of other measures as technology advanced."

B. Replication

1. Relevant: Yes

2. Status: Present

3. quotes: "Researchers recruited 2,336 men and 2,873 women from town of about 28,000." These 5,209 people "were joined be 5.135 of their sons, daughters, and sons and daughters-in law in a second phase of the study." "Researchers performed 84 medical tests on each volunteer."

C. Standards

1. Relevant: Yes

2. Status: Present

3. Quotes: "...taking systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and a base-line heart rate." (THIS IS NOT A TERRIBLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF STANDARDS)

D. Randomization

1. Relevant: Yes

2. Status: Ambiguous'/Uncertain

3. Quotes: "Researchers recruited 2,336 men and 2,873 women..." "Framingham's population included a mix of people of Polish, Italian, Irish, Jewish, English, Greek, and French-Canadian descent."

E. Blind

1. Relevant: Yes

2. Status: Absent

3. Quotes: None.

 

 

GOOD EXAMPLE 2

Article:

Title: "Breast Cancer Puts Hope On Market"

Source: Austin American Statesman

Date: October 28, 1998

I. Goal

To improve treatment of breast cancer.

II. Model Being Tested

Herceptin may prolong the lives of women who have breast cancer, who had a preexisting genetic abnormality.

III. Design Feature

A. Explicit Protocol

1. Relevant? Yes.

2. Status: ambiguous

3. Quotes: "...a small clinical trial of the drug..." (NOT THE BEST EVIDENCE OF A PROTOCOL)

B. Replication

1. Relevant? Yes.

2. Status: present

3. Quotes: "...many of the women who participated in the clinical trials..."

C. Standards

1. Relevant? Yes.

2. Status: Ambiguous

3. Quotes: " Some women with breast cancer were given a similar treatment but without the use of Herceptin."

D. Randomization

1. Relevant? Yes

2. Status: present

3. Quotes: " Her name was drawn in a lottery of women wanting to be among the first to try Herceptin."

E. Blind

1. Relevant? Yes.

2. Status: absent

3. Quotes: " She quickly began traveling once a week to Houston to participate in the small clinical trial of the drug at the MD.. Anderson Cancer Center." "Some of the people who are involved have been guilty of over dramatizing the event."

 

 

POOR EXAMPLE 1

THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THIS ASSIGNMENT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE CHOICE OF AN ARTICLE POORLY SUITED FOR THE TEMPLATE.

Article:

Title: "Estrogen therapy won't reduce risks in women suffering coronary illness"

Source: Houston Chronicle

Date: October 7, 1998

I. Goal

Reduction in rate of heart attacks for previous victims of heart attacks.

II. Model Being Tested

A combination of estrogen and progestin reduce the chances of a second heart attack in post-menopausal women.

III. Design Feature

A. Explicit Protocol

1. Relevant? Yes.

2. Status: ambiguous

3. Not directly stated. ***

B. Replication

1. Relevant? Yes.

2. Status: ambiguous

3. Quotes: "...concludes a major study that gives the most definitive answers yet on estrogen's effect on women's hearts..." *** (SOME REPLICATION CAN BE

INFERRED HERE FROM THE PERCENTAGE, SO THE STATUS IS "PRESENT")

C. Standards

1. Relevant? Yes.

2. Status: Present

3. Quotes: " ...did not reduce the overall rate of heart attacks or death in post-menopausal women who had already suffered heart attacks, clogged arteries, stroke or other heart problems..." *** (THIS IS A CONTROL, WHICH IS A TYPE OF STANDARD -- IT'S A GOOD ANSWER)

D. Randomization

1. Relevant? Yes

2. Status: Ambiguous

3. Quotes: " ...it's the first really scientific study of women randomly assigned to take hormones." ALTHOUGH THE ARTICLE COULD BE CLEARER, THE STATEMENT SEEMS TO INDICATE RANDOMIZAITON IS PRESENT

E. Blind

1. Relevant? NO. (BLIND IS USUALLY RELEVANT IN STUDIES OF HUMAN HEALTH TREATMENTS)