a) identify and describe 3 of the above 6 principles of scientific thinking that the research fails to follow (600 words – 200 words per principle). The research may do a good job of following some of these 6 scientific principles, but there are some that it does not do a good job of following. Your job is to try to find the scientific principles that the research does not do a good job of following. For each principle, you should first describe the principle in your own words (e.g., describe in your own words what it means to rule out a rival hypothesis). Then you should explain exactly why you think the research does not do a good job of following that principle (e.g., describe the rival hypothesis that the research did not rule out). Finally, you should say what would need to be done to make sure the research follows the principle (e.g., say how the research might rule out the rival hypothesis).
b) identify and describe 1 of the above 3 warning signs related to pseudoscientific claims (200 words). The research description also contains one (or more) of the warning signs of pseudoscience. So pick one of the three warning signs from the list and discuss how it applies to the research. You should discuss the warning sign in general (e.g., why it is not appropriate to rely on anecdotal evidence when making claims) and how it applies to the specific research that is being described (e.g., what anecdotes are mentioned in the research description and why they are problematic).
Beans - The Secret Fat Burners Hiding in Your Kitchen Cupboards! By A. Charlatan
Are you one of the millions of people around the world who are struggling to lose some weight? If so, it’s time to stop wasting your time and hard-earned money on diet pills, electrical stimulation belts, and bulky exercise equipment, and time to open your kitchen cupboards to discover the secret to rapid weight loss – BEANS!
Best known for their ‘gaseous’ properties, beans are often overlooked despite the fact that they hold the quick and affordable fat-burning potential we’ve all been searching for!
For years, researchers have been documenting the health-promoting qualities of beans–from reducing blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol, to boosting the immune system and making us more resistant to things like the common cold! Beans are packed with protein and keep us feeling full longer, so we’re less likely to reach for that ice cream in the freezer. With all of these known health properties, researchers asked themselves whether beans might be the missing piece in the weight loss puzzle.
To test their hypothesis, researchers at Unico Canned Foods recruited participants by posting advertisements in four local organic food markets and health food stores. Thirty-two participants (25 females, 7 males) were asked to keep basic food diaries for a period of two weeks, being careful to record what they ate and how much they ate. Participants completed a questionnaire at the end of the two weeks, asking them to self-report their energy levels and weight loss results. When the researchers collected the food diaries and analyzed the results, they were astounded!
The results were unequivocal; participants who consumed ten or more servings of beans over the two-week period reported that they had lost more weight (an average of 1 pound) than participants who consumed no beans during that two-week period (an average of 0.3 pounds). Participants who consumed greater quantities of beans also reported higher energy levels and more regular bowel movements than participants who consumed no beans, replicating previous research on the health benefits of including beans in one’s diet!
Sandra – one of the participants in the study, wrote, “I dropped 3 dress sizes in just two weeks, all thanks to beans! They literally melted the fat right off my body!”
These results leave no doubt that beans are the missing piece in the weight loss puzzle. Adding beans to your soups, salads, and smoothies will zap those extra pounds off in no time, and all for just a couple of dollars a week!
So what are you waiting for? Crack open a can of beans today and start feeling the fat-burning effects of this miracle food.
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