This presentation is for Activity 2A the Pellagra story

1. Experimental Design:
Studying People Scientifically
Activity 2A: The Pellagra Story
September 4, 2013

2. Activity 2: The Pellagra Story
September 4, 2013
Getting Started: Imagine that doctors are observing a new disease, and they
don’t know what causes it. What are some possible causes of disease?
Introduction: Read the introduction on pg. A-8 and answer the following
question using RACE: According to the passage, what is one way scientists solve a
problem?
The Pellagra Story
Although scientists use many methods to solve problems,
scientists in the same field frequently use similar
approaches. Often these involve doing an experiment. For
example, if a botanist (someone that studies plants) wanted
to develop plants that resist drought, the botanist would use
many plants and follow procedures common to many …
What are the common elements of all scientific
problem solving methods?
2A
Challenge: Rewrite the challenge question in your own words.

3. Key Words: ethics, evidence, inference, observation, trade offs.
Procedure: Read page A-9. Do you understand the procedure on pg. A-9?
Write one sentence that describes what you will be doing.
Results: View video (Full Screen Version) and use
table (student sheet 2.1) to take notes.
Discussion and complete 2.2, “Observations and Inferences”
Complete questions 1 and 2 on 2.2 “Observations and Inferences”
Analysis: Discuss Questions 1-3
Complete The Pellagra Story: Dr. Goldberger and the
Traditional scientific Method and answer question 4
Complete questions 5 and 6.
Reflection: How do people in different careers solve problems?
Scientists, plumbers, engineers, auto mechanics, nurses, teachers, and
many other workers solve problems. Choose two careers that interest
you. Describe the kinds of problems you think people face in these
careers. Describe how you think they solve them.

4. Question 1
a) What was the first step in Dr. Goldberger’s
research into pellagra?
b) During this first step in his research, what
evidence did Dr. Goldberger find that
suggested that pellagra was not caused by
germs?

5. Question 2
a. What was Dr. Goldberger’s hypothesis about the
cause of pellagra?
b. What did he do to provide evidence of the
relationship between pellagra and nutrition? Be
sure to explain how his research provided evidence
that supported or disproved his hypothesis.
c. How could he have provided more convincing
evidence of the relationship between pellagra and
nutrition?

6. Question 3
Why didn’t people believe Dr. Goldberger’s
conclusion about the cause of pellagra? Give
two reasons.

7. Question 3 (cont.)
• In this activity, if a person finds that the
drink tastes worse, the headache is gone,
but there are side effects.
b. What if the side effects were serious, such as
nausea and vomiting? Explain why this medicine
should or should not be sold to people suffering
from headache. Are there any trade-offs
involved in your decision?

8. Question 4
• Compare the steps of the traditional scientific
method to the steps Dr. Goldberger followed
to investigate pellagra. How were the steps
the same? How were the steps different?

9. Question 5
Fill in the “After Column for statements 3 and 4
only on Sheet 1.1, “Anticipation Guide: Ideas
about Experimental Design.” Did your thinking
change?

10. Question 6
To investigate his hypothesis, Dr. Goldberger
had prisoners volunteer to be fed a poor diet;
as a result, 7 out of 11 prisoners developed
pellagra. What do you think about Dr.
Goldberger’s decision to experiment on
people? Support your answer with evidence
and identify the trade-offs of your decision.

11. What if…
Should the prisoners – who had comitted crimes
ranging from embezzlement to murder - have
been released from prison if they participated
in Dr. Goldberger’s study? Why or why not?
What are the trade-offs involved in this
decision?

12. • Use the table (student sheet 2.1) to take notes
and discuss with your partner.

17. The Concepts of Evidence
and inference.
• In the video, one of the presenters said, “the fact
that orphans provided with fresh vegetables,
meat, and milk either recovered from pellagra or
did not get it was not scientific evidence.
Why do you think the
presenter made this
comment? Do you agree
with the presenter?
Why or why not?