Discussion Section #2 Reading Primary Source Articles Week of 9/8/14Questions in small groupsReading Primary Scientific SourcesPrimary SourcesNewspapers and MagazinesA Game of TelephoneWho’s checking their work?What is the peer-review process?The peer-review processWhy is peer-review process so important?Peer Reviewed or Not?Slide 12Slide 13Scientific MethodSections of A Scientific ArticleSlide 16Slide 17Slide 18Slide 19Slide 20Slide 21Slide 22Slide 23Adjusting for other factorsWhat do you think?Slide 26Discussion Section #2 Reading Primary Source ArticlesWeek of 9/8/14Questions in small groups1. What is a primary source and what is a secondary source? Which is this article?1. What is a peer reviewed article?Reading Primary Scientific Sourcesvs.Which is the primary source? How do you know? Which do you trust?Primary Sources•First hand reports of findings of scientific investigationThis is a primary source articleWhy?Because the authors are reporting directly on the scientific research study that they investigatedNewspapers and Magazines•“Cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in men” would not appear in a newspaper or magazine. •A reporter may hear about this study, read it and then write a summary of its findings. •The reporter would be indirectly reporting the findings. This would be a secondhand account or secondary sourceUsing primary sources is always a better choice.Using newspaper and magazine articles is almost never appropriate for academic research.A Game of TelephoneWho’s checking their work? vsThe main magazine editor A panel of experts in the fieldThese articles go through the peer-review processWhat is the peer-review process?The peer-review processWhy is peer-review process so important? •Published articles have been reviewed by multiple experts–Adds credibility–Quality control •Poorly done experiments and crazy/unsupported findings are weeded out–Better able to trust findings/resultsPeer Reviewed or Not?Peer Reviewed or Not?Peer Reviewed or Not?Scientific MethodAsk QuestionBackground ResearchConstruct HypothesisTest with ExperimentAnalyze ResultsHypothesis True Hypothesis FalseReport ResultsTry AgainSections of A Scientific Article1. Title2. Author(s)3. Abstract4. Introduction5. Subjects and Methods6. Results7. Discussion8. References9. Tables and GraphsSections of A Scientific Article1. Title2. Author(s)3. Abstract4. Introduction5. Subjects and Methods6. Results7. Discussion8. References9. Tables and GraphsAsk QuestionBackground ResearchTest with ExperimentAnalyze/Inerpret ResultsReport ResultsConstruct HypothesisQuestions in small groups1. What did authors want to find out with this study? What was the purpose of the study?2. Who were the subjects of the study?3. What were the findings of the study?4. Were you surprised by the findings?5. How could health professionals use this information to help their patients?Ask QuestionBackground ResearchConstruct HypothesisTest with ExperimentAnalyze ResultsHypothesis True Hypothesis FalseReport ResultsTry AgainWhat was the research question and purpose of the paper? Purpose: “Examine health consequences of body fatness and cardiorespiratory fitness in relation to all-cause and CVD mortality in men”Research Question: Should cardiorespiratory fitness also be considered when body composition and mortality are related?Ask QuestionBackground ResearchConstruct HypothesisTest with ExperimentAnalyze ResultsHypothesis True Hypothesis FalseReport ResultsTry AgainWhat was some of the evidence the authors used to build their case?•Previous studies not well controlled (i.e. smoking status)•Methods in previous studies not as accurate•Few studies measuring body fatness and mortality•Etc….Ask QuestionBackground ResearchConstruct HypothesisTest with ExperimentAnalyze ResultsHypothesis True Hypothesis FalseReport ResultsTry AgainWho were the subjects?21,925 men30-83 yearsHow did they assess body fat? Hydrostatic weighingSkin FoldsScientific MethodAsk QuestionBackground ResearchConstruct HypothesisTest with ExperimentTry AgainWhat was the main result of this study? Body fatness is directly related to all-cause and CVD mortalityBeing fit decreases all-cause and CVD mortality risk across all levels of body fatnessCardiorespiratory fitness influences health effects of obesityAnalyze ResultsHypothesis TrueHypothesis FalseReport ResultsFigure 3: UnfitUnfitRemember, each group is compared to the fit lean men.Across all levels of body fatness, unfit men have higher relative risk of mortality compared to the fit lean menBut…do we believe the results? Could other factors affect mortality?Adjusting for other factors•Age, examination year, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and parental history of ischemic heart disease can affect all-cause mortality •With statistics, we can tease out the effects of other factors so that we can figure out the effect cardiorespiratory fitness has on mortalityIn plain English: •After the effect of age, examination year, cigarette smoking etc. on mortality are taken into account, unfit lean men still have double the risk of all-cause mortality compared to fit lean menWhat do you think?1. Were you surprised by the findings?2. How could health professionals use this information to help their patients?Don’t forget that Discussion Quiz #2 is due on Moodle by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday