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People often respond to survey questions without any knowledge of the subject matter. A common example of this is the discussion on banning dihydrogen monoxide. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there were 1,493 deaths due to asbestos in \(2002,\) but over 3,200 deaths were attributed to dihydrogen monoxide in \(2000 .\) Articles and Web sites, such as www.dhmo.org tell how this substance is widely used despite the dangers associated with it. Many people have joined the cause to ban this substance without realizing that dihydrogen monoxide is simply water \(\left(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\right) .\) Their eagerness to protect the environment or their fear of seeming uninformed may be part of the problem. Put together a survey that asks individuals whether dihydrogen monoxide should or should not be banned. Give the survey to 20 randomly selected students around campus and report your results to the class. An example survey might look like the following: Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, and kills thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not stop there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form can severely damage skin tissue. Symptoms of ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting, and body electrolyte imbalance. Dihydrogen monoxide is a major component of acid rain and can cause corrosion after coming in contact with certain metals. Do you believe that the government should or should not ban the use of dihydrogen monoxide?

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Task

The task is to create a survey that asks individuals whether dihydrogen monoxide (which is actually water) should be banned, give the survey to 20 randomly selected students, and report the results.

02

Design the Survey

Design a survey that includes information about dihydrogen monoxide's dangers and asks if it should be banned. You can use the provided survey format as a template.

03

Gather Participants

Randomly select 20 students from different locations or groups on campus to participate in the survey.

04

Conduct the Survey

Approach the selected students, explain the context, and ask them to complete the survey.

05

Compile Results

Collect all survey responses and summarize the data. Tally the number of students who believe the substance should be banned versus those who do not.

06

Analyze and Report

Analyze the responses to see how many students were misled by the name 'dihydrogen monoxide' without recognizing it as water. Prepare a report highlighting your findings and the percentage of students who supported the ban.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Survey Design

Survey design is a crucial step when conducting research. It involves creating questions that effectively gather information from respondents while minimizing potential biases.

• **Clear Objective:** Your survey should have a clear and concise objective that it aims to achieve. In this case, the survey's goal is to see whether people are misled by scientific jargon.
• **Question Formatting:** Use closed-ended questions, like the example provided, to obtain clear, quantifiable data. Be cautious about leading questions that might bias responses.
• **Pre-Survey Testing:** Test your survey on a small group of people before administering it widely. It will help you identify any confusing wording or unintentional biases.

Designing your survey should consider clarity and purpose.
Results and data accuracy hinge on asking well-phrased, unbiased questions.

Data Collection

Data collection is the process of gathering information from respondents through your survey.

• **Random Sampling:** To ensure your survey results are representative, randomly select participants. Avoid biases by selecting students from various backgrounds and locations on campus.
• **Consistency:** Approach each participant uniformly, explaining the context and objective of the survey. Make sure to get honest and consistent answers.
• **Documentation:** Keep accurate records of each response. Use tools like spreadsheets to organize and store your data systematically.

Collecting data correctly is vital for the reliability of your results. Accurate data collection can lead to meaningful insights.

Analysis and Reporting

Once the data is collected, the next steps are analysis and reporting. Here’s how you can do it:

• **Data Summarization:** Tally the responses to determine the number of participants advocating for the ban versus those against it. This can be visualized using charts or graphs for better clarity.
• **Error Checking:** Ensure your data is accurate and consistent. Check for any inconsistencies or errors that might skew the results.
• **Interpretation:** Look deeper into the data to understand why participants may have been misled. Discuss the implications of your findings and how the survey design influenced the outcomes.

Finally, compile your results in a comprehensive report.
This should include an introduction, methodology, findings, and conclusion. Visual aids can help make your findings easier to understand.