Coffee Significantly Prevents the Development

¶ … coffee significantly prevents the development of high blood sugar (glycemia). The researchers wanted to know whether coffee had any significant impact on high blood sugar, and if so, to which extent.

Which is the control group? Why?

The control group were an equal number of mice to those that were tested. The mice in the control group were matched in all aspects to those in the experimental group so that, for instance, they exhibited the same origin, the same genetic factor necessary for the experiment (i.e. A mutation that makes them become diabetic), the same activity level, the same diet, living arrangements, and so forth. This was done, in order to ensure that all possible confounding factors would be eliminated from the experiment and that no differences would exist between the two groups of mice involved in the experiment. Any differences that would appear, therefore, could most likely and presumably be traced to the only altered variable. And this would be the fluid. One group would be given coffee, the other water. If the coffee (the purpose of the experiment) had an impact, changes would be noticeable and could be linked to the independent variable.

Which is the treatment group? Why?

The treatment group was the mice that were fed the diluted black coffee for five weeks. This was so in order to test whether coffee indeed had an impact on reducing the blood content. All variables between the two groups were kept constant, and half of the mice were randomly chosen and treated in order to see whether the coffee treatment had an impact compared to the other group that were merely fed water.

Did the researchers follow the scientific method in their experimental design? Explain.

The researchers followed the scientific method. Firstly, they randomly selected control and experimental group so that subjectivity in choice was eliminated from the experiment. The two groups were also closely matched sot that all variables were constant and the same between both groups. In this way, it could be concluded with 90% certainty that any possible changes could only have occurred through the one factor that was altered -- the beverage fed them. Thirdly, the mice were continuously monitored to assess that no confounding and distracting factor crept into the study to pervert results. All variables, in short, were mathematically measured and assessed and the mice were controlled to the strictest degree so that no extraneous element would intrude and corrupt the experiment. Mice were as closely matched as possible in all details as too were the living conditions in which the mice were kept. Elimination of all possible subjectivity made this a reliable scientific study. A larger population of mice could have been used in order to assess whether study possesses replicability, but 11:10 may be sufficient.

Do you think that there may be any possible biases or other problems in this experiment? Explain.

A larger population of mice may be useful in order to test repeatability. The brand of coffee too may be a factor, as well as intensity of coffee (it would be interesting, for instance, to see whether a larger dose has the same effect). The way the coffee was produced (whether pure blend for instance) may also be a factor, and tehn too may be the fact that mice are simply unused to drinking coffee and this physiological factor alone may have had an impact.

Based on the data, was the hypothesis supported, and what can you conclude from this experiment?