Scenario Kenneth and Catherine Lohmann of the University of North Carolina

question 44

Multiple Choice

Scenario
Kenneth and Catherine Lohmann of the University of North Carolina explored the orientation or direction-finding abilities of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings under varying magnetic conditions. Hatchlings were placed in a tank of water in a laboratory either in the natural magnetic field of the earth OR in a reversed magnetic field in which north and south were flipped. The researchers then measured the direction that the hatchlings swam. The experiments were carried out in the dark and at night since that is when most newly hatched turtles migrate from their sandy nests into the ocean.
-What can be tested with this experimental design?

• A)Turtles only hatch at night.
• B)Hatchlings prefer sandy beaches to rocky beaches.
• C)Hatchlings have the ability to orient using magnetic fields while swimming.
• D)While crawling across the beach, hatchlings use the earth's magnetic field to find the sea.

Understand the differences between observational studies and experiments.

Recognize the impact of study design on the validity of conclusions.

Identify key elements of experimental design, such as randomization, blinding, and control.

Understand the concept of and identify examples of confounding and lurking variables.

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Definitions:

Traffic Accidents

Incidents on the road involving vehicles that result in damage or injury.

Sequential Processing

The cognitive process of handling one piece of information at a time, or processing steps in a specific order.

Dual Processing

The principle that our minds operate in two different ways, one conscious and analytical, and the other unconscious and automatic, affecting perception, memory, and attitudes.

Inattentional Blindness

A psychological lack of attention that is not associated with any vision defects or deficits. It occurs when an individual fails to recognize an unexpected stimulus that is in plain sight.