Question

Employees at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, declare that female visitors who come in contact with a pair of African fertility statues are more likely to become pregnant some time later. The statues, from the Boule tribe of the Ivory Coast, stand near the museum's entrance. Some visitors have volunteered the information that they gave birth 9 months after touching the statues and credit the statues. The museum notes that some couples travel from as far away as Texas to rub the statues. a) What hypothesis is presented in this story? b) Is the hypothesis supported by sufficient observations? Explain. c) What prediction could be made to verify or falsify the hypothesis? a) What hypothesis b) Is the hypothesi observations? Exp c) What prediction the hypothesis?

Short answer

a) Touching the statues increases pregnancy likelihood. b) No, the evidence is anecdotal. c) Conduct a controlled study with two groups of women, tracking pregnancy rates.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Hypothesis

The hypothesis in the story is that touching the pair of African fertility statues at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum increases the likelihood of female visitors becoming pregnant.

Evaluate the Evidence

To determine if the hypothesis is supported by sufficient observations, consider the number and nature of observations provided. The story mentions that some visitors claim to have given birth 9 months after rubbing the statues. However, this isn't a scientifically controlled study and lacks robust statistical evidence. There is no information about how many people visit the museum and about how many of them do not become pregnant after touching the statues. Therefore, the evidence is anecdotal and insufficient to support the hypothesis.

Propose a Prediction for Testing the Hypothesis

A suitable prediction would involve a controlled study where a large sample of women who touch the statue and another group who do not touch it are tracked over time. If significantly more women in the group who touched the statue become pregnant compared to the control group, it would lend support to the hypothesis.

Key concepts

Hypothesis Testing

Hypothesis testing is a method used to determine whether there is enough evidence to support a specific belief or claim about an underlying truth or phenomenon. In our example involving the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in Myrtle Beach, the hypothesis is that touching the African fertility statues increases the likelihood that female visitors will become pregnant. In hypothesis testing, researchers start by clearly defining their hypothesis, just like in the museum's claim. They then gather evidence to test this hypothesis. The next step is to analyze the data collected through various statistical methods to see if it supports or refutes the hypothesis. If the evidence strongly supports the hypothesis, then we accept the hypothesis as being plausible. However, if evidence is weak or inconsistent, as in the statue's case, we may dismiss the hypothesis. Proper experiments and data collection are key in hypothesis testing to ensure accurate and reliable conclusions.

Anecdotal Evidence

Anecdotal evidence refers to informal accounts or stories based on personal experiences rather than rigorous scientific investigation. It often lacks credibility because it may not be representative or statistically valid. In the exercise, the belief that touching the fertility statues leads to pregnancy is largely based on anecdotal evidence.

• The stories are based on a few individuals' experiences without confirming how many people touched the statues and did not get pregnant.
• Anecdotal evidence can be misleading if it's not supported by wider, controlled research.
• Just because a few people observe an outcome does not mean it is universally true.

Understanding the limitations of anecdotal evidence is crucial in scientific research. It is useful for generating initial ideas and hypotheses, but it should always be followed up with more systematic findings.

Controlled Study

A controlled study is an experiment where two groups are compared to test a hypothesis. It is designed to minimize variables and bias, ensuring that any observed effect can be attributed to the treatment or condition being tested. In the context of the fertility statues, a controlled study would involve selecting a large sample of women. These women would be divided into two groups.

• One group would be women who touch the statues (the experimental group).
• Another group would be women who do not touch the statues (the control group).

By observing and comparing the pregnancy rates between these two groups over time, researchers could more accurately determine if there's a real effect. This approach helps in reducing biases and can rule out random chance, establishing a more reliable understanding of the hypothesis being tested. Controlled studies are essential in scientific research to establish causal relationships.