Recent Changes

Support Files (click here for the class website)
2013 December 2nd: Crossword and Traditional Knowledge Handout {TraditionalKnowledge-Sci09Pages.pdf}
Audio of the Article about First Nations Diabetes in this handout:

ASSIGNMENT NOTES (A question on the unit test will be based upon this assignment):
Design a scientific study to look into the skewed birth ratio at this First Nation reserve. Assume money is not a restriction (as it was in the articles noted above). You should also design some culturally sensitive features into the study. For example, in class it was mentioned that in comparing the chart of how first nations knowledge is constructed versus science knowledge, we find that science knowledge progresses quickly whereas first nations knowledge develops over a long time (generations). So, instead of telling the study participants we will be here on January 27, 2014 at 9:00 AM, we would say we will be here the week of January 27th to conduct our study.
on the reserverreserve participated in
Keep in mind that most medical research is survey based research (epidemiological). Part of your study should include survey questions that you would ask of your study participants. Very little medical research is based upon actual experiments on people (etiology) because that is unethical. One exception would be the drug trials that pharmaceutical companies conduct before their new drugs are approved by the government.

Design a scientific study to look into the skewed birth ratio at this First Nation reserve. Assume money is not a restriction (as it was in the articles noted above). You should also design some culturally sensitive features into the study. For example, in class it was mentioned that in comparing the chart of how first nations knowledge is constructed versus science knowledge, we find that science knowledge progresses quickly whereas first nations knowledge develops over a long time (generations). So, instead of telling the study participants we will be here on January 27, 2014 at 9:00 AM, we would say we will be here the week of January 27th to conduct our study.
Also, I did a guesstimate. There are 800 people on the reserve. Only 43 mothers participated in the McGill study. Assuming half of the 800 are kids, that leaves 400 adults. If we assume half of the adults are women, that would leave 200 women. This would suggest that only about 20% of the women on the reserver participated in the McGill study. The point of building in culturally sensitive features into your study is to encourage more people to participate in the study. It was noted in the articles that most people were reluctant to talk about this health problem (for obvious reasons -- would you like to tell the world about your health issues?).
Keep in mind that most medical research is survey based research (epidemiological). Part of your study should include survey questions that you would ask of your study participants. Very little medical research is based upon actual experiments on people (etiology) because that is unethical. One exception would be the drug trials that pharmaceutical companies conduct before their new drugs are approved by the government.

HANDOUT {FirstNationsSkewedBirthRatio.pdf}
Highlighted version of the handout {FirstNationsSkewedBirthRatioHighlighted.pdf}
ASSIGNMENT NOTES:NOTES (A question on the unit test will be based upon this assignment):
Design a scientific study to look into the skewed birth ratio at this First Nation reserve. Assume money is not a restriction (as it was in the articles noted above). You should also design some culturally sensitive features into the study. For example, in class it was mentioned that in comparing the chart of how first nations knowledge is constructed versus science knowledge, we find that science knowledge progresses quickly whereas first nations knowledge develops over a long time (generations). So, instead of telling the study participants we will be here on January 27, 2014 at 9:00 AM, we would say we will be here the week of January 27th to conduct our study.
Also, I did a guesstimate. There are 800 people on the reserve. Only 43 mothers participated in the McGill study. Assuming half of the 800 are kids, that leaves 400 adults. If we assume half of the adults are women, that would leave 200 women. This would suggest that only about 20% of the women on the reserver participated in the McGill study. The point of building in culturally sensitive features into your study is to encourage more people to participate in the study. It was noted in the articles that most people were reluctant to talk about this health problem (for obvious reasons -- would you like to tell the world about your health issues?).

HANDOUT {FirstNationsSkewedBirthRatio.pdf}
Highlighted version of the handout {FirstNationsSkewedBirthRatioHighlighted.pdf}
ASSIGNMENT NOTES:
Design a scientific study to look into the skewed birth ratio at this First Nation reserve. Assume money is not a restriction (as it was in the articles noted above). You should also design some culturally sensitive features into the study. For example, in class it was mentioned that in comparing the chart of how first nations knowledge is constructed versus science knowledge, we find that science knowledge progresses quickly whereas first nations knowledge develops over a long time (generations). So, instead of telling the study participants we will be here on January 27, 2014 at 9:00 AM, we would say we will be here the week of January 27th to conduct our study.
Also, I did a guesstimate. There are 800 people on the reserve. Only 43 mothers participated in the McGill study. Assuming half of the 800 are kids, that leaves 400 adults. If we assume half of the adults are women, that would leave 200 women. This would suggest that only about 20% of the women on the reserver participated in the McGill study. The point of building in culturally sensitive features into your study is to encourage more people to participate in the study. It was noted in the articles that most people were reluctant to talk about this health problem (for obvious reasons -- would you like to tell the world about your health issues?).

2013 article First Nation exposed to pollutants
HANDOUT {FirstNationsSkewedBirthRatio.pdf}
Highlighted version of the handout {FirstNationsSkewedBirthRatioHighlighted.pdf}

So, put a 1b (for sentence 1, 2nd part of the sentence) in that category.
Do a similar analysis for the rest of the article (after you have numbered all the sentences).
December 4: SkewedSkewed birth ratio
2007 article First Nation Concerned About Startling Birth Ratio
2013 article First Nation exposed to pollutants
HANDOUT {FirstNationsSkewedBirthRatio.pdf}

Science 9 Support Files
2013 December 2nd: Crossword and Traditional Knowledge Handout {TraditionalKnowledge-Sci09Pages.pdf}
the Article about First Nations Diabetes in this
Number the sentences of the article 1, 2, 3, etc
The first sentence of the article is
So, put a 1b (for sentence 1, 2nd part of the sentence) in that category.
Do a similar analysis for the rest of the article (after you have numbered all the sentences).
2013 December 4: Skewed birth ratio articles and assignment
2007 article First Nation Concerned About Startling Birth Ratio
2013 article First Nation exposed to pollutants