Gary Gutting wrote an editorial in the New York Times in April, 2013, called What Do Scientific Studies Show? Professor Gutting cautions the reader that news reports that say “studies show” are often tentative or likely to be false and should be labeled as such in the news media.

Completing this activity will assist you in mastering Module Level Outcome 3.

First:

• Read Gutting’s editorial. 
• Read The difference between Correlation and Causal Relationships

Next, post to the discussion board:

1. Based on your readings and viewing in this module, answer each of these questions:

• • In your own words, what is the difference between showing correlation and showing a causal connection?  Explain the importance of considering the “third variable” in these types of relationships.
  • Create your own example of the differences between correlation and causal relationships.
  • Are most results of scientific studies valuable for guiding our lives? Why or why not?

2. In the same post, also provide an example of a news report about a scientific topic with your personal summary/evaluation:

• • Post an example of a report about science that you have read in a newspaper or a news magazine or online news source. Provide a link to the web page, if possible, but always include a complete APA style reference!
  • Give a summary of the report. Explain why you think the result is either believable or not believable and if the scientific result report will affect our daily lives.

Your initial post responding to this assignment should be no shorter than 250 words. Include both in-text citations and complete APA style references for all the sources you used to inform your work. Once you have posted your own discussion response, you are required to comment on the posts of at least two of your classmates. You can agree or disagree with their posts, but you must explain why you have chosen to do so.  Also, be sure to read the feedback on your own major postings and reply to it throughout the module.

Always be sure that your posts are respectful, polite, and considerate. Please see the Excelsior policy “Guidelines for Online Interaction” if you have any questions or concerns.

Remember, when you use a quotation or paraphrase from a source, you must include the correct citation and reference. Using APA style references and in-text citations is VERY important for this course and all your college courses. The Excelsior Library Citation Tip Sheets and Resources will be a helpful guide.  You may also wish to use a citation generator – you just insert the information, and it creates the citation in the format you indicate (MLA or APA, for example).  Here are 3 citation generators to choose from: