Choose one of the following common sayings. Write a protocol or plan for the design of a study to verify that the saying is true.

Do your best to design an experiment to explore the validity of the saying. If it is impossible to design an experiment, then design an observational study. As a last resort, write a plan for a survey to investigate the saying.

The evaluation of your design will be based on your ability to consider the following concepts and to incorporate them into the protocol:

1. Identify a specific population that you plan to examine.
2. Describe how a representative sample will be selected.
3. Establish a baseline, if the experiment will continue over time.
4. Include a control group, if possible, or explain why you cannot.
5. Include a placebo treatment, if possible, or explain why you cannot.
6. Assure the blindness of subjects, or if possible, the double-blindness of subjects and investigators, or explain why you cannot.
7. Use randomization and matching where appropriate.
8. List exactly which variables will you measure and compare.
9. Describe specifically which displays and statistics will you use to make comparisons and reach a conclusion in your study.

Common Sayings

1. An apple a day keeps the doctor away
2. Babies tend to be born during a full moon
3. Blonds have more fun
4. Carrots improve vision
5. Chicken soup cures a cold
6. Crest prevents cavities
7. Early to bed, early to rise, keeps a person healthy, wealthy, and wise
8. Feed a cold and starve a fever
9. Left-handed people are more creative than right-handed people
10. Oat bran reduces cholesterol
11. Things go better with Coke
12. Toads cause warts
13. Vick's Vapo Rub clears up toenail fungus
14. A person's blood pressure decreases when petting a dog
15. Think of your own common saying (but get the instructor's approval)