Describe how you might construct the study to test the hypothesis(es) you want to evaluate. Describe what the IVs/DVs would be, what their level of measurement is,.
HERR IS THE MAIN POST
Instructions
Propose a study that you might like to conduct to test a hypothesis(es) that is/are of interest or curiosity to you. Describe how you might construct the study to test the hypothesis(es) you want to evaluate. Describe what the IVs/DVs would be, what their level of measurement is, what statistical method might be necessary to test these hypotheses, and what limitations might be present in attempting to test your hypotheses in this way (sampling, etc.). In reviewing a proposed study of a peer, identify two strengths and two possible limitations of their proposal.
Initial Post Due Wednesday and Peer Response Due Sunday of Week 6
HERE IS THE RESPOND TO THE MAIN POST
Thomas post
I would propose a study to test the hypothesis that micro-dosing extract of the San-Pedro Cactus causes an increase in serotonin and dopamine levels. Participants in the study would be tested for serotonin and dopamine levels before the study. The placebo group would receive an inactive substance and the other group would then begin daily micro-doses of the plant extract. In this longitudinal study, the participants would be tested again for serotonin and dopamine levels weekly over a period of eight weeks to monitor any fluctuations in their serotonin and dopamine levels, and in order to determine if their serotonin and dopamine levels have been increased from where they were before the study began after the eight-week micro-dosing period. The independent variable is the micro-dose, the dependent variable is each participant’s response to the active medicine or the inactive placebo. The micro-dose is defined as a dose small enough as not to be psychoactive, and its level of measurement would be a ratio. The group who took the active micro-dose would be nominal values. Their response would be measured in serotonin and dopamine levels. While there are no established methods for measuring serotonin and dopamine levels, these would likely be ratio measurements. It is possible to test for these neurotransmitters in the blood and there is new technology that may be able to test for serotonin in the brain (Griessenauer et al., 2010). Descriptive statistics would be used to determine the mean and standard deviation levels of the neurotransmitters determined by the blood or other measures before and after the eight-week San Pedro Cactus micro-dosing trial. The study could be limited by either choosing too many people who have or have not had experience with San Pedro Cactus extract before, and by combining that with controlling for possible differences from the average population in participants’ serotonin and dopamine levels due to either previous psychoactive and plant medicine use or other factors such as a history of depression.
Griessenauer, C.J., Chang, S.Y., Tye, S.J., Kimble, C.J., Bennet K.E., Garris, P.A., Lee, K.H. (2010). Wireless Instantaneous Neurotransmitter Concentration System: electrochemical monitoring of serotonin using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry–a proof-of-principle study. J Neurosurg. 113(3):656-65. doi: 10.3171/2010.3.JNS091627. PMID: 20415521; PMCID: PMC2946368.
Reply
