30 points due November 14. Late submission ends December 4.
Reading:
In this assignment you will examine evidence about cell phone use.
Study Questions
Number your answers carefully. Save in a document called Task10 and submit to Tasks, Tests and Surveys.
Read the editorial article "New laws should ban text messaging while driving" at http://media.www.theorion.com/media/storage/paper889/news/2008/09/03/Opinion/New-Laws.Should.Ban.Text.Messaging.While.Driving-3412785.shtml
1. What is the conclusion?
2. (2 points) Give an example from the article of any of the types of evidence described in chapters 8 and 9 of Asking the Right Questions. Identify the text and what type of evidence it is.
3. (2 points) Repeat #2 with a different type of evidence.
Read the article "Cell Phones and Driving" by the Insurance Information Institute at http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/cellphones/ . This article does not have a conclusion. It gives you information so you can form your own opinion. Sometimes, information can be given in such a way that you are subtly steered to a certain opinion. That is why you need to look at several investigative articles before you form an opinion.
4. (2 points) Give an example from the article of any of the types of evidence described in chapters 8 and 9 in Asking the Right Questions. Copy/paste the text and describe what type of evidence it is.
5. (2 points) Give an example from the article of any of the types of evidence described in chapters 8 and 9 in Asking the Right Questions. Copy/paste the text and describe what type of evidence it is.
6. (11 points) The investigative article above lists several research studies that were used to obtain evidence. Do a search to find the report of one of those studies (or another related cell phone study) on the Internet. Do not find an article ABOUT the study. You need to find the full report describing the study written by the researchers. Use the information from the textbook Chapter 9 "Clues for Evaluating Research Studies" when answering these questions.
a. (1 point) Title and URL of the publication. The URL must take me directly to the report or you will not get credit for the entire question.
b. (2 points) What is the quality of the source of the report? Consider and describe such things as the publication it appeared in, the organization the researchers are employed by, and any qualifications of the researchers mentioned in the report.
c. (2 points) Describe in detail who the subjects of the study were.
d. (2 points) Describe in detail how the study was conducted. What was the information measured and how was it gathered? If it was a survey, was it a phone survey or written? Include examples of the questions.
e. (2 points) What conclusion did the researchers draw from their results? Summarize it in a few sentences. Do not copy/paste big chunks of text from the report.
f. (2 points) Did the report mention other supporting or related research that has been done?
If the answer is No, do an Internet search to find an article or report that mentions other research and give the URL and Title.
If the answer is Yes, give one example.
7. (10 points) Write your own editorial about an issue related to the use of cell phones while operating a vehicle. Write at least two paragraphs. Use evidence from the reading above, other information from the web and any related personal experience to support your conclusion. The conclusion should be clearly stated. Give your editorial a title.