Essay Instructions: This is a similar assignment I have the same class different professor I need this to be re worded to an original
You will be acting as a community health department investigator who has been hired to look into a mysterious pattern of student absences at some local middle schools in your area. Start here by reading a memo from your boss by clicking on the Memo icon below. This memo outlines the basics of the problem for you.
Luckily, your team has already collected all the school absences data and has put it on your Health Department intranet site which includes things such as the school event calendar, and interviews with the students? parents, among others.
Your first task for this seminar is to figure out where the unusual spike in absences is taking place, and in what classes. Remember to base all your conclusions on evidence from the data. You can access several charts that display all the student absences at four schools by clicking the charts icon below. If you are having difficulty choosing which graphs to display, try viewing four graphs at once to make comparisons between schools. All the information you need is on that chart.
Based on this data, provide the following:
1.Is there is a common reason for the absences? Explain.
2.Come up with two testable, clear hypotheses about what you think is behind the absences. Be sure to base your hypotheses on the evidence you have obtained (e.g., Health Department Restaurant Inspections) and be thorough in your explanation of who, what, why, when, and how to support your hypotheses.
3.Come up with six testable questions that you could ask to help further your investigation and support or disprove your hypotheses.
4.Is the following statement a suitable hypothesis: "The Brentwood Indians basketball team lost the state championship because there is bad stuff in the stars happening with Mars in Aquarius"? Explain why or why not
SC300-14
Prof Olga Gubanova
Feb. 15, 2011
Running head: SC300-14_Unit_2_Project
Instructions:
Science Meets Real Life
You will be acting as a community health department investigator who has been hired to look into a mysterious pattern of student absences at some local middle schools in your area. Start here by reading a memo from your boss by clicking on the Memo icon below. This memo outlines the basics of the problem for you.
Luckily, your team has already collected all the school absences data and has put it on your Health Department intranet site which includes things such as the school event calendar, and interviews with the students? parents, among others.
Your first task for this seminar is to figure out where the unusual spike in absences is taking place, and in what classes. Remember to base all your conclusions on evidence from the data. You can access several charts that display all the student absences at four schools by clicking the charts icon below. If you are having difficulty choosing which graphs to display, try viewing four graphs at once to make comparisons between schools. All the information you need is on that chart.
Based on this data, provide the following:
1. Is there is a common reason for the absences? Explain.
Come up with two testable, clear hypotheses about what you think is behind the absences. Be sure to base your hypotheses on the evidence you have obtained
Running head: SC300-14_Unit_2_Project
1. (e.g., Health Department Restaurant Inspections) and be thorough in your explanation of who, what, why, when, and how to support your hypotheses.
2. Come up with six testable questions that you could ask to help further your investigation and support or disprove your hypotheses.
3. Is the following statement a suitable hypothesis: "The Brentwood Indians basketball team lost the state championship because there is bad stuff in the stars happening with Mars in Aquarius"? Explain why or why not.
ID: SC300-02-09-P
There appears to be a somewhat common reason for the absences here. When examining the information given to me, by the boss, and the school people, I find there were some minor instances of like mannered times and occurrences in April, in both schools. While in May, there was a major amount of absences in both schools, while not in the other two, mentioned.
When were the first "like" occurrences? According to the charts, it appears to be in the time period of late April/early May, there were some absences, but not a great spike, nor at particular same times. The major Spike showing the absences of both schools, during the same period of time, appears to fall from 5-19 to 5-25. (Charts for Schools, see following)
My hypotheses would be the early reasons for the absences could be a common type reason, such as colds, aches, etc. But with the major spike, where both schools were
Running head: SC300-14_Unit_2_Project
having a great amount of absences, (mostly in the bands,) it would possibly be 1) food poisoning, as this happened at the time of the "Battle of the Bands". These both happened on the 19th of May. 2) It could also be the Nile virus.
Due to this being a festive type occurrence, there would be much "party atmosphere" along with competition as to who was "best". Did the bands both go to restaurants to eat? While there were interviews, they covered only the sickness types, and people, not the response of Dr.s, diagnosis, nor medications to combat them. Nor did they speak of the eating arrangements. There are two separate restaurants involved in the inspection, both having possibility of contamination in the food areas.
These two were in the Restaurant Inspections :
"Take Your Chances" and "Delicious" were inspected.
Following violations noted:
Take Your Chances: Ceiling panels missing in Kitchen, exposed wiring. Shelves in walk-in freezer were dirty. Wiping cloths not cleaned and rinsed in sanitizing solution frequently enough. Would this cause germs to be involved in the preparation of the food? very highly. With all the open ceiling and wiring, it could carry much dust, as well as bacteria, and that could be dropped onto the food being prepared. The failure to clean the wiping cloths, and sanitize them would also allow for bacteria to get on the food preparation surfaces.
Delicious: Thermometers for food were not used by employees. Lower food shelf in walk-in Freezer within 6 inches of floor. How would thermometers effect it? The food that is cooked has regulations as to what temperature it is to come to, to eliminate
Running head: SC300-14_Unit_2_Project
germs in it. Especially meats, chicken, pork, etc. Chicken carries a great amount of the germs that cause food poisoning. "Meat: Salmonella typhimurium and S. enteritidis are the two main kinds of salmonella that infect food in the United States. These strands of salmonella attack meats--poultry in particular. They can also be found in raw vegetables and peanuts. Salmonella can come from handling other pets or animals and reptiles that carry the bacteria." (common-causes-poisoning)
This indeed would contribute to the possibility of food contamination, causing food poisoning. Also, the lower food shelf, being within six inches of the floor, could allow germs tracked in on the shoes to get in it. Did both bands eat at either of these restaurants? Unknown, but a possibility, being they were out doing the Band War. Both restaurants had definite inspection violations.
Did all the students have the same symptoms? the ones who were present during that time, had a great deal of the same ones. From the interviews of students and parents, it shows the majority were sick. What ailments were related? Students from the two schools: T for Truman, and J for Jackson show these as similar ailments: T-1, to T-6, and T-8, to T-10, J-2 to J-8, All were sick.
How many symptoms prevailed? We find in our research that the symptoms stacked up in a similar fashion, while not all identical. This is not unusual, as different people will react differently to the same types of illness. However, enough had similar symptoms, showing this to be of the stomach nature, as the main cause. The interview shows: Students with similar types of problems, Stomach Aches: All listed. While diarrhea was next in line with: T-3, T-4, T-5, T-6, T-8, T-9, T-10 , J-2, to J-6, and J-8.
Running head: SC300-14_Unit_2_Project
This was the next symptom in line of the numbers: Fever: T-1, T-2, T-5, T-9, T-10 , J-3, J-4, and J-6 all had it. While next was headaches: T-1, T-3, T-8, J-3, J-5, J-7, J-8 were listed. Last but not least, vomiting was with: T-2, T-6, T-10, J-2
All these symptoms point to a definite possibility of food Poisoning. Along with the fact the restaurants we are inspecting, had the definite breaking of the health requirements listed as such, (previously,) it has a very high ranking possibility this is what it was.
While the possibility of West Nile Virus is possible, it is highly unlikely. " West Nile Virus:
As the weather warms up this month, it is time to think about West Nile Virus. Warmer weather means more mosquitoes are around that may carry the disease. To limit exposure to mosquitoes, wear long pants and shirts when in areas with mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. To reduce mosquito populations, drain standing water around your home and change birdbath water weekly." (School Warning Bulletin)
The West Nile Virus was to come in with the warming weather, but this was at the end of the month, and the illness caught them all right about the 19th. there did not appear to be any gatherings of both schools band classes near the waters described, listed in the reports. Also, more of the other classes would probably have also been effected had it been the virus. "Q. What are the symptoms of West Nile virus (WNV) infection? A. Infection with WNV can be asymptomtic (no symptoms), or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease."
Running head: SC300-14_Unit_2_Project
(Assignment Chart of Schools listed)
Running head: SC300-14_Unit_2_Project
References:
Food Poisoning, Retrieved from: http://www.livestrong.com/article/17793-common-causes-poisoning/#ixzz1E6UcQg57 2-15-2011
West Nile Virus, Retrieved from: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/symptoms.htm
2-15-2011
Community Health dept. Intranet Kaplan.edu
