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BIOL/PSYC 3305 Fall 2014 Introduction to Scientific Research Exam 1

Name: Autumn Rounds-Knox
1. Listed below are the ten steps in the research process:
1. Find a problem [3]
To find the problem I will be discussing I examined my every day life. I am a college student taking twenty hours and
working two jobs. You can imagine the amount of stress I deal with everyday. Not only are the chemicals that stress
produces bad for your body, but also how you deal with stress. Eating fatty foods, lack of sleep, over intake of caffeine,
and excessive drinking are just a few of the methods college students use to deal with stress. So I asked my self what is a
better alternative to deal with stress while experiencing college? I decided to look into alternative medicine such as
herbal medicine. I found many studies on how herbs and affect people with different types of diseases and how herbs and
affect adult stress but I have been unsuccessful on finding a study that targets college stress specifically.
2. Review the literature [3]
While reviewing the literature I was able to pinpoint a specific herb I want to experiment with. As shown in existing
research Ashwagandha is an herb known for reducing stress.
3. Identify how existing theory and research point to future studies [3]
Ashwagandha is more commonly known as Indian Ginseng or Winter Cherry. Ashwagandhas literal meaning is smell
of horse. This is because it has held belief that who ever consumes its extracts can develop horse like strength and
energy. Ashwagandha has been used to act on various parts of the human body such as, neurological system, immune
system, energy production system, endocrinal system and the reproductive system (Chandrasekhar, Kapoor, &
Anishetty). The theory that Ashwagandha has an effect on all those different systems points to a limitless amount of
future studies.
4. Develop testable hypotheses [3]
College Students whom consume Ashwagandha extracts daily will experience less mental and physiological stress
effects.
5. Design your research [3]
I will first need to find a well rounded and balanced set of participants. The sample will include people from different
majors, races, genders, and age. Then I will give the participants a questionnaire and a stress scale to us to answer the
questionnaire. I want to also explore other biochemical ways to test stress in the body but I have not come up with how I
want to preform that. I know I want to try and make it as cost efficient as possible. Then I will have a double-blind
randomized, placebo-controlled trial. At random half of the participants will receive a pill containing Ashwagandha
extract and the other group will not. Neither the participants nor I will know who is getting the Ashwagandha extract.
This will insure that their individual belief will not affect the trial. The Trail will last up to 40 days. Once the 40 days are
up I will give a similar questionnaire with the same stress scale, and biochemical test and compare the results from the
first and second test.
6. Conduct your research
7. Analyze your data
8. Prepare your research report
9. Share your results
10. Consider new problems for future research
Clearly describe how you plan to go through (or have already gone through) steps 1-5 in conducting scientific research
on YOUR topic.
2.
a. Describe 5 ethical concerns that you would have to address in your research on YOUR research proposal
topic, relating them to the principles of ethics we discussed in class. For each concern, clearly describe
how you would address the concern. [5 points]
I would make sure I got them to sign an informed consent form after informing them.
I would give them a list of possible side effects and assure them that if they experience any of the possible side
effects they are to withdraw from the experiment.

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I would request I have a list of any other medications they take and also be made aware if they begin taking a
medication during the experiment.
Once the experiment was completed I will inform the participants who actually took the Ashwagandha extracts
and who did not.
b. Imagine that you are doing a study using human subjects. Construct an informed consent form and a
basic script for debriefing that you might use in your research study. Feel free to use your research
proposal topic if it involves using human subjects.[5 points]
Informed Consent for Participation of Research
I volunteer to participate in the research conducted by Autumn Rounds, OLOL College student. I understand that this
research will look at the effects of my daily stress on my body and mind.
I understand that I can withdraw from this research project at any given time during the experiment with out penalty. I
understand that I will not get paid for this experiment.
I understand that I am not required to answer every question on the questionnaire. If I am not comfortable with answering any
question I do not have to answer it.
I understand that my name will not be used in any research reports.
I have been made aware of the possible side effects from the extract.
I have been given contact information for question and concerns during the experiment.
I have been informed in great detail of the experiment and has had every one of my questions answered.
By signing this I agree to all of the statements above.
Signature:
Date:
Printed Name:

Debriefing Script
Thank you, <Insert specific name> for participating in this study. You <were/were not> given Ashwagandha. This was a
double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial. At random half of the participants received a pill containing Ashwagandha
extract and the other group did not. Neither the participants nor I knew who was getting the Ashwagandha extract. This
insured that youre individual belief did not affect the trial.
If you have any more questions about the study please contact Autumn Rounds, at autumnroundsknox@ololcollege.edu.
Thank you for your participation.

c. Imagine that you are doing a study using non-human animals. Indicate the model organism, the role of
the IACUC and who comprises the committee, any ethical principles that need to be addressed in an
animal study. Feel free to use your research proposal topic if it involves using non-human animals. [5
points]
The model organism I would use would a chimpanzee. IACUCs role is to ensure the experimenter treats research
participants, in this case chimpanzee, according to established guidelines. The committee includes a cross section of faculty
member from different education departments, community members not associated with the institution, and one veterinarian.
Respect of the animals body, beneficence, and justice for the animal needs to be addressed in an animal study.
3. Imagine that you are a "pseudoscientist." Clearly describe the steps you would take in researching YOUR TOPIC and
making and sharing your conclusions. In your answer, describe at least three ways that the scientist's approach differs
from the pseudoscientist's approach. [10 points]
First I would begin with a hypothesis that is appealing emotionally and then look for evidence that would only support it.
Then I would not actually conduct any research because I know if I did that it would prove my hypothesis wrong.
Then it would not be peer reviewed and published but just posted on Facebook.
4. Log onto the databases on EBSCO or PubMed and find one current, peer-reviewed journal article that examined your topic and cite
the article in APA format [2 points]. USING YOUR OWN WORDS, clearly describe how the author applied a theory to understanding
the topic. [4 points]. Briefly describe the findings of the study [4 points].

A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Safety and Efficacy of a High-Concentration FullSpectrum Extract of Ashwagandha Root in Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Adults.
Chandrasekhar, K. K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study
of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in
adults. Indian Journal Of Psychological Medicine, 34(3), 255-262. doi:10.4103/0253-7176.106022
This study used the theory that Ashwagandha has been used to act on various parts of the human body such as, neurological
system, immune system, energy production system, endocrinal system and the reproductive system in positive ways. He took
this theory and looked at how it affects stress and Anxiety in adults.
This study found that after 60 days, the group exposed to the Ashwagandha extract showed a reduction in scores on the stress
test and a reduced amount of cortisol levels.

References
Blessing, J. (2013). Introduction to research and medical literature for health professionals (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones
& Bartlett Learning.
Chandrasekhar, K. K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study
of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety
in adults. Indian Journal Of Psychological Medicine, 34(3), 255-262. doi:10.4103/0253-7176.106022
Konar, A., Shah, N., Singh, R., Saxena, N., Kaul, S., Wadhwa, R., & Thakur, M.(2011). Protective role of Ashwagandha leaf
extract and its component with an one on scopolamine-induced changes in the brain and brain-derived cells. Plos One,
6(11), e27265. doi:10.1371
Navarro, D. (2012). Supporting the Students of the Future. Change, 44(1),43-51.doi:10.1080/00091383.2012.636004
Piazza, J., Charles, S., Sliwinski, M., Mogle, J., & Almeida, D. (2013). Affective reactivity to daily stressors and long-term
risk of reporting a chronic physical health condition. Annals Of Behavioral Medicine, 45(1), 110-120.
doi:10.1007/s12160-012-9423-0