Year 10 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 10
Challenge Worksheet
Learning Goals
Design a mini-experiment
A researcher wants to test: "Are people's concerns about GM food based on scientific evidence or on general feelings of unease about 'unnaturalness'?" Design an ethical survey to investigate this question.
| What the survey should measure (dependent variable, what you are finding out) | |
| Who should be surveyed? Describe the ideal sample (age, background, size) | |
| Write TWO survey questions, one that measures evidence-based knowledge and one that measures emotional perception | |
| One bias that might affect results if you only survey science students, and how to reduce it | |
| How would you present balanced information about GM safety to participants before the survey, without pushing them towards a particular answer? | |
| What result would suggest concerns ARE evidence-based? What result would suggest they are NOT? |
1. A science journalist writes: "The science is settled, GM food is safe, so there is no need to label it." Using your knowledge of ethics and science communication, explain why this statement, even if scientifically accurate, might be an unhelpful way to respond to public concern about GM food.
2. The Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) states that genetic interventions must "respect human dignity, promote justice and ensure benefits are shared equitably." Evaluate how well the development and sale of patented GM seeds by large corporations meets each of these three principles.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what is the most important thing science communicators should do when the evidence conflicts with public perception?