A scientist has noted a possible relationship between a certain chemical substance found in fish and the occurrence of kidney failure to humans. Which of the following preliminary steps should the scientist take before conducting experiment?
A. Establish a cause and effect relationship between the substance and the outcome
B. Write a research grant proposal to the appropriate federal funding agency
C. Review the literature to determine what other research is available on this topic
Distribute letter of consent to human subjects who will be used in the research
Before conducting the experiment, the scientist should take the following preliminary step:
C. Review the literature to determine what other research is available on this topic.
Explanation:
Reviewing the literature is an important preliminary step in any scientific research, as it helps the scientist to gain a comprehensive understanding of the existing knowledge and research on the topic. By reviewing the literature, the scientist can identify if any previous research has already established a relationship between the chemical substance found in fish and kidney failure in humans. This step can help the scientist avoid duplicating previous work and refine the research question accordingly.
Options A, B, and D are not appropriate as preliminary steps in this case:
A. Establishing a cause and effect relationship between the substance and the outcome is the overall goal of the research, but it cannot be done before conducting the experiment. This step involves analyzing the data obtained from the experiment and drawing conclusions based on the results.
B. Writing a research grant proposal is a step that comes after the preliminary review of the literature and the formulation of the research question. It is necessary to secure funding for the research, but it should not be the initial step.
D. Distributing a letter of consent to human subjects is a step that occurs during the actual research process, after the research question and methodology have been established.