Item 11 Anchor Papers    

HSA 2007 Biology Item 11

CID
CID91c83123f9c5294d8bf95c0700110b42
itemNum
11
initialLetter
itemType
BCR
itemAnswerKey
N/A
itemMaxScorePoints
4
origNum
x

Medical researchers are studying a new drug to treat anemia. Eligible patients are asked if they would like to participate in the study. If a patient does participate, there is a 50% chance that the patient will receive the actual anemia medication and a 50% chance that the patient will receive a placebo, or sugar pill. The placebo is not meant to have any effect on the patient’s anemia. The study is double-blinded, meaning that neither the researchers nor the patients know which kind of pill is being taken—the actual medication or the placebo.

  • Explain why a placebo is being used in the study.
  • Explain why it is important to conduct a double-blinded study.
  • Describe both the possible benefits and risks of drug trials, such as the one in the example, to both the patient and society.

Write your answer in your Answer Book.

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates some understanding of the problem. The student gives a correct reason for using placebos in drug trials (to compare the effect of the actual anemia medication). A general benefit of drug trials to society (cure the disease) and an individual risk (harmful side effect) are listed. Overall, supporting details are minimal.

image of student response

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates some understanding of the problem. The student gives a general explanation as to why a placebo is used in a drug trial (know that the medication really works the same on everyone and doesn't have similar affects that the sugar pill has; should be able to separate them from the patients who took the sugar pill). A general benefit of drug trials to society (find a medication to treat anemia) and a few risks (takes a long time and a lot of money) are provided. Supporting details are only minimally effective.

image of student response

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows a basic understanding of the problem. The student uses adequate details to explain why placebos are used (as a control group; places the unaffective group next to the affected group, making it easier to see the differences or similarities). One reason is given for conducting a double-blinded study (there will be no "emotional" interference in the experiment). A benefit of drug trials to society (a new medicine will be available to those in need) and an individual risk (could have harmful effects on the test subjects) are supplied. The student uses some accurate scientific terminology (control group), but it does not strengthen the response. Overall, the supporting details are adequate.

image of student response

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a basic understanding of the problem. The student explains why a placebo is used (as a control; results from the placebo and results from the medicine can be compared). An explanation for conducting a double-blinded study is given (results are genuine; the outcomes are random and not chosen). Benefits of drug trials to the individual and society (cure for a disease; person's life could be saved if the pill works) and several risks (pill might not work; patient be discouraged; only one person will walk out of the hospital with a changed condition) are described. Some scientific terminology is present (control), but it does not strengthen the response. Supporting details are adequate.

image of student response

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows a basic understanding of the problem. The student correctly explains the psychological effect of why a placebo is used (Some patients may just begin to think its working because they want it too; they don't over exaggerate the true results). The researcher's perspective in describing the importance of a double-blinded study is given (so the doctors results can be more accurrate; the could just concentrate on the patient with the medicine and not read accurrate results). A societal benefit and an individual risk (help us figure out if medicines really work; people could get more sick or even die) are also identified. The use of some scientific terminology (possible variable) does not strengthen the response. Overall, supporting details are adequate.

image of student response

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a good understanding of the problem. The student describes the role of the placebo as a control (something to base their results on; have a constant to base your test results against) in a drug trial. The explanation of the importance of a double-blinded study includes both the perspectives of the patient and the researcher (patients won't feel different based on their thoughts; researchers won't treat them differently based on what medication they get). A few risks and benefits of drug trials to society (might discovery a life saving drug) and to the individual (side affects could be trageic) are described. Some scientific terminology (break through) strengthens the response. Supporting details are generally complete.

image of student response

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a good understanding of the problem. The student explains why a placebo is used (the researchers must have a control). The explanation for why a double-blinded study is important shows synthesis and contains generally complete details for both the patient (every person taking a pill has the same outlook; nobody's personal feelings interfere with the experiment; if one person believes they will get better, they may do better than someone who doesn't) and the researcher (look at the results and be biased, and believe someone is getting better even if they are not; results will be more accurate). Benefits and risks of drug trials to society (a new drug to treat anemia may develope, and hundreds could be cured) and to the individual (harm patients; give side effects; someone died) are described. The presence of scientific terminology (control; biased) strengthens the response. Overall, supporting details are generally complete.

image of student response

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a full and complete understanding by providing pertinent details for all aspects of the problem. The student identifies and describes the role of the placebo (as a control; compare the effectiveness of the real drug to nothing at all). The student integrates the perspectives of the researcher and patient when explaining the reason for a double-blinded study (to ensure that researchers don't leake any information regarding which medication the patient is taking, in order to prevent inaccurate results do to psycological changes in the patient). Synthesis is shown in the description of risks (patients who recieve the sugar pills won't get better, instead having their situation worsen, which may lead to further medical problems; real drug being tested has negative side effects which could put the testers in risk of sickness due to the new drug) and benefits (patients who are taking the real drug will recover from the anemia; if the drug turns out to be effective, there will be a treatment available for anemia, that can be used by the general public) to the individual and society.

image of student response

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a full and complete understanding of the problem by providing full and pertinent details. The student identifies one of the roles of the placebo (researchers have a control to compare to). The response then integrates the patient's perspective as the other reason for its use (so that the results are not "tainted"; the patients do not lie about the results) with the importance of a double-blinded study (researchers can't assume where affects are coming from and can't "spill the beans" as to whom is actually taking the drug and who is taking the placebo; researchers may also be more assertive in their observations). Benefits (can be proven to cure diseases or aid in the healing processes; researchers will know the general side effects of the drug and how it will affect certain individuals so that they can be advised against using the drug if they have certain conditions) and risks (no one knows how the drug will essentially affect the persons involved in the trial so their health may be at stake; a hazardous side effect does not appear in the trial, but rather after the drug is put out on the market) are described for both the individual and society.

image of student response
 

Anchor Papers ~ Biology ~ Item 11

HSA 2007 Biology Item 11

CID
CID91c83123f9c5294d8bf95c0700110b42
itemNum
11
initialLetter
itemType
BCR
itemAnswerKey
N/A
itemMaxScorePoints
4
origNum
x

Medical researchers are studying a new drug to treat anemia. Eligible patients are asked if they would like to participate in the study. If a patient does participate, there is a 50% chance that the patient will receive the actual anemia medication and a 50% chance that the patient will receive a placebo, or sugar pill. The placebo is not meant to have any effect on the patient’s anemia. The study is double-blinded, meaning that neither the researchers nor the patients know which kind of pill is being taken—the actual medication or the placebo.

  • Explain why a placebo is being used in the study.
  • Explain why it is important to conduct a double-blinded study.
  • Describe both the possible benefits and risks of drug trials, such as the one in the example, to both the patient and society.

Write your answer in your Answer Book.

 

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates some understanding of the problem. The student gives a correct reason for using placebos in drug trials (to compare the effect of the actual anemia medication). A general benefit of drug trials to society (cure the disease) and an individual risk (harmful side effect) are listed. Overall, supporting details are minimal.

image of student response

 

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates some understanding of the problem. The student gives a general explanation as to why a placebo is used in a drug trial (know that the medication really works the same on everyone and doesn't have similar affects that the sugar pill has; should be able to separate them from the patients who took the sugar pill). A general benefit of drug trials to society (find a medication to treat anemia) and a few risks (takes a long time and a lot of money) are provided. Supporting details are only minimally effective.

image of student response

 

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows a basic understanding of the problem. The student uses adequate details to explain why placebos are used (as a control group; places the unaffective group next to the affected group, making it easier to see the differences or similarities). One reason is given for conducting a double-blinded study (there will be no "emotional" interference in the experiment). A benefit of drug trials to society (a new medicine will be available to those in need) and an individual risk (could have harmful effects on the test subjects) are supplied. The student uses some accurate scientific terminology (control group), but it does not strengthen the response. Overall, the supporting details are adequate.

image of student response

 

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a basic understanding of the problem. The student explains why a placebo is used (as a control; results from the placebo and results from the medicine can be compared). An explanation for conducting a double-blinded study is given (results are genuine; the outcomes are random and not chosen). Benefits of drug trials to the individual and society (cure for a disease; person's life could be saved if the pill works) and several risks (pill might not work; patient be discouraged; only one person will walk out of the hospital with a changed condition) are described. Some scientific terminology is present (control), but it does not strengthen the response. Supporting details are adequate.

image of student response

 

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

 

This response shows a basic understanding of the problem. The student correctly explains the psychological effect of why a placebo is used (Some patients may just begin to think its working because they want it too; they don't over exaggerate the true results). The researcher's perspective in describing the importance of a double-blinded study is given (so the doctors results can be more accurrate; the could just concentrate on the patient with the medicine and not read accurrate results). A societal benefit and an individual risk (help us figure out if medicines really work; people could get more sick or even die) are also identified. The use of some scientific terminology (possible variable) does not strengthen the response. Overall, supporting details are adequate.

image of student response

 

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a good understanding of the problem. The student describes the role of the placebo as a control (something to base their results on; have a constant to base your test results against) in a drug trial. The explanation of the importance of a double-blinded study includes both the perspectives of the patient and the researcher (patients won't feel different based on their thoughts; researchers won't treat them differently based on what medication they get). A few risks and benefits of drug trials to society (might discovery a life saving drug) and to the individual (side affects could be trageic) are described. Some scientific terminology (break through) strengthens the response. Supporting details are generally complete.

image of student response

 

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a good understanding of the problem. The student explains why a placebo is used (the researchers must have a control). The explanation for why a double-blinded study is important shows synthesis and contains generally complete details for both the patient (every person taking a pill has the same outlook; nobody's personal feelings interfere with the experiment; if one person believes they will get better, they may do better than someone who doesn't) and the researcher (look at the results and be biased, and believe someone is getting better even if they are not; results will be more accurate). Benefits and risks of drug trials to society (a new drug to treat anemia may develope, and hundreds could be cured) and to the individual (harm patients; give side effects; someone died) are described. The presence of scientific terminology (control; biased) strengthens the response. Overall, supporting details are generally complete.

image of student response

 

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a full and complete understanding by providing pertinent details for all aspects of the problem. The student identifies and describes the role of the placebo (as a control; compare the effectiveness of the real drug to nothing at all). The student integrates the perspectives of the researcher and patient when explaining the reason for a double-blinded study (to ensure that researchers don't leake any information regarding which medication the patient is taking, in order to prevent inaccurate results do to psycological changes in the patient). Synthesis is shown in the description of risks (patients who recieve the sugar pills won't get better, instead having their situation worsen, which may lead to further medical problems; real drug being tested has negative side effects which could put the testers in risk of sickness due to the new drug) and benefits (patients who are taking the real drug will recover from the anemia; if the drug turns out to be effective, there will be a treatment available for anemia, that can be used by the general public) to the individual and society.

image of student response

 

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

 

This response demonstrates a full and complete understanding of the problem by providing full and pertinent details. The student identifies one of the roles of the placebo (researchers have a control to compare to). The response then integrates the patient's perspective as the other reason for its use (so that the results are not "tainted"; the patients do not lie about the results) with the importance of a double-blinded study (researchers can't assume where affects are coming from and can't "spill the beans" as to whom is actually taking the drug and who is taking the placebo; researchers may also be more assertive in their observations). Benefits (can be proven to cure diseases or aid in the healing processes; researchers will know the general side effects of the drug and how it will affect certain individuals so that they can be advised against using the drug if they have certain conditions) and risks (no one knows how the drug will essentially affect the persons involved in the trial so their health may be at stake; a hazardous side effect does not appear in the trial, but rather after the drug is put out on the market) are described for both the individual and society.

image of student response