Investigation 1-3
What's My Hypothesis?

Synopsis

Each student is assigned an exposure and, assuming the exposure causes a disease, writes a description of how a hypothetical disease would be distributed in terms of person, place, and time.  Students then review each other's descriptions and formulate one or more hypotheses for each.  When students compare their hypotheses, they realize that a given distribution of a health-related outcome can lead to the formulation of several different educated guesses.

Investigation Preparation Checklist

Check alignment with standards.

National or State file

Review Epidemiology Background for Module 1.

Word or PDF file

Review teacher's notes and slides:  [en espaņol:]

Write different exposures on index cards, one card for each student.

Word or PDF file

Number index cards consecutively.

Copy Investigation 1-3: Epi Log Worksheet - PPT Sheet for each student.  [en espaņol:]

Word or PDF file

Copy Investigation 1-3: Epi Log Worksheet - Hypothesis Chart for each student.  [en espaņol:]

Word or PDF file

Devise plan to separate Epi Teams as much as possible.

Estimated Time / Time Management

Approximately one class period.  Time can be managed by increasing or decreasing the number of index cards that are used and by preparing charts in advance.

Look For Students To:

	Describe disease distribution logically.
	Formulate logical hypotheses.
	Formulate arguments that show the uncertainty of these hypotheses.
	Formulate alternative hypotheses.