Elena wants to determine whether sun exposure influences the likelihood of developing skin
cancer. The participants in the study will record their exposure to the sun on a scale of 1-5 using
an electronic device each day, and Elena will record the amount of sun exposure each person has
received over a five-year period. Also, the participants’ skin will be inspected for sun spots and
skin cancer both before, during, and after the study. Elena will not intervene to determine how
much sun exposure each participant receives. If there are signs of skin cancer at any point during
the study, and all participants will be given information about the dangers of sun exposure and
rates of skin cancer at the conclusion of the study.
(A) Identify the following factors in Elena’s study if she found that high levels of sun
exposure led to higher levels of skin cancer:
• What type of study is Elena conducting?
• How could Elena report her findings in a graph?
• What type of statement could Elena make at the conclusion of this study?
(B) Explain how the following ethical issues apply to Elena’s study:
• What are the ethical issues in this experiment?
• How has Elena accounted for an ethical issue that may have an impact on her
participants?
• How could Elena have accounted for an ethical issue that was not clearly
addressed by her study?