NS 1400 In-class Test #3 (Answered) 98
Questions and Correct Answers.
2025/2026.
cancer
A large group of diseases that start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells
grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body, and/or
spread to other organs.
Apoptosis
programmed cell death
4 ways cancer cells are different from normal cells
1. grow in the absence of signals
2. ignore signals to die or stop dividing
3. invade into nearby areas
4. tell blood vessels to grow toward tumors
cancer death in the US
1. second leading cause, exceeded by heart disease
2. one in every four deaths
the geography of cancer
1. deep south: poor
2. new england: old
three broad sets of factors that causes cancer
1. environmental
2. behavior
3. genetic
relationship between higher age and cancer
1. more time for damage in cells to build up
2. more exposure to environmental and behavioral factors
racial disparity of cancer
Highest: African American men
Lowest: Asian/Pacific Islander women
colorectal cancer
cancer of the colon and rectum
Trend of lung cancer over the past two decades
, both rates of new cancers and mortality decreased
The Doll-Hill Study: Research Problems and implications
1. Lung cancer might be caused by all sorts of things.
--> cross-sectional study won't work
2. The relationship between smoking (or indeed any environmental factor) and lung cancer is not
instantaneous
--> need to follow people
The Doll-Hill Study: solution
prospective cohort study design using British doctors
prospective cohort study design
follows, over time, groups of individuals who are alike in
many ways but differ by a certain characteristic. We then see if there is a relationship
between that certain characteristic and our outcome(s) of interest
Why choosing British doctors for the Doll-Hill study is a good idea (3)
1. same occupation, education, income, background
2. differed in tobacco use
3. medical register
exposure
independent variable in epidemiological research
outcome
dependent variable in epidemiological research
observational studies
Observing what occurs without intentional interference or intervention
cross-sectional study
A study in which a representative cross section of the population is tested or surveyed at one specific
time.
cohort study
study that measures variables of a group of people over time
Case-control study
Observational study where 2 people differing in outcome are identified and compared to find a
causal factor (retrospective)
ecologic study
a study in which the units of analysis are populations or groups of people rather than individuals
experimental studies
Questions and Correct Answers.
2025/2026.
cancer
A large group of diseases that start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells
grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body, and/or
spread to other organs.
Apoptosis
programmed cell death
4 ways cancer cells are different from normal cells
1. grow in the absence of signals
2. ignore signals to die or stop dividing
3. invade into nearby areas
4. tell blood vessels to grow toward tumors
cancer death in the US
1. second leading cause, exceeded by heart disease
2. one in every four deaths
the geography of cancer
1. deep south: poor
2. new england: old
three broad sets of factors that causes cancer
1. environmental
2. behavior
3. genetic
relationship between higher age and cancer
1. more time for damage in cells to build up
2. more exposure to environmental and behavioral factors
racial disparity of cancer
Highest: African American men
Lowest: Asian/Pacific Islander women
colorectal cancer
cancer of the colon and rectum
Trend of lung cancer over the past two decades
, both rates of new cancers and mortality decreased
The Doll-Hill Study: Research Problems and implications
1. Lung cancer might be caused by all sorts of things.
--> cross-sectional study won't work
2. The relationship between smoking (or indeed any environmental factor) and lung cancer is not
instantaneous
--> need to follow people
The Doll-Hill Study: solution
prospective cohort study design using British doctors
prospective cohort study design
follows, over time, groups of individuals who are alike in
many ways but differ by a certain characteristic. We then see if there is a relationship
between that certain characteristic and our outcome(s) of interest
Why choosing British doctors for the Doll-Hill study is a good idea (3)
1. same occupation, education, income, background
2. differed in tobacco use
3. medical register
exposure
independent variable in epidemiological research
outcome
dependent variable in epidemiological research
observational studies
Observing what occurs without intentional interference or intervention
cross-sectional study
A study in which a representative cross section of the population is tested or surveyed at one specific
time.
cohort study
study that measures variables of a group of people over time
Case-control study
Observational study where 2 people differing in outcome are identified and compared to find a
causal factor (retrospective)
ecologic study
a study in which the units of analysis are populations or groups of people rather than individuals
experimental studies
