Provide two hypotheses and two sets of experiments for each puzzle. The hypothes

Question

Provide two hypotheses and two sets of experiments for each puzzle. The hypotheses are some possible explanations (they may be wrong). Experiments are meant to test whether your hypotheses are correct or not.

a) Puzzle: Chemical fertilizers are found to increase crop yields in many parts of the world. Estimates suggest that in Asia and Latin America, the average use of chemical fertilizer was about 160 lbs of fertilizer per hectare of arable land, and chemical fertilizers are responsible for 50-75% of the increase in the food crop yield over the past two decades. However, most farmers do not use chemical fertilizer in sub-Sahara Africa, why don’t they use more if it can improve the yields?

b) Puzzle: In India, despite various government initiatives and near-universal school enrolment in the age group 6-14, children still have problem learning how to read. Among students in 8th grade, nearly a quarter of them still cannot read second-grade level text in 2014. Why can’t they read better if they are attending schools?

Explanation / Answer

Answer: Since hypothesis are potential explanations that can account for our observations and describe cause-and-effect relationships

1. Most farmers do not use chemical fertilizer in sub-sahara Africa, why don't they use more if it can improve yields

Hypothesis1: Chemicals fertilizers are expensive and farmers do not have sufficient savings to purchase fertilizer in sub-sahara Africa.

Experiment1: Recruit farmers and perform random sampling to form two groups. Provide one treatment group with subsidized fertilizers or discount coupons to purchase chemical fertilizers. Do not provide any incentives or coupons to the comparison group. Determine and compare the chemical fertilizer usage of the two groups.

Hypothesis2: Farmers in Sub Sahara Africa lack awareness about the benefits of using chemical fertilizers to improve productivity.

Experiment2: Recruit farmers and perform random sampling to form two groups. To the treatment group arrange awareness sessions where the farmers would be provided information about the benefits of using fertilizer in improving agricultural productivity and to the other group, do not provide any such information and then compare the chemical fertilizer usage pattern amongst the two groups.

Puzzle 2: Why cant students in 8th grade in India read better if they are attending schools:

Hypothesis1: Absenteeism or Poor attendance in schools resulted in poor learning for those absent.

Answer1: To determine the effect of absenteeism on learning and reading capabilities, select students randomly and divide into two groups. Ensure that students in treatment group attend school without any break for a pre-determined period of time and impose no such restrictions on the other group, Compare the reading skills after the completion of the study time.

Hypothesis 2: Misconduct of teachers with forged degrees leads to poor quality of education and affects the reading ability of students.

Answer2: Randomly select students and form 2 groups. Assign teachers which are professionally well qualified and trained to teach the treatment group of students and to the other group assign regular teachers. Perform this study for a period of 3-6 months and after the completion of the study duration, assess the reading abilities of the students.

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