A finding question tests whether a study result backs up the researchers’ claim. If the claim names different causes under different conditions, split it into parts. For each part, predict what changing the cause would do and under which conditions. Then check which other possible causes the study keeps unchanged, because a result is stronger evidence for a cause when other causes stay the same. A result that supports one part can still fail to support the whole claim.
Hints
- Hint 1
Look at Shah’s hypothesis, especially which cue she assigns to each kind of night.
- Hint 2
Predict the effect of changing each cue while leaving the other cue unchanged. How should that prediction differ after cold and mild nights?
- Hint 3
Test both parts of the hypothesis together. For each cue, does its effect differ between cold and mild nights in the way Shah predicts?
Step-by-step
Test both sides of the cue switch
Step 1Split the hypothesis by night
Shah says the flowers switch between two cues, so support must show which cue guides opening after each kind of night. What are the two parts of that claim? After cold nights, the flowers use dawn-light polarization; after mild nights, they use rising temperature. The cue changes with the kind of night.
- Step 2
Predict each cue’s effect
How can the study tell which cue matters? The team independently varied overnight temperature, dawn-light polarization, and morning air temperature, which lets us change one cue at a time while holding the other steady. That keeps the other cue from explaining a change in opening. Changing polarization should affect opening after cold nights but not mild ones. Changing when the air warms should affect opening after mild nights but not cold ones.
- Step 3
Check findings that miss a part
Which findings miss part of the switch between two cues? The warming delay after both kinds of night still gives temperature a role after cold nights. The finding of no effect after either kind of night doesn't show a temperature response after mild nights. And altering polarization delays opening equally after both kinds of night, which gives light a role after mild nights too. Each result misses one side of Shah’s switch.
- Step 4
Match both controlled tests
The result with warming unchanged shows that altering polarization delays opening after a cold night, but not after a mild one. Does its temperature test show the other half? With polarization unchanged, delayed warming delays opening after a mild night, but not after a cold one, so both controlled tests support the switch. Choice B.