The scientific method is a group of techniques that are used to acquire new knowledge or correct existing knowledge. This systematic series of steps can be utilized in the social sciences in order to conduct research, collect data, and determine the effectiveness of interventions through the evaluation of statistically significant data. The scientific method provides a framework that can be used to research various concepts of social sciences.
A study was conducted through a sister-university relationship between the University of Basrah and the University of Washington to evaluate trends in childhood leukemia in Basrah, Iraq beginning in 1993 (Hagopian, Lafta, Hassan, Davis, Mirick & Takaro, 2010).
Question
What are the trends in childhood leukemia in Basrah, Iraq from 1993 to 2007?
Research
How have numbers of children with leukemia changed over time? What could cause these numbers to change?
Hypothesis
Documented cases of childhood leukemia will increase over time related to the environmental exposures faced in Basrah, Iraq.
Experiment
Conducted as a registry study, children’s medical records from the oncology unit at Basrah’s Ibn Ghazwan Women and Children’s hospital were analyzed. The dates of these medical records spanned fifteen years, from 1993 to 2007.
Analysis and Conclusion
It was found that rate of childhood leukemia more than tripled in the fifteen year period from 1993 to 2007. This rate coincides with the increased use of chemical warfare agents and exposure to uranium dust and other forms of radiation found in Basrah, Iraq (Greiser & Hoffmann, 2010). Further research is required to determine if this correlation is also a causative factor in the rapid increase in cases of childhood leukemia in Basrah, Iraq (Hagopian, Lafta, Hassan, Davis, Mirick, & Takaro, 2010).
An additional study completed involved the prevalence of acute leukemia in Iraqi patients. A correlation was found between the increase in depleted uranium exposure related to U.S. aggression in Iraq in 1991 and an increase in leukemia prevalence in all groups of the population (Mohammad, T. K., Mahmood, Alkhalidi, S. J., & Elew, G. F., 2009).