Pusat Sains Negara
Bilik Watson.
Click for more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/371360799709911/
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
APOSL Survey 3.0 (Video and results)
1. Human has never been to the moon
2. You can get AIDS by hugging someone with AIDS
3. Vaccination causes autism
4. Science brings more harm than benefit to humanity
5. *Shark's fin has the same nutrition as your fingernails
This survey was carried via 2 methods; on the streets where we approach them personally and online.
Information for the street survey
Time : 10am to 4pm
Date : 25 January 2015
Location : KL Sentral, Central Market and Masjid Jamek
Method : Be nice, smile and approach random people and ask for their reply on selected statements.
Total respondents : 166
Information for the online survey
Date : 24 to 31 January 2015
Method : 3 sets of Google Forms in 3 languages namely; English, Malay and Chinese, were shared out online. The downside for this method is that we can’t really be sure if the respondents are Malaysians
Total respondents breakdown by language:
English - 67 Respondents
Malay - 118 Respondents
Chinese - 8 Respondents
Total - 193 online respondents
Total samples collected is 359
Sample size, Margin of Error and Confidence Level
a. http://www.robertniles.com/stats/marg...
b. https://www.checkmarket.com/market-re...
c. https://www.surveymonkey.com/blog/en/...
In reference to the websites above and the sample size of 359, the margin of error is 5.3% at the confidence level of 95%
I acknowledged the above calculation is very simplistic and that there are proper methods and mathematics involved that only professional statisticians are able to do.
*Typo error
Mistakes were made during language translation that resulted into 2 versions of statement number 5 as such:
In the English and Malay online survey, the statement is as such:
“Shark's fin has THE SAME nutrition as your fingernails”
It has 185 respondents, making the margin of error 7.35% for a confidence level of 95%
In the Chinese online and Street Survey, the statement reads:
“Shark's fin has MORE nutrition as your fingernails” (174 respondents)
It has 174 respondents, making the margin of error 7.58% for a confidence level of 95%
Both the above statements are different and we shall treat the results as separate.
Demographics
For each of the respondents, we also recorded their age group as such:
a. 13-20
b. 21-30
c. 31-40
d. 41 and above
We also recorded their ethnicity as such:
a. Malay
b. Chinese
c. Indian
d. Others
We admit the ethnic category might create discontentment from the public who might see us as being racist. We understood the risk of being labelled as such. However, after much deliberation on the objectives some of the statements are trying to achieve, we went ahead. We have a hunch the results will show an interesting gap. Do bear in mind that not all the results will necessarily show the ethnic breakdowns, only the selected few which we want the relevant authorities to take note.
At the time of writing, we have yet to tabulate the results, hence we could be dead wrong.
Why are we doing this survey?
Curiosity.
Are we funded?
Nope. Not a single cent.
Are we professional statisticians?
Nope. We wouldn’t even dare refer ourselves as amateur. Think of us as motley crews trying to find out what’s up with Malaysians in terms of basic scientific knowledge
Survey 3.0 detailed breakdowns will be out soon
Friday, 23 January 2015
Science Survey 3.0 Online
Ambil survey ini untuk sains!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1P0uoEfPxekKXzaPNFlQkh9xqdTz930XpvAhFb27uPiA/viewform
Chinese version: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1f8ieP2UKRipCho4K-XRD7PCKQf_DKlmnxazgMK9hlOE/viewform
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1P0uoEfPxekKXzaPNFlQkh9xqdTz930XpvAhFb27uPiA/viewform
Chinese version: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1f8ieP2UKRipCho4K-XRD7PCKQf_DKlmnxazgMK9hlOE/viewform
Sunday, 14 December 2014
APOSL Coffee Survey 13.12.14
Background
There have been quite a few cafes sprouting around the Klang Valley lately. It seems to me that KLites enjoy drinking coffee and would not mind paying premium prices for big brand coffees.I decided to put this to the test. Can KLites tell one coffee from another? Are branded coffees better tasting?
Participants
18 people sampled 6 brands of coffees in a double blind method. Rating 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).The Survey
Archana was tasked with filling 7 labelled flasks with 6 types of coffees. Only she knew which flask contained what coffee. Once she poured the coffees for the participants, she left the room.There were 3 premium brands coffees: Coffee Bean, Starbucks and Coffeeology (a premium coffee supplier who sponsored a Costa Rica Blend coffee for us). 2 coffee were off-the-shelf brands: Nescafe and Kapal Api. 1 coffee was bought from a local kopitiam (coffee shop).
Coffee Preparation
The coffees that were bought from Coffee Bean, Starbucks, Coffeeology and kopitiam were prepared by the cafes themselves. Nescafe was the instant type and was prepared according to the directions on the packet. Kapal Api was prepared using an espresso maker.Participants tasted the coffees and rated them between 1 to 5. 1 being lowest while 5 was highest.
Coffee Ranking
- Kapal Api 2.83
- Nescafe Classic 2.66
- Starbucks 2.55
- Coffee Bean 2.38
- Kopitiam 2.33
- Costa Rican Blend 2.22
- Nescafe kaw 2.11
Summary
The expensive brands, Coffee Bean, Starbuck and the Costa Rica Blend rated lowest (1) by frequency (mode) while Nescafe and Kapal Api were highest with above slightly average rating (3).2 participants who indicated they “could tell the difference between coffees” rated (average) the Costa Rica Blend 3.5, Coffee Bean and Starbucks 1.5 respectively. Their top choice was Costa Rica Blend 3.5.
11 participants who indicated they “knew which coffees they liked and disliked” rated the Costa Rica Blend 2, Coffee Bean and Starbucks 2.63. Their top choice was Kapal Api 3.
4 participants who indicated they “could not tell one coffee from another” rated the Costa Rica Blend 1.75, Coffee Bean 1.5 and Starbucks 2.75. Their top choice was Starbucks.
7 participants who indicated they drank coffee daily rated Costa Rica Blend 2.4, Coffee Bean 2 and Starbucks 2.1. They top choice was Nescafe 2.8.
Monday, 1 December 2014
Monday, 6 October 2014
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Trivialising Dengue Fever: An open letter to The Star
An open letter to The Star
To The Star Newspaper,
Malaysia
4 October, 2014
Dear Editor,
RE: ‘PAPAYA LEAF JUICE CAN HELP IN RECOVERY FROM DENGUE FEVER’ (THE STAR 5.7.14)
I refer to an article published by your newspaper titled as above.
While it is fascinating that there seems to be a very simple and effect way of increasing platelet count for dengue victims, this short article leaves a lot to be desired.
The article seems to suggests that the age old remedy of boiling papaya leaves for dengue fever is vindicated. This could lead to a dangerous suggestion for ordinary people to promote it rather than to seek immediate medical help in suspected dengue cases.
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham explains, “The most important management in serious dengue [cases] is careful and meticulous fluid management. Too little water intake can lead to loss of blood volume but too much can also cause water to leak into the lungs. Careful assessment of fluid levels by an experienced doctor based on clinical examination and monitoring important parameters esp haematocrit measurement is the key to a successful outcome in serious dengue [cases]. In addition, many people get very bad vomiting and stomach ache in dengue and taking a diet advocated in the newspaper article can make matters worse.
“Dengue is a very complicated disease which is beyond just dropping [blood] platelets. Besides reducing platelets, it can affect important organs like the liver, lungs, heart and kidneys. In addition, one of the most dangerous complication is capillary leaks. This results in fluid leaking into important organs like the lungs resulting in impairment of oxygenation of the blood and breathlessness. This also causes the blood volume to drop and the resultant drop in blood pressure causes inadequate blood flow to important organs.”
A responsible newspaper would have included other facts about dengue fever and urge the public to seek medical help once symptoms of dengue appear. The article should have also warned against self-medication.
Dengue is a life threatening disease which Malaysians are exposed to every year especially during the rainy seasons (“Dengue fever battle far from over” The Star, 14.8.14). It is important that the public are not given the impression that there is a home cure that is supported by medical research.
On behalf of the APOSL science club,
Pepper Lim
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist
Dr Kok Sen Wai, Psychiatric MO.
To The Star Newspaper,
Malaysia
4 October, 2014
Dear Editor,
RE: ‘PAPAYA LEAF JUICE CAN HELP IN RECOVERY FROM DENGUE FEVER’ (THE STAR 5.7.14)
I refer to an article published by your newspaper titled as above.
While it is fascinating that there seems to be a very simple and effect way of increasing platelet count for dengue victims, this short article leaves a lot to be desired.
The article seems to suggests that the age old remedy of boiling papaya leaves for dengue fever is vindicated. This could lead to a dangerous suggestion for ordinary people to promote it rather than to seek immediate medical help in suspected dengue cases.
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham explains, “The most important management in serious dengue [cases] is careful and meticulous fluid management. Too little water intake can lead to loss of blood volume but too much can also cause water to leak into the lungs. Careful assessment of fluid levels by an experienced doctor based on clinical examination and monitoring important parameters esp haematocrit measurement is the key to a successful outcome in serious dengue [cases]. In addition, many people get very bad vomiting and stomach ache in dengue and taking a diet advocated in the newspaper article can make matters worse.
“Dengue is a very complicated disease which is beyond just dropping [blood] platelets. Besides reducing platelets, it can affect important organs like the liver, lungs, heart and kidneys. In addition, one of the most dangerous complication is capillary leaks. This results in fluid leaking into important organs like the lungs resulting in impairment of oxygenation of the blood and breathlessness. This also causes the blood volume to drop and the resultant drop in blood pressure causes inadequate blood flow to important organs.”
A responsible newspaper would have included other facts about dengue fever and urge the public to seek medical help once symptoms of dengue appear. The article should have also warned against self-medication.
Dengue is a life threatening disease which Malaysians are exposed to every year especially during the rainy seasons (“Dengue fever battle far from over” The Star, 14.8.14). It is important that the public are not given the impression that there is a home cure that is supported by medical research.
On behalf of the APOSL science club,
Pepper Lim
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist
Dr Kok Sen Wai, Psychiatric MO.
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