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Relationship Between Puff Size And A Cigarette

Decent Essays

1. What research question did the paper address?
This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between the puff size (while smoking a cigarette) and the amount of nicotine being inhaled. The researchers wanted to see if there was compensation in puff volume, for the reduced nicotine yields. To provide an unbiased study, the yields and characteristics of tar, carbon monoxide, taste, and draw were all the same, while the nicotine content varied with different participants. There were high, medium, and low nicotine yields, with 24 participants, 14 male and 10 female. The study was done after an 8-10 period of abstaining from smoking.
2.Why was it important to address this question? Why do we need to know the answer to this research question? …show more content…

Are the methods explained in sufficient detail to allow another scientist to replicate the study? If not, what details are missing?
There is a sufficient amount of evidence to replicate this study, yet the environment was not discussed and could alter results. This means that if the study were done in an uncomfortable environment, or since the subjects are being watched, it could be skewed, and they did not explain this in enough detail.
4. Please describe all the results (all important results). Tell me what the results were without any interpretation of what they actually mean.
The number of puffs and the interval between puffs did not vary throughout participants who were smoking different amounts of nicotine. Subjects took a longer period of time to smoke high nicotine cigarettes, which also gave them side effects such as rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, and shakiness. They also found that the puff volume had decreased throughout the duration of smoking that cigarette. Puff volume and nicotine content were directly related to high or low nicotine. When there was a 67% increase of nicotine, there was actually only a 33% increase in puff size.
5. In your own words describe what you think the results tell us. What do the results mean? How do you interpret the …show more content…

The participant information was not discussed and could easily skew results, such as the individual’s habits and lifestyle. A participant could be under the influence of another substance, or highly stressed, which are said to make cravings of nicotine higher. A relaxed, sober participant could have puffed a smaller volume of the low nicotine cigarette. Another flaw would be the fact that none of them enjoyed the taste of the cigarette in the study. If the participants were smoking a cigarette of their favorite brand with the flavors they like, the puff size would likely increase. I think that would be a difficult study to hold, but the results may be more accurate. The percentage of nicotine to the percentage of puff size increase would likely be closer with their cigarette of choice. Otherwise, the questions were answered and the results were provided in

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