Problem 35E
Cobalt-60 is a strong gamma emitter that has a half-life of 5.26 yr. The cobalt-60 in a radiotherapy unit must be replaced when its radioactivity falls to 70% of the original sample. If an original sample was purchased in June 2010, when will it be necessary to replace the cobalt-60?
Conley Chapter 2: Methods/Week 3 Notes Paradox: “If we successfully answer one question, it only spawns others. There is no moment when a social scientist’s work is done.” Benefits of Sociological Research o Empirical research vs. opinion or personal experience – controls personal bias Empirical research Evidence collected with data Agreed upon standards Research methods Reduce bias and error o Gets beyond personal experience and casual observation o Is collaborative through peer review and communal accumulation knowledge Peer review experts in the field review others’ works before publishing Research methods – approaches that social scientists use for investigating the answers to questions o Standard rules that social scientists follow when trying to establish a causal relationship between social elements o Quantitative methods – obtain information about the social world that is already in or can be converted into numerical form Statistical information o Qualitative methods – attempt to collect information about the social world that cannot be readily converted to numerical form Typically leads to narratives Research 101 o Deductive approach (Quantita
