As you recall from our earlier correspondence, we at Coins 'R' U.S., Inc. are planning to make changes to our product # 1909-VDBS (known commonly as "The One-Cent Piece" or "The Lincoln Penny").

As part of the planning process your firm, GenChemCo Industries, has been chosen to examine earlier versions of this product to determine the answer to the question: "What is the measurable effect of age on product #$ 1 909-VDBS?" We have supplied samples of this product - which we expect to returned in toto.

We look forward to your reply.


Sincerely,



Fredrick J. Smedley
C.E.O. Coins 'R' U.S., Inc.

PART II: InterLab Memo

As you can see from the attached letter, we have been given the task of determining the measurable effect of age on Coins 'R' U.S.'s Product #1909-VDBS.

I would like each of you to get into your work groups and brainstorm on the following two ideas:
1) What do you predict will be the effect of age on this product; and 2)
what method can you devise to verify your hypothesis? Please note that we can do NOTHING to damage, mar, etc. the product.

After coming up with several working hypothesss, and a plan for testing these hypotheses, please show them to me. At that point your group will be given a limited number of samples of product #1 909-VDBS to use to test your hypothesis. You should decide whether you can answer the question with your samples, or if you will need to share data with other work groups.

Each work group will submit a report (due two weeks from today) which should include the following sections;

1. Initial Working Hypotheses.

2.Initial Working Plan.
--NOTE: Both of these should be essentially what you have shown me from above, modified ONLY to the extent that they are more "readable; i.e. complete sentences, spelling, etc. You should NOT change the hypotheses themselves, regardless of whether they are supported by your data or not.

3.Your Data.
--Please show ALL measurements and calculations.

4. Analysis of The Data.
---Does the data support one of your hypotheses? Why? Why not?

5. Further Steps Taken.
-Did you do anything beyond your initial working plan? Why? What did you find?

6. Use of the "scientific method":
At the end of the report, write a short statement (no more than one or two paragraphs) how this lab demonstrates the use of the "scientific method".

7.A Letter of Response.
---Each group should submit a concise response directed to the client outlining what you did, what you found, and how this addresses the question proposed by the client.

All contents copyrighted (c) 1998
Peter Jeschofnig, Ph.D., Professor of Science, Colorado Mountain College

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