Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You proceed with the experiments.
You decide to follow your instincts and proceed with the experiments. Your theory is that the pigs' weight loss is due to digestive problems caused by an additive in the feed.
The manager objects to your experiments. You decide to persevere. According to Goodey, many people think "that scientists are doing bad things when handling animals. If people have this view, they must be shown that this is not the case."
You take very good care of the animals. You carefully take the biopsies of tissues and the blood samples, and then send them to a lab for analysis. The results come back negative; there is nothing wrong with the feed. You can eliminate the feed as one of the causal factors for the pigs' inability to gain weight.
Through further analysis, you realize that the processing of the pigs is causing their digestive problems. After feeding the pigs, the managers quickly return them to the pen where they play, in order to allow another group of pigs to feed. The pigs need time to rest in order to digest the food properly. Thus, returning the pigs to the pen right after they feed does not allow them proper digestive time.
It took you a long time, but you are finally able to finish your report. You solved the mystery of the pigs that lost weight. The corporation that hired you congratulates you for your ingenuity and thoroughness.