Andromeda Strain?

Question

What was the scientists hypothesis regarding the problem in the Andromeda Strain?

Answer 1

This is, alas, from Wikopedia, but it might be what you are alluding to:

The Odd-Man Hypothesis is a fictional hypothesis articulated in the novel's story and named in the film. In the novel, the Odd-Man explanation is a page in a RAND Corporation report of the results of test series wherein different people (married, unmarried men and women) were to make command decisions in a nuclear- and biological wars and chemical crisis. This is in the film:

“ Results of special testing confirm the Odd-Man Hypothesis, that an unmarried male should carry out command decisions involving thermonuclear or chem-biol destruct contexts. ”

The Odd-Man Hypothesis shows that unmarried men are capable of executing the best, most dispassionate decisions in crises. Statistics follow, Group: Index of Effectiveness: 0.343 for married men, 0.946 for single, male scientists, et cetera; then each scientist's command decision effectiveness index: Stone 0.687, Burton 0.543, Kirke 0.614, Leavitt 0.601, and Hall 0.899; thus, Dr Hall, M.D., is given the key to halt (if necessary) the Wildfire Laboratory's automated self-destruction. Moreover, considering Kirke's knowledge of electrolytes, Leavitt admits that the Odd-Man Hypothesis is essentially why Hall was drafted to the Wildfire team.

This fabrication of scientific principle with supportive documentation (numbers, charts, etc.) is from the false document literary technique.