a. Assign the error or bias most fitting ( confounding error, ecological fallacy

Question

a. Assign the error or bias most fitting (confounding error, ecological fallacy, effect modification error, recall bias, selection bias.

b. Provide a thorough rationale for why you chose one of the above error or bias.

c. Provide a remedy to avoid the error or bias in the scenario.

                A new, popular energy drink was tested in a population of college students in the northeastern USA from November through April. The promoters were encouraged because, at least if consumption could be held to reasonable levels and students could be convinced to space out the consumption throughout the week and to stay on a reasonably balanced diet, there seemed to be no harmful side effects from the drink.

Eager to cash in on the benefits, a competing company tested its drink, made from almost exactly the same formula, in college students in the southwestern USA for five months beginning in May. They made sure that the diet and consumption patterns were the same as in the other group. Unexpectedly, they found that a high percentage of this group of students, both young men and young women, developed a blotchy appearance to the skin of their faces and arms after drinking the energy drink, which persisted throughout the day of consumption and into the next. If they stopped drinking the drink, the blotches quickly cleared up.   

Answer

Error: (a)

Rationale: (b)

Remedy: (c)

Answer

Error: (a)

Rationale: (b)

Remedy: (c)

Explanation / Answer

(a) Confounding error

(b) Here, the Counfounding variable is the Climating conditions. The climatatic conditions during November through April in Noetheastern USA is completely different from climatic conditions during five months beginning May in Southwestern USA.

(c) A remedy to avoid the error is as folows:
(i) Study in detail whether there is siginificant effect of climatic change at these two places at these two periods on the chemical content of the energy drink. If harmful side effect is possible, avoid the same and popularise the energy drink at the place and period where hardful side effect is not present.

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