2. A headline in a recent edition of USA Today stated, \"Attending religious ser
ID: 3313141 • Letter: 2
Question
2. A headline in a recent edition of USA Today stated, "Attending religious services lowers blood pressure more than tuning in to religious TV or radio, a new study shows." The study referred to was conducted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The study followed 2,391 people aged 65 or older for 6 years. The article described one of the study's principal findings: "People who attended a religious service once a week and prayed or studiec the Bible once a day were 40% less likely to have high blood pressure than those who don't go to church every week and prayed and studied the Bible less." The study reported a p-value ofExplanation / Answer
A) Let me define observational study and simultaneously relate it above study.
An observational study is a study where researchers simply collect data based on what is seen and heard and infer based on the data collected.
Two things are required of an observational study. First, the variables must be observed and the data must be collected through observation. A researcher can't add in any extra information, or guesses. All of the information must be evidence in the observational study. Second, the researcher can only observe, they cannot interfere with the study in any way.
Observational studies have explanatory and response variables only. Because the researcher cannot interfere with the study, there cannot be any independent nor dependent variables. Remember, an independent variable is something that is controlled in the study. The researcher has no control of the variables in an observational study. What if you need a study that you can control? What if you need independent and dependent variables? Or what if you need to find cause and effect? It is better studied using an experiment.
As in the above study conducted by NIH, 2391 sample size is studied which is aged > 65 years. period of study is 6 years. we have studied blood pressure with respect to religious service without taking into account any other dependent or independent variable. It is very much possible those same people are doing something else which could be effecting their blood pressure level. So this study is not experimental as no contrasting is made. It is one way study where one observes and concludes.
B) Design of the experiment:
Age group: 65 and older
No independent or dependent variable
No control group
and no cause and effect
All the above mentioned are lacking in the study of above experiment. And the inference from the study is merely observational.
Thus she should not jump to the conclusion as this study is not controlled and unbaised.
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