Final answer:
The question revolves around the association of synthetic marijuana with altered mental status and tachycardia and a statistical interpretation of study results. It most likely refers to a type II error where there might be a difference that the study failed to detect. This is relevant in a health context at the college level, where understanding the implications of study design and statistical errors related to psychoactive drug effects is crucial.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question is Health, specifically the study of psychoactive substances and their effects on the human body in the context of statistics currently used in medicine. The question suggests that synthetic marijuana is associated with altered mental status and tachycardia. The options given relate to statistical terms that describe potential errors or considerations in a study's design or conclusions. It is important to distinguish the correct statistical concept based on the context provided:
- Inadequate sample size refers to a sample that is too small to effectively represent the population.
- Adequate power to detect a difference indicates that the study had enough cases to identify a true effect if one exists.
- A type I error occurs when a difference is concluded when there is none (false positive).
- A type II error is the failure to identify a difference when one exists (false negative).
From the information provided, it appears we are looking at the possibility of a type II error. The statement 'there is not sufficient evidence to conclude that there is a difference in the proportions' suggests that the study may have failed to detect an actual difference, which characterizes a type II error. Therefore, using a TI-83, 83+, 84, 84+ Calculator or similar statistical tools would help investigators compute the sample size needed to reduce the risk of this error by increasing the power of the study.