Question

Half of high schools in Rhode Island were randomly assigned to a sexual education intervention, and the other half of schools were randomly assigned to be controls. The study assessed the effectiveness of sexual education in reducing the contraction of STDs among high school students. What was the purpose of the study?

1) To determine the impact of sexual education on high school students' knowledge about STDs
2) To compare the academic performance of high school students in schools with sexual education intervention and control schools
3) To investigate the relationship between sexual education and teenage pregnancy rates
4) To evaluate the effectiveness of sexual education in reducing the contraction of STDs among high school students

Answer 1

The study's purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of sexual education in reducing STD contraction among high school students, providing evidence for future education policies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the study where half of high schools in Rhode Island were randomly assigned to a sexual education intervention, and the other half of schools were randomly assigned to be controls, was to evaluate the effectiveness of sexual education in reducing the contraction of STDs among high school students. This type of study is crucial in understanding public health outcomes related to sex education in schools.

The intervention aims to see whether such programs are beneficial in lowering the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among students compared to schools that do not participate in the intervention. Considering the ongoing debate regarding the optimal approach to sex education in the United States, this research would provide evidence-based results to inform future education policy.