Question

As evidence for the effectiveness of the alternative treatment, the therapist provides 100 signed statements from current or former patients claiming that they were satisfied with the treatment. One reason such evidence lacks validity is that:

a) the opinions of patients cannot, in principle, constitute scientific evidence.
b) it was not acquired in a manner consistent with the scientific method.
c) we cannot, in principle, generalize from only 100 observations.
d) it pertains to an 'alternative', non-scientific treatment regimen.

Answer 1

The provided statements from patients are not valid evidence for treatment effectiveness since they were not collected using the scientific method, which includes control groups, randomization, and statistical analysis to ensure reliability and generalizability.

Step-by-step explanation:

One reason the evidence from 100 signed patient statements claiming satisfaction with an alternative treatment lacks validity is that it was not acquired in a manner consistent with the scientific method.

To support the effectiveness of a treatment, rigorous scientific studies must compare an experimental group with a control group. Through these comparisons and the use of statistical analysis, researchers aim to control for placebo effects and determine if any observed benefits are statistically significant and not the result of chance.

Additionally, the sample size needs to be sufficiently large and randomized to generalize the findings to a wider population. The personal testimonials provided by the therapist, while potentially indicating customer satisfaction, cannot serve as credible scientific evidence to support the treatment's efficacy due to lack of rigor, control, and potential for selection and response bias.