Final answer:
Option (c), The most reliable source for understanding the prevalence of smoking in Boston would be the professor's behavioral statistics study derived from census data, as it provides a systematic and representative overview of the population.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the most reliable information regarding the prevalence of smoking in Boston, Emily should consider the methodologies and representativeness of the sources available to her. Among the options provided, a review of her professor's behavioral statistics study drawn from census data would likely be the most reliable source.
This is because census data can provide a broad and statistically significant snapshot of behaviors within a population at a given time. In contrast, personal studies, interviews with a small group of people, or observations of a particular subculture such as fraternity and sorority life would not provide a comprehensive or necessarily representative view of the entire population of Boston.
Historical studies, such as those conducted by Doll and Hill, have laid the groundwork for understanding the correlation between smoking and health outcomes. Using similar methodological rigor, a study based on census data would offer systematic and generalizable findings, rather than anecdotes or limited perspectives. Moreover, it aligns with how epidemiologists gather and analyze data to understand health patterns within populations, as seen in studies examining temperature and common cold incidence or the behaviors associated with lung cancer.