Question

Doctor: A major study found no causal link between receiving an MMR vaccine and having autism, but the study is flawed. The study looked at 500 people who had received an MMR vaccine. Because autism occurs in less than 1% of the population, researchers would need to include many more than 500 people in a study to detect a meaningful increase in the rate of autism.

Which of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the doctor's argument?

Possible Answers:

A. A major study that discovered no causal relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism is unreliable.

B. Medical professionals should conduct more research into the MMR vaccine to determine whether it is causally linked with autism.

C. Contrary to the findings of a major study, there is reason to believe that the MMR vaccine causes autism.

D. Researchers cannot determine whether a given disorder is causally linked to a procedure if the base rate for the disorder is less than 1%.

E. The major study cited does not reach a conclusion as to whether autism results from the MMR vaccine.

Answer 1

The doctor argues that the study linking the MMR vaccine and autism is unreliable due to a small sample size. The linkage has been disproven by peer-reviewed research, emphasizing the importance of vaccination. Elena chooses to vaccinate her baby based on evidence-based benefits versus unsubstantiated risks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main conclusion of the doctor's argument is that the major study, which found no causal link between the MMR vaccine and autism, is flawed due to an insufficient sample size given the low prevalence of autism. The suggestion is that because autism occurs in less than 1% of the population, to detect a meaningful increase in the rate of autism after MMR vaccination, a study would need to include many more than 500 participants. As such, the doctor is not directly asserting that the MMR vaccine causes autism, nor disqualifying research efforts altogether, but questioning the statistical power of the specific study referenced.

Through scientific discourse and peer-reviewed studies, it is evident that the link between vaccines and autism has been consistently disproven. Factors contributing to the mistaken belief include the timing of vaccine administration coinciding with the typical age of onset for autism symptoms and the historical publication of now-retracted studies claiming a causal relationship. Elena, after considering her doctor's reassurance and learning about the importance of vaccinations in preventing outbreaks of diseases such as measles, decides that the evidence-based benefits of vaccinations far outweigh the unsubstantiated risks, thus planning to vaccinate her baby, Juan.