Question

A researcher who knew the director of a natural birthing facility interviewed 100 women who were planning to give birth at the center. Specifically, the researcher interviewed the mothers-to-be during their 6-month checkups at the birthing center. She asked the mothers-to-be if they planned to breastfeed their infants until the infants were at least one year of age. Imagine that exactly 90% of the 100 mothers-to-be who were interviewed answered that they planned to do so. Using the OOPS! Heuristic, as a guide, explain why the researcher cannot safely conclude that 90% of American mothers today do, in fact, breastfeed their infants for the first year of life.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The researcher cannot safely conclude that 90% of American mothers today do, in fact, breastfeed their infants for the first year of life because the sample size of 100 mothers-to-be used in the study is not representative of all American mothers. The sample size used in the study is too small and the mothers-to-be interviewed may have been self-selecting, meaning that they may not be representative of all American mothers. Additionally, the study was conducted at a single birthing center, and the results may not apply to mothers who give birth in other settings. Finally, the study was conducted at the 6-month checkup, which may not be representative of the population at large.