Question

. Does ginkgo improve memory? The law allows marketers of herbs and other natural substances to make health claims that are not supported by evidence. Brands of ginkgo extract claim to "improve memory and concentration." A randomized comparative experiment found no statistically significant evidence for such effects. The subjects were 350 healthy volunteers over 60 years old. They were randomly assigned to ginkgo or a placebo pill (a dummy pill that looks and tastes the same). All the subjects took a battery of tests for learning and memory before treatment started and again after six weeks. A. If the results were statistically significant, can the results of this study be generalized to a larger population? Can cause-and- effect be inferred? Explain. B. Explain why it is advantageous to use 350 volunteers in this study, rather than, say, 30 volunteers. C. Name a confounding variable that was controlled in this experiment and explain why it was beneficial to control that variable.

Answer 1

No because the ginkgo be like 350 health? Oh nooo I can’t do that bye bye

Answer 2

(a) Double-blind design prevents bias in participants and researchers.

(b) Statistical significance allows generalization, but cause-and-effect requires further investigation.

(c) A larger sample size (350 volunteers) enhances statistical power and generalizability.

(d) Controlled variables include age and health status, isolating the effects of ginkgo on memory.

(a) The study was double-blind to eliminate bias in both participants and researchers. In a double-blind experiment, neither the participants nor the researchers know who receives the actual treatment and who gets the placebo. This helps to prevent unintentional influences on the results, such as the placebo effect or subconscious biases from the researchers, enhancing the study's reliability and validity.

(b) If the results were statistically significant, the study's findings could be generalized to a larger population, but cause-and-effect could only be inferred to some extent. Statistical significance implies that the observed effects are likely not due to random chance. However, generalizability to a broader population depends on the study's representativeness and the characteristics of the participants. Additionally, while correlation may be established, establishing causation requires further research and experimental designs.

(c) Using 350 volunteers is advantageous for increased statistical power and improved generalizability. A larger sample size enhances the study's ability to detect true effects, reduces the impact of outliers, and increases the precision of estimates, making the findings more reliable and applicable to the broader population.

(d) Two variables controlled in this experiment include age and health status. By ensuring that all participants were over 60 and healthy, the study aimed to isolate the potential effects of ginkgo on memory without confounding factors related to age-related cognitive decline or pre-existing health conditions.