Question

RESEARCH STUDY 1.2: Dr. White reads about a new theory that states that depression is caused by increased levels of estrogen in the womb. To test this theory, she conducted a study comparing the level of estrogen in amniotic fluid in individuals who were later diagnosed with depression with the level of those who did not develop depression. Dr. White found no differences between the groups in estrogen levels in the amniotic fluid.

Based on these results, Dr. White should conclude that:


A)she has disproved the previous theory.
B)her study was probably flawed in some way.
C)previous studies that support the theory are probably flawed.
D)there may be factors influencing the results that haven't yet been examined that contributed to the results of studies on this topic.

Answer 1

B and D

Step-by-step explanation:

A theory represents an explanation of a natural phenomenon that has been tested over and over again by different researchers and found to be true.

Hence, when Dr. White got a result that is different from the established theory, it is possible that her study was flawed in some ways or there may be some other factors that influenced the results of previous studies on the same subject.

The previous studies that support the theory are less likely to be flawed because several independent researchers carried out the same research and arrived at the same result.

Hence, both option B and D are plausible conclusions for Dr. White.