/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 67 The article “Effects of Too Mu... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

The article “Effects of Too Much TV Can Be Undone" (USA Today. October 1,2007 ) included the following paragraph: Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health report that it's not only how many hours children spend in front of the TV, but at what age they watch that matters. They analyzed data from a national survey in which parents of 2707 children were interviewed first when the children were \(30-33\) months old and again when they were \(5 \frac{1}{2}\), about their TV viewing and their behavior. a. Is the study described an observational study or an experiment? b. The article says that data from a sample of 2707 parents were used in the study. What other information about the sample would you want in order to evaluate the study?

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. The study described is an observational study.\nb. For a better evaluation of the study, additional information like the method used for sampling, the characteristics of the sample participants, the approach used for recording TV viewing habits, the method of behavioural evaluation, and any potential sources of bias are needed.

Step by step solution

01

Identifying the type of the study

We first read the provided paragraph about the study carefully. The researchers are observing the amount of TV children watch at different ages, and subsequently monitoring their behavior. It's stated that they're 'reporting' these observations, not trying to influence or change them. Therefore, this is an observational study.
02

Information needed for evaluation

For a better evaluation of this study, one would want to know several additional pieces of information. These might include the method of sampling (how the sample was chosen), the characteristics of the participants (like their social status, geographic location, cultural background), whether any protocol was given to the parents for recording the TV viewing habits, the way the behavior of children was evaluated, and if there were any potential sources of bias in the study.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Sampling Methods
When conducting a research study, choosing the right sampling method is crucial. It ensures that the results obtained are representative of the larger population. In the context of the observational study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, knowing how they selected the 2707 children is key to understanding the study's strength.
Different sampling methods include:
  • Random Sampling: Every participant has an equal chance of being chosen. This method reduces bias, but can be difficult to achieve in practice.
  • Stratified Sampling: The population is divided into subgroups, and participants are randomly chosen from each group. This ensures representation across all subgroups.
  • Convenience Sampling: Participants are selected based on availability. This method is easy but often subject to bias.
Knowing which method was used will help evaluate the reliability of the study's findings. For instance, if convenience sampling was chosen, the results might not be as reliable due to potential bias from self-selected participants.
Child Development
Child development is a complex process involving the physical, cognitive, and emotional growth of a child. In scientific studies like the one conducted by Johns Hopkins researchers, understanding how different factors impact development is essential.
Key areas of child development include:
  • Cognitive Development: This encompasses how children think, explore, and understand the world. It involves learning, memory, problem-solving, and intelligence.
  • Social and Emotional Development: This area refers to children's ability to interact with others and manage emotions.
  • Physical Development: This includes all the fine and gross motor skills as well as changes in physical size and strength.
In studying the effects of television viewing, researchers are exploring how time spent in front of the screen at various ages might influence these developmental areas. By understanding these impacts, parents and educators can make more informed decisions about children's media consumption.
Television Viewing Effects
The effects of television viewing on children are a subject of great interest and concern for both researchers and parents. The observational study mentioned seeks to understand more than just how much TV children consume; it explores the implications viewing habits at different ages might have on behavior.
Television viewing effects can vary based on:
  • Content Consumed: Educational programs may improve cognitive skills while violent content could be harmful.
  • Viewing Age: Younger children might be more impressionable, and excessive viewing could lead to developmental delays.
  • Duration of Consumption: Excessive television viewing is linked to potential issues like obesity, attention problems, and poor academic performance.
By observing the long-term effects of TV on children, this study provides insights into how screen time might influence behavioral development, helping to guide healthier viewing habits.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

The report "Undergraduate Students and Credit Cards in 2004: An Analysis of Usage Rates and Trends" (Nellie Mae, May 2005 ) estimated that \(21 \%\) of undergraduates with credit cards pay them off each month and that the average outstanding balance on undergraduates' credit cards is \(\$ 2169 .\) These estimates were based on an online survey that was sent to 1260 students. Responses were received from 132 of these students. Is it reasonable to generalize the reported estimates to the population of all undergraduate students? Address at least two possible sources of bias in your answer.

The article "Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drug Makers Are Desperate to Know Why." (Wired Magazine, August 8,2009 ) states that "according to research, the color of a tablet can boost the effectiveness even of genuine meds-or help convince a patient that a placebo is a potent remedy." Describe how you would design an experiment to investigate if adding color to Tylenol tablets would result in greater perceived pain relief. Be sure to address how you would select subjects, how you would measure pain relief, what colors you would use, and whether or not you would include a control group in your experiment.

Do ethnic group and gender influence the type of care that a heart patient receives? The following passage is from the article "Heart Care Reflects Race and Sex, Not Symptoms" (USA Today. February 25. 1999 . reprinted with permission): Previous research suggested blacks and women were less likely than whites and men to get cardiac catheterization or coronary bypass surgery for chest pain or a heart attack. Scientists blamed differences in illness severity, insurance coverage, patient preference, and health care access. The researchers eliminated those differences by videotaping actors-two black men, two black women, two white men, and two white women - describing chest pain from identical scripts. They wore identical gowns, used identical gestures, and were taped from the same position. Researchers asked 720 primary care doctors at meetings of the American College of Physicians or the American Academy of Family Physicians to watch a tape and recommend care. The doctors thought the study focused on clinical decision making. Evaluate this experimental design. Do you think this is a good design or a poor design, and why? If you were designing such a study, what, if anything, would you propose to do differently?

The San Luis Obispo Tribune (May 7,2002 ) reported that "a new analysis has found that in the majority of trials conducted by drug companies in recent decades, sugar pills have done as well as-or better than-antidepressants." What effect is being described here? What does this imply about the design of experiments with a goal of evaluating the effectiveness of a new medication?

Swedish researchers concluded that viewing and discussing art soothes the soul and helps relieve medical conditions such as high blood pressure and constipation (AFP International News Agency, October 14 , 2005). This conclusion was based on a study in which 20 elderly women gathered once a week to discuss different works of art. The study also included a control group of 20 elderly women who met once a week to discuss their hobbies and interests. At the end of 4 months, the art discussion group was found to have a more positive attitude, to have lower blood pressure, and to use fewer laxatives than the control group. a. Why would it be important to determine if the researchers assigned the women participating in the study at random to one of the two groups? b. Explain why you think that the researchers included a control group in this study.

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.