/*! 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 A study was conducted to assess ... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 1: Problem 67

A study was conducted to assess whether 5 weeks of training with virtual reality (VR) can reduce the risk of falls in adults. Thirty-four older adults underwent 15 VR training sessions consisting of walking on a treadmill with a VR simulation. At the end of the VR training program, participants showed improved mobility and gait speed. In the abstract the authors conclude that "[t]readmill training with VR appears to be an effective and practical clinical tool to improve mobility and reduce falls in older adults." Do these results indicate that VR training can cause improvement in mobility and gait speed among older adults? What essential component of both controlled experiments and observational studies is missing from this study? (Source: Shema et al. "Improved mobility and reduced fall risk in older adults after five weeks of virtual reality training," Journal of Alternative Medical Research, \(9(2), 171-175 .)\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
While the study's results show that VR training correlates with improved mobility and gait speed in older adults, it does not definitively prove that VR training is the sole cause of these improvements. The absence of a control group is an essential omission in this study, making it impossible to establish a baseline for comparison. Thus, a correlation does not imply causation.

Step by step solution

01

Evaluate the Conclusion

The conclusion of the study indicates that VR training seems to improve mobility and reduce falls in older adults. This is based on improvements observed after the participants underwent VR training. However, the phrase 'appears to be an effective and practical clinical tool' suggests that the conclusion is a probable outcome, not a definitive causality. VR training could be one of many factors contributing to the improvement.
02

Identify Missing Component

The key information that's missing here is the lack of a control group. A control group is a group of participants who do not receive the VR training and is essential in both controlled experiments and observational studies. The control group helps establish a baseline that the researchers can compare with the group of participants that did receive VR training. Without this, it's hard to definitively say if the VR training is the cause of the improvements.
03

Interpret Cause and Effect

The results of the study only indicate a correlation between VR training and improved mobility and gait speed amongst older adults. Correlation does not imply causation. This means the results alone do not prove that VR training is the sole cause of these improvements. Other factors may be at play.

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 91影视!

Key Concepts

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

Study Design in Statistics
Understanding the design of a study in statistics is crucial for interpreting its results accurately. In the context of the given exercise involving virtual reality (VR) training for older adults, an effective study design would help determine if VR indeed contributes to mobility and gait speed improvements.

A well-structured statistical study typically includes proper grouping, randomization, and controlled variables to reduce bias and increase the reliability of the results. For instance, random assignment of participants to either an intervention or a control group can help ensure that any observed effects are due to the intervention itself and not other extraneous factors.

In the case of the VR training study, the absence of a control group means we cannot confidently attribute the improvements to the VR regimen alone. It's possible that other variables, such as increased physical activity or the placebo effect, could account for the gains experienced by the participants. A strong study design would have accounted for these possibilities, allowing for a more definitive conclusion about the effectiveness of VR training.
Control Group Importance
The importance of a control group in research cannot be overstated. In any experiment or observational study, like the one involving VR training, a control group serves as a benchmark to measure the effects of the intervention.

Imagine an experiment without a control group; any changes in the experimental group may be attributed to the intervention when, in fact, they could result from other uncontrolled variables. A control group helps researchers to isolate the variable of interest and observe what happens without the intervention.

For instance, in the VR training study, if a control group of older adults who did not receive VR training but participated in different activities had shown similar improvements, it would be clear that VR is not the sole factor. The lack of a control group in the study in question is a significant limitation because it implies that the conclusions drawn may be premature or inaccurate.
Correlation Versus Causation
Grasping the difference between correlation and causation is a cornerstone of interpreting research findings. One commonly reiterated phrase is 'correlation does not imply causation,' which means that just because two variables change in concert, it doesn't mean one caused the other.

In the VR study mentioned, while there is an observed correlation between VR training and improved mobility outcomes, claiming a causal relationship without further evidence would be incorrect. Various factors could be contributing to the results seen, including participants' personal motivation, other lifestyle changes, or even the novelty effect of using VR technology.

To establish causation, researchers would need a more rigorous experimental design that includes a control group, randomization, and possibly blinding, along with other methods to control for external variables. The ability to rule out alternative explanations for an observed effect is what truly allows researchers to infer causality.

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

Can mindful yoga have a beneficial impact on alcohol use in high-risk adolescents? Read excerpts from the research published in The Journal of Child and Family Studies and answer the questions that follow. (Source: Fishbein et al., "Behavioral and psychophysiological effects of a yoga intervention on high-risk adolescents: A randomized control trial," Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 25 [February 2016]: \(518-529\), https://doi.org/10.1007/s \(10826-015-0231-6\) ) Abstract: We designed a 20-session mindful yoga intervention for adolescents attending a school for students at high risk of dropping out. The 69 participants were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. Survey data were collected before and after the yoga curriculum. At the post test, students in the yoga condition exhibited trends toward decreased alcohol use as compared to control students. a. Identify the treatment variable and the response variable. b. Was this a controlled experiment or an observational study? c. Based on this study, can you conclude that yoga caused a decrease in alcohol use? Why or why not?

A survey was done of men's and women's hands to see if the ring finger appeared longer than the index finger or not. Yes means the ring finger is longer, and No means the ring finger appears shorter or the same length as the index finger. The students in this survey were told the theory that men are more likely to have a longer ring finger than women because of additional testosterone. \begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|} \hline & Men & Women \\ \hline Yes & 23 & 13 \\ \hline No & 4 & 14 \\ \hline \end{tabular} a. What percentage of the men said No? b. What percentage of the women said No? c. What percentage of the people who said No were men? d. If a large group of 600 men had the same rate of responses as the men in this sample, how many men of the 600 would say No?

The accompanying table gives the 2018 population and area (in square kilometers) of five U.S. cities. See page 39 for guidance. (Source: www.citymayors.com). \begin{tabular}{|l|c|c|} \hline City & Population & Area (square km) \\ \hline Miami & \(4,919,000\) & 2891 \\ \hline Detroit & \(3,903,000\) & 3267 \\ \hline Atlanta & \(3,500,000\) & 5083 \\ \hline Seattle & \(2,712,000\) & 1768 \\ \hline Baltimore & \(2,076,000\) & 1768 \\ \hline \end{tabular} a. Determine and report the ranking of the population density (people per square kilometer) by dividing the population of each city by its area. Use rank 1 for the highest density. b. If you wanted to live in the city (of these six) with the lowest population density, which would you choose? c. If you wanted to live in the city (of these six) with the highest population density, which would you choose?

Movies A sample of students were questioned to determine how much they would be willing to pay to see a movie in a theater that served dinner at the seats. The male students responded (in dollars): \(10,15,15,25\), and \(12 .\) The female students responded: 8,30, 15, and \(15 .\) Write these data as they might appear in (a) stacked format with codes and (b) unstacked format.

The August 27,2017, issue of Science Daily reported that higher coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of death. This was based on an observational study of nearly 20,000 participants. Researchers found that participants who consumed at least 4 cups of coffee per day had a \(64 \%\) lower risk of mortality than those who never or almost never consumed coffee. Does this mean that a person can reduce his or her chance of death by increasing the amount of coffee consumed?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

Mechanics Maths

Read Explanation

Applied Mathematics

Read Explanation

Pure Maths

Read Explanation

Geometry

Read Explanation

Discrete Mathematics

Read Explanation

Probability and Statistics

Read Explanation
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.