Omega-3, finis Exercises 21, 35, and 37 describe an experiment investigating the effectiveness of omega-3 fats in treating bipolar disorder. Suppose some of the 30 subjects were very active people who walked a lot or got vigorous exercise several times a week, while others tended to be more sedentary, working office jobs and watching a lot of TV. Why might researchers choose to block the subjects by activity level before randomly assigning them to the omega-3 and placebo groups?
Exercises 21, 35, and 37
Omega-3, revisited Exercises 21 and 35 describe an experiment investigating a dietary approach to treating bipolar disorder. Researchers randomly assigned 30 subjects to two treatment groups, one group taking a high dose of omega-3 fats and the other a placebo.
a) Why was it important to randomize in assigning the subjects to the two groups?
b) What would be the advantages and disadvantages of using 100 subjects instead of 30?
Exercises 21 and 35
Omega-3 Exercise 21 describes an experiment that showed that high doses of omega-3 fats might be of benefit to people with bipolar disorder. The experiment involved a control group of subjects who received a placebo. Why didn’t the experimenters just give everyone the omega-3 fats to see if they improved?
Exercise 21
What’s the design? Read each brief report of statistical research, and identify
a) whether it was an observational study or an experiment. If it was an observational study, identify (if possible)
b) whether it was retrospective or prospective.
c) the subjects studied and how they were selected.
d) the parameter of interest.
e) the nature and scope of the conclusion the study can reach. If it was an experiment, identify (if possible)
b) the subjects studied.
c) the factor(s) in the experiment and the number of levels for each.
d) the number of treatments.
e) the response variable measured.
f) the design (completely randomized, blocked, or matched).
g) whether it was blind (or double-blind).
h) the nature and scope of the conclusion the experiment can reach.