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) The study was double-blind. Why is this important? (b) Can the results of this study be generalized to a larger population? Can cause-and-effect be inferred? Explain. (c) Explain why it is advantageous to use 350 volunteers in this study, rather than, say, 30.
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) The study was double-blind. Why is this important?
(b) Can the results of this study be generalized to a larger population? Can cause-and-effect be inferred? Explain.
(c) Explain why it is advantageous to use 350 volunteers in this study, rather than, say, 30.
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