Statistics

Use the following scenario to answer questions 1 – 10.
Research question:  Does walking reduce the development of gestational diabetes in overweight (i.e. BMI > 25) pregnant women?
Gestational diabetes causes high glucose levels in pregnant women, which can negatively affect the baby’s health.
Researchers recruit 126 pregnant women who are overweight. The researchers randomly assign half of the women to walk daily for at least 45 mins during their first trimester. The other half serve as a control group and do not change their daily exercise routine. Each participant’s glucose level (in mg/dL) is closely monitored by a physician weekly.

Question 1
Is this an observational or experimental study? Explain how you determined this.
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Question 2
What is the intended population in the study? Explain how you determined this.
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Question 3
What is the sample in the study? Explain how you determined this.
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Question 4
The two variables in this study are Treatment Group (45-minute daily walk OR control) and Glucose Level (in mg/dL).
Which is the explanatory variable and which is the response variable? Explain how you determined this.
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Question 5
Is the explanatory variable you identified in question 4 a categorical or quantitative variable? Explain how you determined this.
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Question 6
Is the response variable you identified in question 4 a categorical or quantitative variable? Explain how you determined this.
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Question 7
Describe how researchers could use a convenience sampling method to obtain a sample of 126 overweight pregnant women participants. In other words, describe the procedures of obtaining a convenience sample in this specific scenario.
In this study, the researchers could obtain a convenience sample by….
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Question 8
Describe how researchers could use a simple random sampling method to obtain a sample of 126 overweight pregnant women participants. In other words, describe the procedures of obtaining a simple random sample in this specific scenario.
In this study, the researchers could obtain a simple random sample by….
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Question 9
In order to obtain a sample that is representative of the intended population, should researchers use the convenience sampling method from question 7 or the simple random sampling method from question 8?
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Question 10
Suppose the researchers found that the overweight pregnant women who walked daily for at least 45mins had decreased levels of gestational diabetes development. At the same time, the control group experienced no change in the development of gestational diabetes.
Can the researchers conclude that walking caused the development of gestational diabetes to decrease? Explain why or why not.
Hint: Per Question 1, if this is an observational study, then the answer is “no.”  Or, if this is an experimental study, then the answer is “yes.”

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