Suppose a case management program is established to reduce rehospitalization rates in a hospital and that those rates drop dramatically once the new program is established. We can conclude that:
A) research has demonstrated an effective approach to practice.
B) causality cannot be inferred because time order was not established.
C) another event occurring during the time of the study might explain away the change.
D) the absence of covariation threatens the internal validity of any causal inferences.

Question

Suppose a case management program is established to reduce rehospitalization rates in a hospital and that those rates drop dramatically once the new program is established. We can conclude that:​
A) ​research has demonstrated an effective approach to practice.
B) causality cannot be inferred because time order was not established.​
C) another event occurring during the time of the study might explain away the change.​
D) the absence of covariation threatens the internal validity of any causal inferences.​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C because the presence of another event occurring during the time of the study could potentially explain the observed change in rehospitalization rates, rather than the case management program itself. This highlights the issue of external factors or variables that could influence the outcome, making it difficult to definitively attribute the change to the program without further investigation.

Suppose a Case Management Program Is Established to Reduce Rehospitalization