A Researcher Is Comparing a New and Less Expensive Treatment

A researcher is comparing a new and less expensive treatment with an established treatment, in hopes of showing that there is no difference in outcome. The researcher does not perform a power analysis and, consequently, selects a sample size that is smaller than what would be recommended for an analysis of variance. The results show that there is a significant difference in outcome between the two treatments, and that the new treatment has poorer outcomes. What is the negative result of the researcher's decision to use a smaller sample?

A) The statistical conclusions reached are incorrect.
B) There is no negative result.
C) The study will have to be replicated, because its sample was small.
D) The researcher is guilty of misconduct.