A researcher investigated the relationship between fraternity membership and drinking. He surveyed the members of 10 fraternities (250 men) and found that 80% agreed with the statement "I drink more than the average college student." The researcher concluded that fraternity membership contributes to excessive drinking. Based on the information given here, a problem with this study is that
A) the sample size was too small.
B) the measure of drinking was unreliable.
C) there is no control or comparison group.
D) fraternity membership and self-reported drinking are confounded.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study lacked a control or comparison group, which limits the ability to conclude that fraternity membership is the sole factor contributing to excessive drinking. Additionally, self-reported drinking can be subject to biases and may not accurately reflect actual drinking behavior. The sample size is not necessarily too small as it depends on the research question and design. It is not specified whether the measure of drinking was unreliable, so it is not a problem with the study as presented. The issue of confounding between fraternity membership and self-reported drinking is not explicitly mentioned in the given information.

A Researcher Investigated the Relationship Between Fraternity Membership and Drinking