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Threats To Validity in Research Essay

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In every research there are always potential threats to validity and in the reviewed article Boffetta et al, there are several like; confounding, situation, and single group threats among others. Before we proceed with the explanation of the above identified threats to validity, perhaps it is important to first understand what validity is with respect to research methods and its key components. Validity is the greatest estimate of the certainty in conclusion or inferences, generally of cause and effect.1 One of the key features of determining cause and effect that Boffetta et al does not meet is the No Plausible Alternative Explanation, which is the fact that no other causes can lead to the hypothesized effect.1 In summary, the …show more content…

Single group was another threat to validity that was evident in Boffetta et al. The data for their base line group was only based on answers of the subjects from their past one year history of not eating or eating fruits and vegetables, while the experimental group was observed for 8.7 years. A control group is vital to evaluate the baseline or effects without the program, treatment,1 and in this case a group that did not eat high fruits and vegetables should have been observed also for 8.7 years. Situation was yet another threat to validity in Boffetta et al, in that the timing/time, conditions, location, type of fruits and vegetables, and age may have been other influencing factors in the results. The data was based on subjects that were observed for 8.7 years, which is a very long time since subjects grow up, go through other life changing situations like diseases, diet changes and preferences, and personality issues/bias. In fact Boffetta et al concedes in their discussion of the results that “In addition to misclassification inherent in the use of self-reported nutritional habits (31), dietary habits measured only at enrollment may have changed during follow-up and resulted in exposure misclassification. The risk of cancer and other chronic diseases might also be associated with changes in dietary habits during follow-up, particularly in high-risk individuals (e.g., those overweight and obese),

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