Chapter R, Problem 3.39RE

Acupuncture Research reported in 2008 brings to light the effectiveness of treating chronic lower back pain with different methods. One-third of nearly 1200 volunteers were administered conventional treatment (drugs, physical therapy, and exercise). The remaining patients got 30-minute acupuncture sessions. Half of these patients were punctured at sites suspected of being useful and half received needles at other spots on their bodies. Comparable shares of each acupuncture group, roughly 45%, reported decreased back pain for at least six months after their sessions ended. This was almost twice as high as those receiving the conventional therapy, leading the researchers to conclude that results were statistically significant.

1. a) Why did the researchers feel it was necessary to have some of the patients undergo a “fake” acupuncture?
2. b) Because patients had to consent to participate in this experiment, the subjects were essentially self-selected—a kind of voluntary response group. Explain why that does not invalidate the findings of the experiment.
3. c) What does “statistically significant” mean in the context of this experiment?