Random Sampling and Data Collection

AP Statistics· difficulty 2/5

A drug company recruits 300 volunteers through online ads and randomly assigns 150 to a new migraine drug and 150 to a placebo. The drug group reports significantly fewer migraines.

Which conclusion is most appropriate?

  • A

    Random assignment alone allows generalization

  • B

    We cannot conclude causation due to lack of random sampling

  • C

    The drug reduces migraines for these volunteers; we cannot generalize broadly

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  • D

    The drug reduces migraines for all migraine sufferers

Explanation

Random assignment allows causal inference for the subjects in the study. Volunteers are not a random sample, so generalization to the broader population is not justified by the design.

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