Question

3.8. In addition to what is asked, summarize the study design in terms of the factor(s) or variables of interest and the response variable(s)

3.8 An article appeared in The Wall Street Journal on Tues- day, April 27, 2010, with the title “Eating Chocolate Is Linked to Depression." The article reported on a study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health) and conducted by faculty at the Univer- sity of California, San Diego, and the University of California, Davis. The research was also published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2010, pp. 699-703). The study examined 931 adults who were not taking antidepressants and did not have known cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The group was about 70% men and the average age of the group was reported to be about 58. The participants were asked about chocolate consumption and then screened for depression using a questionnaire. People who score less than 16 on the question- naire were not considered depressed, while those with scores above 16 and less than or equal to 22 were considered possibly depressed, while those with scores above 22 were considered likely to be depressed. The survey found that people who were not depressed ate an average 5.4 servings of chocolate per month, possibly depressed individuals ate an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate per month, while those individuals who scored above 22 and were likely to be depressed ate the most chocolate, an average of 11.8 servings per month. No differ- entiation was made between dark and milk chocolate. Other foods were also examined, but no pattern emerged between other foods and depression. Is this study really a designed experiment? Does it establish a cause-and-effect link between chocolate consumption and depression? How would the study have to be conducted to establish such a cause-and-effect link?

Answer 1

1. This study is examined but it also affect on some other factors like how much time they are working, the pressure which they are handling from their work area, are they eating healthy food or junk food, their biological clock are in a consistent manner or it is uneven. In rare case, professional and personal life of the people also effect on this experiment.

2.It is not 100% established cause and effect link between chocolate consumption and depression.

3. This Study is to be conducted by considering other factors also. Which might affect to this research.d

4. Variable of Interest: It is also important which type of chocolate are you eating, is it dark chocolate or milk chocolate. Or the ingredients in this. Experimental Evidence are also suggesting that mood improvement take place if chocolates are palatable and pleasant to eat.

5. There are more factors which lead to depression instead of eating chocolates. Even sometimes to eat dark chocolate may make your mood positive and relieve depressive symptoms.