“A recent study, following more than 2,500 New Yorkers for 9+ years, found that people who drank diet soda every day had a 61% higher risk of heart attack and stroke, compared to those who avoided diet drinks. For this study, Hannah Gardner’s research team randomly surveyed 2,564 New Yorkers about their eating and drinking behaviors. Participants were also given physical check-ups, including blood pressure measurements and blood tests for cholesterol and other factors that might affect the risk for heart attack and stroke. The researchers found no increased risk among people who drank regular soda.”

Question

9. Use Unit 1 Lesson 4 to answer the question. The lead researcher for the experiment was quoted as saying, “I think diet soda drinkers need to stay tuned, but I don’t think that anyone should change their behaviors quite yet.” Why didn’t she warn people to stop drinking diet soda right away?

(1 point)
Responses

She only tested about 2,500 people, which is too small of a sample size compared to the U.S. population.
She only tested about 2,500 people, which is too small of a sample size compared to the U.S. population.

There may be other explanations for the relationship between diet sodas and heart attacks or strokes, such as smoking or not exercising.
There may be other explanations for the relationship between diet sodas and heart attacks or strokes, such as smoking or not exercising.

There was no experimental control, or group of people that did not drink diet or regular sodas at all.
There was no experimental control, or group of people that did not drink diet or regular sodas at all.

All of the above

Answer 1

The lead researcher did not warn people to stop drinking diet soda right away because there may be other explanations for the relationship between diet sodas and heart attacks or strokes, such as smoking or not exercising. Additionally, the sample size of about 2,500 people may not be large enough compared to the entire U.S. population, and there was no experimental control group that did not drink diet or regular sodas at all. Therefore, the best response to the question is:

All of the above.