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All courses Math III · S-IC.6 52 of 55
Evaluate reports based on data.

Structure and classify a data-report claim

Problem
A headline states, “The supplement improves memory based on study results.” Classify the claim and state the design and sampling evidence needed to support it.
Your answer
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Hint

Turn the headline into 'For [target], [response] is [direction] across/by [explanatory].'

A claim names a target, explanatory condition, response, direction/size, and inferential strength; evidence needed depends on design.

Solution walkthrough

01

Classify the verb

\[\text{improves}~->~\text{causal}~\text{claim}\]

The headline says the supplement changes memory, not merely that supplement use is associated with memory.

02

Identify the implied scope

\[\text{claim}~\text{concerns}~\text{people}~\text{represented}~\text{by}~\text{the}~\text{study}\]

Any supported conclusion can extend only as far as the study's participants and sampling evidence justify.

03

List the missing support

\[\text{causation}~\text{needs}~\text{valid}~\text{assignment}~\text{and}~\text{control};~\text{population}~\text{scope}~\text{needs}~\text{sampling}~\text{or}~\text{recruitment}~\text{evidence}\]

Design evidence addresses confounding and cause, while selection evidence addresses representativeness.

04

Evaluate the headline

\[\text{It}~\text{is}~a~\text{causal}~\text{improvement}~\text{claim}~\text{about}~\text{people}~\text{represented}~\text{by}~\text{the}~\text{study};~\text{support}~\text{requires}~\text{design}~\text{and}~\text{sampling}~\text{evidence},~\text{which}~\text{the}~\text{headline}~\text{does}~\text{not}~\text{supply}.\]

The headline alone omits the information needed to judge either causal validity or population scope.

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Another way

  1. Underline the causal verb, then ask two questions: was treatment randomly assigned and who was sampled?

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Common mistake

Do not treat the phrase 'based on study results' as evidence of a valid experiment or representative sample; those design facts must be stated or documented.