Substance X - Assignment Example

Substance X Substance X This research study involving the drug substance X seems to be flawed in its research design. Thedrug, which aims at improving memory of students as well as developing their problem solving skills, was given to students as part of the tests for the drug. Even though the sample used was selected randomly, the findings of the research cannot be relied upon as they do not meet the threshold of a scientific study. The research design entails some kind of bias, where the research subjects already know the intended conclusion of the researcher.

In this case, the students knew that Substance X would improve their memory even before they tried it out. This realization made the students to be psychologically prepared to have a better memory after taking Substance X, thus being prejudiced in their response to the tests. Various other factors may have contributed to the student’s better memory during the study. First, the fact that the students were aware that the drug would improve their memory helped them to be psychologically prepared for the tests, thus showing great improvement in the results (Becker-Brüser, 2010).

Secondly, the students may have prepared for the second tests better by studying extensively. The other reason for the improved performance of the students can be attributed to the fact that the second tests may have been easier than the first test one hence enabling the students to perform better in the second tests as compared to the initial test.A better study can be done on the same sample by avoiding prejudice and bias. The students should not have been aware of the intended results of the tests and the same questions need to be used for both tests in order to improve the truthfulness of the tests.

ReferenceBecker-Brüser W. (2010). "Research in the pharmaceutical industry cannot be objective". Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes104 (3): 183–9.