In lecture, we learned about three different types of scientific claims researchers may make based on their research. A __ claim describes a particular rate or amount of something in a population.
A causal
B association
C frequency
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: C. Frequency
A frequency claim describes a particular rate or amount of something in a given population. It answers questions such as how common, how much, or how often something occurs. These types of claims are often found in descriptive research, where the goal is to measure and report specific characteristics or behaviors without making connections between variables or implying cause-and-effect relationships.
For example, if a researcher reports that “65 percent of adults in a certain city exercise regularly,” this is a frequency claim. It provides a statistical summary of one variable within a population but does not attempt to explain why this is the case or relate it to any other factors. Frequency claims are typically based on survey data, census data, or observational research, and their strength depends on the size and representativeness of the sample used.
This kind of claim is different from association and causal claims. Association claims describe a relationship or correlation between two variables. For instance, if a study finds that people who sleep less tend to report more stress, that would be an association claim. Causal claims go further and suggest that one variable directly causes a change in another. For example, a claim stating that “sleep deprivation causes increased stress” is causal and requires experimental evidence to support it.
Understanding the type of claim being made in research is important because it determines what kind of evidence is needed. Frequency claims require accurate measurement and good sampling, while association and causal claims need additional methodological rigor to establish relationships and cause-and-effect patterns. By identifying a claim as a frequency claim, a reader or researcher knows the focus is on measuring and describing a single variable in a specific group.