Hypothesis Testing Essay

In today’s world of statistical research there is a multitude of ways to make new discoveries and formulate new ideas; one way to accomplish this is for researchers to have inquiring minds that need to have their questions answered. To do this they must develop their hypothesis. Then researchers can develop a verbal and numerical hypothesis in which they will be able to test this hypothesis. In patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), there seems to be a malfunction in the brain cells to soak up dopamine, which can lead to ADHD, it causes the patient to lose the ability to focus or retain any attention span (Allan, 2012). Team A will show the statistical outcome of diet versus traditional medications. Common treatments and side effects will be discussed in another slide, along with the importance of eating a balanced diet with â€Å"clean† foods. Results show that eating a high-protein diet with complex carbohydrates and foods with Omega -3 fatty acids seem to play a role in alleviating ADHD symptoms. What seems to do good things for our brains seems to do good things for those that suffer from ADHD. Avoiding foods that are simple carbohydrates like candy, sugars, and foods made with white flour is a good idea, as these foods seem to make matters worse. ADHD and Diet Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is a developmental disability that usually presents in early childhood and results in a persistent and chronic pattern of learning impairment in school, in social settings, and in daily adaptive functioning. The lasting pattern of inattentiveness and/or uncontrollability or recklessness is more often exhibited and more relentless than which is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of physical and emotional development. In adulthood, ADHD can affect an individual’s work, behavior, social life, and relationships. ADHD tends to reflect an individual’s normal behaviors but at an exaggerated level. This causes difficulty focusing, following through on tasks, meeting deadlines, and the ability to stay motivated especially during tasks that are tedious and extraneous (Duca, 2010). Some research has shown that diet can have an effect on the symptoms of ADHD. In the past 15 or more years more information has been found linking nutrients with ADHD. Researchers are considering multiple etiologies in regards to the development of ADHD and it has become more evident that diet does play a major role in the foundation of ADHD. Studies have shown that the brain abnormalities that individuals with ADHD have been shown to have are not preprogrammed but instead are a manifestation of genetic susceptibilities to noted risk factors including diet and malnutrition. Particular individuals may be genetically heightened necessities for certain nutrients. When these individuals do not receive these nutrients in their diet they are more vulnerable to the brain abnormalities associated with ADHD (Duca, 2010). Conventionally ADHD is treated with stimulant medications such as Ritalin, Focalin, Dexedrine, and Adderall. These medications work by enhancing the transmission of nor epinephrine and dopamine in the brain but they do not come without side effects such as loss of appetite, insomnia, irritability, depressive symptoms, headaches, fatigue, and nausea. Most of the psychological and conventional medical community does not support nontraditional treatments such as nutrient supplementation, diet manipulation, and environmental and food elimination because they do not feel that there is enough research to show that these methods can permanently alter the symptoms of ADHD (Duca, 2010). From a dietary viewpoint ADHD prevention begins early in life during the first three years when brain growth is rampant. Diet plays an important role during this time to support brain health. Research has shown that the underlying contributor to the etiology of ADHD is imbalances in a child’s diet. A balanced diet free of preservatives, processed sugars, and potential food allergens is helpful in the prevention and intervention of ADHD. A diet rich in organic whole foods, fresh vegetables and fruits, abundant in mineral and phytonutrients, and rich in essential fats are important (Duca, 2010). Numerical and Verbal Hypothesis Statement Based on previously acquired research on how a healthy diet of clean non processed foods can help to lessen the symptoms of ADHD Team A has decided to test this theory to see if it is accurate. The research hypothesis that Team A has created is that: Eating a healthy â€Å"clean† diet can help to lessen the symptoms of ADHD. On the other hand the null hypothesis would claim that a healthy diet has no effect on the symptoms of ADHD and would be just as effective as if the subject ate a diet of 100% processed foods. In order to complete this test Team A will have two populations of people to research, population one will be made up of six people who are all on a diet of pre-chosen healthy foods. Population two will be made up of six people who are not following the specified healthy diet and instead eating what could be considered â€Å"junk† food or â€Å"bad† food. Team A’s hypothesis written in numerical form has to start with identifying  µ=the mean symptoms present in those eating healthy. We will also have to restate the hypothesis which would be written out as (H1)  µ1 <  µ2, simply meaning that the mean of population one will be less then population two. This should be able to prove that population one (the healthy eating group) will have less symptoms than population two (non healthy eating). The null hypothesis states (H0)  µ1 =  µ2 which means that population one will equal population two and there will be no difference between the groups symptoms as a result of changing their diets. Using this information we will be able to properly show a breakdown of the five steps of hypothesis testing that Team A will follow. Five Steps of Hypothesis Testing Five steps are involved in hypothesis testing. The point of the steps is to either prove or to disprove the questions involved. They are useful in evaluating the solutions of an issue or research opportunity. An example is a possible correlation between attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and diet. The first step of process includes identification of a null hypothesis and variables involved, or more simply, stating the issue being studied. This is a comparison of two categories. Step one is this case claims that poor diet or malnutrition partnered with genetic susceptibilities potentially do not influence brain abnormalities which are associated with ADHD. The independent variable is diet and is categorical. The dependant variable is ADHD symptoms which are continuous (Davis 2007). The second step of the process involves specifying an alternative hypothesis which suggests a difference of the variables. Our null denied symptoms of ADHD influenced by diet. The alternative to this is that ADHD symptoms decrease with improved diet. Therefore, the two groups of our sample, or the two categories of diet are poor diet and good diet (Davis 2007). Step 3 of this process involves setting a significance or alpha level. In other words, determine the degree to which error is allowed. Type I is alpha and Type II is beta. The confidence level involves type I or type II errors. Whether or not diet influences ADHD symptoms is the question. When the truth is that diet indeed does influence (H0), selecting does not (Ha) would be a Type I error. If the truth is diet does not influence (Ha), then selecting that it does (H0) would be a Type II error (Davis 2007). The fourth part of the process involves calculating the probability of the hypothesis occurring. If this probability ends up being equal to our significance level (alpha/beta) then our null hypothesis that poor diet does not influence brain abnormalities associated with ADHD. If the null is rejected then the alternative is accepted but never with 100% certainty. The fifth and final step is simply describing the results of the study and stating our conclusion in relation to the original question (Davis 2007). Team A’s researcher referenced a study linking dietary needs to improve the functions and abilities for children that suffer with ADHD. Research shows that a contributing factor with ADHS is dietary imbalance in children beginning at a young age of around 3 years old. A balanced diet is said to help improve this imbalance, when the dietary needs are met using whole foods rich in mineral and phytonutrients with rich essential fatty oils (Duca, 2010). Being that the research showed underlying contributions this motivated Team A to further our investigation. Team A already had the knowledge that healthy eating led to proper body function and mechanics, but how dietary could needs improve the functions and abilities of children that suffer with ADHD is what Team A wanted to research further. Team A found that the side effects from medications lead to some disturbing results such as loss of appetite, insomnia, irritability, depressive symptoms, headaches, fatigue, and nausea. This is no way for a child to live and if symptoms can or even have the slightest ability to controlled, then proper diet with â€Å"clean† foods should be the way to proceed. References Allan, S. (2012). The Brain, Nutrition and ADHD. Retrieved from http://www.sevencounties.org/ website. Duca, R. (2010). Nutritional Considerations in the Management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Nutritional Perspectives: Journal Of The Council On Nutrition, 34(4), 5-16. Davis, B.L. (2007). Decision Rule for Hypothesis Testing. Retrieved from http://home.chpc.utah.edu/ website.