PHIL 347N – EMPIRICAL REASONING DISCUSSION POST – WEEK 6
Using what you have learned from the text, as well as any other sources you may find useful
(including the website in the Required Resources), analyze and evaluate the methodology of both
studies and how methodology affected the differences in how the studies were reported.
Reportage of both studies can be found with an Internet search using all of the following terms:
<Philadelphia myopia night lights>.
From what I have gathered, myopia was a prevalent disorder, and childhood onset myopia was believed
to be caused be a either a genetic or environmental component (Quinn, Shin, Maguire, & Stone, 1999).
Additionally, these two types of myopia are said to be from experimentation on animals and are signified
by specific light cycles, affecting the process of myopia 3 and 4, spreading to humans (1999).
Furthermore, a there has been an extensive correlation between childhood myopia and night-lighting
before the age of 2, making them five times more likely to happen to children who slept with “night
lights”.
In contrast, the study done by Zadnik, Jones, Irvin, Kleinstein, Manny, Shin, and Mutti (2000) repeated
Quinn’s study and determined it to be inaccurate. The group of doctors found that the childhood
myopia is in fact linked to genetic and environmental factors; however, they did not find a link to
ambient lighting. The study included 1220 children, between the ages of 2-24, average age being 10
years old.
When Quinn conducted his study, he only used children who were 8 years old, which skews his results
and produced an inaccurate result. Quinn’s study sample was not diverse enough to receive an
adequate conclusion, deeming his study false. Lastly, Zadnik’s study spotlighted a flaw in Quinn’s study,
which was that Quinn utilized a secondary source to obtain his data. On the flipside, Zadnik and his team
conducted independent research to ensure the credible and trusted work.
In conclusion, both studies were conducted differently; thus, yielding different results. Facione and
Gittens (2016) stated, “empirical reasoning is inductive, that is, probabilistic in character. Conclusions
reached by empirical reasoning are warranted inferences that remain open to revision in light of new
information. Empirical observations can be verified by other independent investigators…the purpose of
empirical investigation is to generate new knowledge through which we can explain, predict, and
possibly control what happens,” (p. 297).
References
Facione, P. A., & Gittens, C. A. (2016). Think critically (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson
Quinn, G. E., Shin, C. H., Maguire, M. G. & Stone, R. A. (1999). Myopia and ambient lighting at
night. Nature, 399 (6732), 113-114. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?
url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mdc&AN=10335839&site=eds-
live&scope=site
Zadnik, K., Jones, L. A., Irvin, B. C., Kleinstein, R. N., Manny, R. E., Shin, J. A., & Mutti, D. O. (2000). Myopia and
ambient night-time lighting. CLEERE study group. Collaborative longitudinal evaluation of ethnicity and
refractive error. Nature, 404(6774), 143-144. Retrieved
from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=mdc&AN=10724157&site=eds-live&scope=site (Links to an external site.)
This study source was downloaded by 100000861168648 from CourseHero.com on 03-13-2023 12:41:16 GMT -05:00
Using what you have learned from the text, as well as any other sources you may find useful
(including the website in the Required Resources), analyze and evaluate the methodology of both
studies and how methodology affected the differences in how the studies were reported.
Reportage of both studies can be found with an Internet search using all of the following terms:
<Philadelphia myopia night lights>.
From what I have gathered, myopia was a prevalent disorder, and childhood onset myopia was believed
to be caused be a either a genetic or environmental component (Quinn, Shin, Maguire, & Stone, 1999).
Additionally, these two types of myopia are said to be from experimentation on animals and are signified
by specific light cycles, affecting the process of myopia 3 and 4, spreading to humans (1999).
Furthermore, a there has been an extensive correlation between childhood myopia and night-lighting
before the age of 2, making them five times more likely to happen to children who slept with “night
lights”.
In contrast, the study done by Zadnik, Jones, Irvin, Kleinstein, Manny, Shin, and Mutti (2000) repeated
Quinn’s study and determined it to be inaccurate. The group of doctors found that the childhood
myopia is in fact linked to genetic and environmental factors; however, they did not find a link to
ambient lighting. The study included 1220 children, between the ages of 2-24, average age being 10
years old.
When Quinn conducted his study, he only used children who were 8 years old, which skews his results
and produced an inaccurate result. Quinn’s study sample was not diverse enough to receive an
adequate conclusion, deeming his study false. Lastly, Zadnik’s study spotlighted a flaw in Quinn’s study,
which was that Quinn utilized a secondary source to obtain his data. On the flipside, Zadnik and his team
conducted independent research to ensure the credible and trusted work.
In conclusion, both studies were conducted differently; thus, yielding different results. Facione and
Gittens (2016) stated, “empirical reasoning is inductive, that is, probabilistic in character. Conclusions
reached by empirical reasoning are warranted inferences that remain open to revision in light of new
information. Empirical observations can be verified by other independent investigators…the purpose of
empirical investigation is to generate new knowledge through which we can explain, predict, and
possibly control what happens,” (p. 297).
References
Facione, P. A., & Gittens, C. A. (2016). Think critically (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson
Quinn, G. E., Shin, C. H., Maguire, M. G. & Stone, R. A. (1999). Myopia and ambient lighting at
night. Nature, 399 (6732), 113-114. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?
url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mdc&AN=10335839&site=eds-
live&scope=site
Zadnik, K., Jones, L. A., Irvin, B. C., Kleinstein, R. N., Manny, R. E., Shin, J. A., & Mutti, D. O. (2000). Myopia and
ambient night-time lighting. CLEERE study group. Collaborative longitudinal evaluation of ethnicity and
refractive error. Nature, 404(6774), 143-144. Retrieved
from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=mdc&AN=10724157&site=eds-live&scope=site (Links to an external site.)
This study source was downloaded by 100000861168648 from CourseHero.com on 03-13-2023 12:41:16 GMT -05:00
