Comments on: Autism and Abstinence. Get the connection? http://mamasoncall.com/2010/02/autism-and-abstinence-get-the-connection/ A place where two professional mamas—one a pediatrician, one a family therapist—serve up timely, reliable parenting advice with humor and compassion. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:26:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Abbi http://mamasoncall.com/2010/02/autism-and-abstinence-get-the-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-344 Abbi Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:27:17 +0000 http://mamasoncall.com/?p=8899#comment-344 I have to agree with Jay. How do you define "representative sample"? How do you define "current and timely results"? If you said this study was from 1991-92 or 1961-62, I'd have to agree with your questioning the study's timeliness. But a study from this decade? I'd hardly describe that as ancient. As for representative sample, are you suggesting that because the study didn't include white middle class students from your neighborhood, that makes it invalid? Black girls from the hood don't count in science? Clearly, the study's authors chose to focus on a specific population in a specific area. 662 is not a minute sample size. I've read about studies published in peer reviewed journals that use 12 as a sample size. It basically sounds like you're questioning the study's validity because you disagree with the results, because "abstinence-only education makes no sense" to you. Is this your approach to all studies that prove things that make no sense to you? I have to agree with Jay. How do you define “representative sample”? How do you define “current and timely results”? If you said this study was from 1991-92 or 1961-62, I’d have to agree with your questioning the study’s timeliness. But a study from this decade? I’d hardly describe that as ancient.

As for representative sample, are you suggesting that because the study didn’t include white middle class students from your neighborhood, that makes it invalid? Black girls from the hood don’t count in science? Clearly, the study’s authors chose to focus on a specific population in a specific area. 662 is not a minute sample size. I’ve read about studies published in peer reviewed journals that use 12 as a sample size.

It basically sounds like you’re questioning the study’s validity because you disagree with the results, because “abstinence-only education makes no sense” to you. Is this your approach to all studies that prove things that make no sense to you?

]]> By: Jay Bute http://mamasoncall.com/2010/02/autism-and-abstinence-get-the-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-340 Jay Bute Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:32:06 +0000 http://mamasoncall.com/?p=8899#comment-340 The study has defined limits, the "set": urban Yankee low income school-attending black kids studied over individual time lines of 11/12-13/14 years of age. The study indicates a marginal deferral of sexual activity, from 1/2 down to 1/3 in the 2 year age range. This study is very tightly constrained and "most effective" is comparative to other modalities, none of which can be labelled "effective at preventing adolescence sexual activity" in the cohort studied. This study is not "eye opening". It is too constrained by design and too uncertain of result to have any broad usefulness at all in pedagogy or medicine. HOWEVER, it may say something important about preventing unwanted pregnancies among 11-14 year old urban black girls. The inferred reduction of such pregnancies by 33% may well be an important social outcome. The study has defined limits, the “set”: urban Yankee low income school-attending black kids studied over individual time lines of 11/12-13/14 years of age. The study indicates a marginal deferral of sexual activity, from 1/2 down to 1/3 in the 2 year age range. This study is very tightly constrained and “most effective” is comparative to other modalities, none of which can be labelled “effective at preventing adolescence sexual activity” in the cohort studied. This study is not “eye opening”. It is too constrained by design and too uncertain of result to have any broad usefulness at all in pedagogy or medicine. HOWEVER, it may say something important about preventing unwanted pregnancies among 11-14 year old urban black girls. The inferred reduction of such pregnancies by 33% may well be an important social outcome.

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