Hypothermia Study Strengths And Weaknesses
Whilst reading “The Treatment of Shock from Prolonged Exposure to Cold, Especially in Water” (Alexander, 1945), I noticed both strengths and limitations of the Dachau hypothermia study. The weaknesses of this experiment include validity, a lack of supporting literature, reporting, quality control, and cost-benefit analysis. The strengths of the study include the relevance and there was no bias.
The two weaknesses that are most prominent are the validity and supporting literature. The validity of the experiment is questioned because the exact number of participants was not disclosed, Alexander (1945) states that there was 57 experiments and Berger (1990) states up to 400 participants. The main researcher Dr. Rascher had also faked results in a previous study and much of the initial data collected on animals was not sound (Alexander, 1945). The lack of supporting literature is important because although previous studies on animals was mentioned there is no reference to the source of this data, so the validity of these claims is unproven and therefore invalid. …show more content…
The study was conducted to analyse how the body responds to cold conditions to be used by soldiers at war, specifically german air force shot down above ice cold water (Michalczyk, 1994). Today the information is still relevant because there was an average of 1301 deaths per year in the united states between the years 1999 to 2011 (Centre for disease control, 2013). Another strength for the study is there is no bias in the results and the experiment is objective (Alexander, 1945)
Alexander , L. (1945). The Treatment of Shock from Prolonged Exposure to Cold, Especially in Water. : Combined Intelligence Objectives Sub-committee.
Berger, R. L. (1990). Nazi Science — The Dachau Hypothermia Experiments. New England Journal of Medicine, 322(20), 1435-1440.
The two weaknesses that are most prominent are the validity and supporting literature. The validity of the experiment is questioned because the exact number of participants was not disclosed, Alexander (1945) states that there was 57 experiments and Berger (1990) states up to 400 participants. The main researcher Dr. Rascher had also faked results in a previous study and much of the initial data collected on animals was not sound (Alexander, 1945). The lack of supporting literature is important because although previous studies on animals was mentioned there is no reference to the source of this data, so the validity of these claims is unproven and therefore invalid. …show more content…
The study was conducted to analyse how the body responds to cold conditions to be used by soldiers at war, specifically german air force shot down above ice cold water (Michalczyk, 1994). Today the information is still relevant because there was an average of 1301 deaths per year in the united states between the years 1999 to 2011 (Centre for disease control, 2013). Another strength for the study is there is no bias in the results and the experiment is objective (Alexander, 1945)
Alexander , L. (1945). The Treatment of Shock from Prolonged Exposure to Cold, Especially in Water. : Combined Intelligence Objectives Sub-committee.
Berger, R. L. (1990). Nazi Science — The Dachau Hypothermia Experiments. New England Journal of Medicine, 322(20), 1435-1440.