This document outlines the research questions and methodology for a study investigating whether a healthy diet can prolong eye health and prevent or slow macular degeneration. The study will use a quantitative research design with a factorial experimental method. It will divide 3000 participants evenly between smokers and non-smokers, and then randomize each group into placebo or supplement cohorts of 750. Participants will complete vision questionnaires and exams over 5 years to evaluate the effects of the supplement versus placebo on macular degeneration progression. The study aims to determine what percentage of participants taking the supplement show vision improvement or stability compared to the placebo groups.
2. Can a healthy diet prolong eye
health, aid in the prevention
of macular degeneration, or at
least slow it’s progression?
3. Research Questions
Questions in the beginning:
What constitutes a What foods help the
healthy diet? eyes?
Should a person use How do antioxidants
vitamins to and free radicals affect
supplement their our eyes?
diet?
What are the benefits
What vitamins
of a healthy diet?
should be taken?
What other research
What nutrients help
has been done and
the eyes?
what were the results?
4. Research Questions
Questions in the end: What percent of smoking
What percent of non-smoking participants who took the
participants who took the trial nutritional supplement show no
nutritional supplement shown signs of improvement or a
significant signs of improvement decline in vision?
in their vision? Are there any side effects of
What percent of non-smoking taking the supplement?
participants who took the trial Do any changes need to be made
nutritional supplement show no to the composition of the
signs of improvement or a supplement?
decline in vision? By comparing experimental
What percent of smoking groups’ eye exam results to the
participants who took the trial placebo groups’ results, how well
nutritional supplement shown did the supplement work?
signs of improvement in their What percent of participants
vision? benefitted from taking this
nutritional supplement?
5. Research Method
Quantitative Research Design
(Factorial experimental design)
Pick a subpopulation of 5.000 chosen from across the
United States making sure they meet the criteria.
Choose a sample size of 3,000 from subpopulation making
sure half are smokers and half are not.
Divide smokers and non-smokers into 4 groups with 750
participants each.
Administer placebo to half and supplement to half.
Send Progression of Vision Questionnaire and make sure
patients complete follow-up appointments.
Professionally evaluate results to determine the final
outcome after five years of data collection.
