薰衣草~请狂拍~【Big Fish】03月15日Argument167--By 隐雾

隐雾UID: 2776185

The argument seems sound at first glance. Despite flaws in the study and reasoning process, the arguer arrives at the conclusion that the scent in lavender flowers effectively cures insomnia smoothly. However, it is not sufficient to present such a study, which has been conducted in only three weeks with a sample of only 30 volunteers, to reason us out of doubt. If more details were given and the survey made more complete, the argument should be more reasonable.

Above all, the study conducted to test the effect of lavender is not convincing at all. The information provided here includes the size of sample, the period of observation and the tool put to use.
First, it remains unknown whether these volunteers actually suffer insomnia because their sleep hadn't been observed before this cure experiment. Almost the same when it comes to the following weeks after the study. Besides, a three-week period is not quite long for the arguer to reach his conclusion.
Second, there is some doubt whether 30 volunteers are enough. Since the subject population is not given, 30 people might be representative of the population in a small town while far less than desired all around a large city.
Third, who were those volunteers in this study? Their ages, jobs, health conditions and the relevant should be noted to judge if they can stand for a large group of people with insomnia. If not, the study should conclude that the effect occurs for certain particular groups of people.
To make the study a stronger proof, the study conductor should take into account the proper test period and the enough number of survey respondents as well as other useful information.
The arguer focuses too much on the effect of the lavender-scented pillow and neglects other influences. By comparing how soundly and long the volunteers slept and how they felt after sleep, the arguer attempts to determine whether lavender can cure insomnia. Whereas, it is probable that the effect of sleeping medication caused them to sleep soundly in the first week and their tiredness did in the third week. Again, they might fail to adjust themselves to the strange controlled room in the first two weeks while they made it in the third week; accordingly, they felt tired in the beginning while slept longer in the last week.  Even if all the other factors had nothing to do with the sleep condition, it is not given how the volunteers felt after sleep in the third week. With the comparison incompletely made, the conclusion is of course not acceptable. To improve the study, the standard of sleep quality, circumstances of each week and other probable factors should be considered.
To conclude, it is reasonable to prove that lavender can cure insomnia via a study in which volunteers are monitored when sleeping for a period of time. However, it will be more convincing that the sample size and period of study are made enough and that another group of people with insomnia as well are observed when sleeping without lavender-scented pillows so that the comparison of the two groups helps to prove lavender effective.