A psychologist published a book describing the effects of divorce on men, women, and children.

She was interested in the effects of divorce that occurred 10 years after the divorce. She found that even 10 years after a divorce half of the women and one third of the men were still intensely angry.

Although half the men and women described themselves as happy, 25% of the women and 20%

of the men remained unable to “get their lives back on track.” In only 10% of the divorced families did both the former husbands and wives have happy, satisfying lives a decade later. Finally, more than half of the children of divorce entered adulthood as underachieving and self-deprecating men and women. These findings were based on a 15-year study of 60 divorced couples and their 131 children living in Marin County, California (an affluent suburban area including mostly well-educated people).

A. Is it reasonable to conclude that the findings (e.g., happiness, satisfaction) described in this study are due to the effects of divorce? Why or why not?

B. Explain how this study could be conducted using a time-series design with nonequivalent control group. What pattern of findings would allow the psychologist to make a causal inference about the effect of divorce?

C. Two reviewers comment on this study. One criticizes it, saying it has no external validity.

The second reviewer says she doesn’t know whether it has external validity or not. Which reviewer do you agree with?