Would a research study on the effects of soft drink consumption on children's cognitive development be a positive or normative statement?

A positive statement is a statement that can be tested, verified, or disproven using data and evidence. These statements focus on describing facts, cause and effect relationships, or the consequences of certain actions or events. Example of a positive statement: "Soft drink consumption in children has increased by 20% in the last decade."

A normative statement is a statement that expresses a value judgment, opinion, or belief about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable. These statements often involve a subjective evaluation or recommendation and cannot be tested through simple observation or experimentation. Example of a normative statement: "Children should not consume soft drinks."

The research study in question examines the effects of soft drink consumption on children's cognitive development. This study aims to find a potential relationship between the two variables, which can be determined by collecting data and examining the results using statistical methods.

Based on our analysis of the research study, we can conclude that it is a positive statement. The study focuses on the effects of soft drinks on children's cognitive development; this relationship can be tested, verified, or disproven by gathering data and using statistical methods to analyze the results. The statement does not express an opinion, belief, or value judgment about whether soft drinks are good or bad, or whether they should or should not be consumed. In conclusion, a research study on the effects of soft drink consumption on children's cognitive development would be considered a positive statement, as it can be tested and either verified or disproven based on the collected data and the results from statistical analysis.