Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.
Assertion A: The effects of history in a social research study can be fatal.
Reason R: Various events that occur during a study may not affect the opinions and attitudes of respondents.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

Assertion (A) is correct because the effects of historical events (such as political changes, economic crises, or other societal shifts) during the course of a social research study can indeed be significant and potentially "fatal" to the validity of the research. These events, known as historical effects, can influence the attitudes, opinions, or behaviors of the respondents, thereby affecting the study’s outcomes.
Reason (R) is incorrect because events that occur during a study can affect respondents’ opinions and attitudes. Changes in the external environment may influence how respondents view certain issues, which may bias or distort the findings.
Information Booster: 1. Historical effects refer to events occurring during the research period that can alter the attitudes or behaviors of respondents, affecting the study’s results.
2. Such events can be unexpected and unrelated to the study but still have a significant impact on data collection and outcomes.
3. Social research often deals with dynamic environments, and external events, such as elections or economic crises, can significantly influence respondents.
4. These effects can introduce biases into the data, undermining the internal validity of the research.