Consider the following studies: Study 1: An educational researcher was intereste

Question

Consider the following studies: Study 1: An educational researcher was interested in the effects, if any, of using a computer package to help teach spelling to primary school pupils. 60 pupils of the same age at a local school participated in the study. The pupils were first given a spelling test and were then randomly split into 2 groups. The first group then used the computer package regularly over a two month period. The second group did not use the computer package. The pupils were tested again at the end of this two month period. The pupil's improvement score was calculated as the difference between their two test scores Study 2: A researcher was interested in whether the right hand is generally stronger than the left in right-handed people. 40 right-handed people are recruited. For each person, the amount of strength they could exert is measured for each hand. This was done by measuring the hand grip strength - the force (in kilograms) that the person could exert on a dynamometer. Whether the hand strength is measured in the left hand or right hand first is randomly allocated for each subject. The difference in grip strength (right hand - left hand) was recorded for each person. (a) Answer the following questions FOR EACH study: (i) Identify the groups that are being compared. (I.e., what treatments or factors of interest are being compared?) DO NOT also say what is being measured to make the comparison - you do this in (ii) What is being measured to compare these groups? ONLY describe the variable being measured. DO NOT also mention the groups being compared - you do this in (i). Would you describe the study as an experiment or an observational study? (ii) (iii) If it was an experiment, what part of the study design led you to this conclusion? - If it was an observational study, could an experiment have been easily carried out instead? If so, briefly explain how. If not, briefly explain why not. [6 Marks total: 3 marks for each study] (b) It was later suggested that gender could be a significant factor in Study 1. (i) What part of the study design attempts to achieve comparability with respect to gender between the groups being compared? Is the comparability with respect to gender guaranteed? Briefly justify your answer. (ii) (iii) How could the study design be modified to take into account the possible gender effect? [3 Marks] (c) Which of the studies included a control group? For the studies that include one, briefly 2 Marks] describe the control group

Explanation / Answer

a i) Study 1 in study 1 the two groups that are being are copared are

1. The group used computer package regularly

2. The group did not use the computer package

In this study both the groups are independent

Study 2 In study 2 the group of people =40 same right hand

but two groups are copared are1. Right hand people right hand observations

2. Right hand people left hand observations In this study both the groups are not independent since same people two hands observations are being copared

ii) In first study the measurements are spelling test scores

In the second study the measurements are hand grip streangth

iii) study 1 is an experimental study since after giving computer package training the obsevations from one of the groups were measured

study 2 is completely an observational study since without applying any factor only the hand streanghts are measured

If it was an experiment we have to express in introductio part about what type of experiment we are conducting and the type of factors we are applying

If it was an observational study, best of my knowledge it is not possible to express it is an experiment without applying any factorsor treatments

b i) If the gender is also included in study 1 we have to express this in the introduction

and compare both the groups with respect to gender and specify this in testing of hypothesis

ii) Yes comparabilitywith respect to gender guaranteed since gender also influencing the results

iii) if you include the gender effect we have to change the study objective

in that case the study objective is to compare the effect of coputer package in the improvement score of male and female students

c0 In study 1 control group was included

in study1 the control group is the students group without taking training of computer package

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