Data Collection
Recall the study conducted in class (see also Activity 5-5 and Topic 5 Preliminaries questions 1 and 2).
(a) In your report (now or later), write a paragraph (not just a listing of terms) summarizing how the data were collected for this study. Make sure you include enough detail that someone else could mimic the study. Be sure to (in context):
- identify the observational units,
- identify and classify the explanatory and response variable(s),
- identify (with justification) the type of study (anecdotal or observational or experimental),
- describe the type(s) of randomness used (random assignment and/or random sampling),
- describe the sample used in the study, and
- state the sample size.
Also discuss any other precautions or types of control utilized (e.g., Were the subjects blind to the treatment conditions? Was there a placebo treatment?). Are there any potential measurement issues (e.g., any definitions to clarify)?
