Question

A graduate student wants to examine the effect of print media versus televised media on individuals' position on several social issues. The superintendent of a local work release facility, a family friend, will allow the graduate student access to the prison population to help her quickly accrue subjects. The student's IRB should:a. Approve this project since the risk appears to be no more than minimal.b. Not approve this project because the prisoners are merely a population of convenience for the student.c. Approve this project since the superintendent is the ultimate authority on what happens in his facility.d. Approve this project but submit it for federal review.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Not approve this project because the prisoners are merely a population of convenience for the student.

Explanation:

Population of convenience refers to group of samples that is drawn from the population which is close /easy for the researchers. One big weakness of population of convenience is that the data given by this type of population tend to contain high level of bias.

From the sample above, The researchers has a connection to  superintendent of a local work release facility , which happen to be the researcher's family friend.

This will create two problems for the research result:

1. the researcher will collect the data in a perceived position of power, because of the connection with the superintendent.

The prisoners that become the samples will most likely held themselves so they can give the data that the researcher wants from them.

2. If the prisoners are the only samples that the researcher get, it would be really biased since prisoners tend to have similar characteristics and do not represent the whole population.