Question

Dr. Dow Jones wants to know whether a problem-based approach to teaching economics will result in higher academic performance than his traditional method. Of the six sections of Economics 101 at his university, Dr. Jones randomly assigns three sections to the traditional method and three sections to the problem-based method for Unit 1 of the course. Then all sections switch instructional method for Unit 2. He plans to compare the performance of the two groups of sections on their Unit 1 and Unit 2 exams. This study employs a ______ design.

Answer 1

Answer:

Within subject (repeated measures)

Explanation:

Within subjects design means same participants provide data for one or more groups. It is having all the subjects participate in both levels of the independent variable. (the experimental group and the control group). The merit of within subjects design is that it increases efficiency in data collection; fewer participants, no need for extra control group like between subjects need, Increases validity; participants may approach tasks in different ways, increased statistical sensitivity, reduces extraneous variables and others. A demerit of within subjects designs is learning effects (ambiguous figures; once seen won't forget cannot run same subjects in both groups) , order effects, mutually exclusive groups.