A researcher is studying the impact of a new workplace ergonomics program on weekly employee back pain ratings, which naturally fluctuate. Instead of using a simple pretest-posttest design, how should the researcher structure their measurement schedule using an interrupted time-series design to ensure they do not falsely attribute normal variation to the program?
Question: A researcher is studying the impact of a new workplace ergonomics program on weekly employee back pain ratings, which naturally fluctuate. Instead of using a simple pretest-posttest design, how should the researcher structure their measurement schedule using an interrupted time-series design to ensure they do not falsely attribute normal variation to the program?
Sample answer: The researcher should collect multiple weekly measurements of employee back pain ratings for several weeks before the ergonomics program is introduced, and continue collecting multiple weekly measurements for several weeks afterward. This sequence of measurements will establish a baseline trend of pain fluctuations, allowing the researcher to distinguish the program's actual impact from normal week-to-week pain variations.
Key points:
- Applies the design by specifying multiple weekly measurements before the program begins.
- Applies the design by specifying multiple weekly measurements after the program is introduced.
- Explains that this measurement structure establishes a baseline trend to rule out normal variation in back pain ratings.
Rubric: The response should be 1-3 sentences. It must apply the interrupted time-series design by specifying that the researcher must collect multiple measurements of back pain both before and after the ergonomics intervention is introduced. The response must state that this structure allows the researcher to establish a baseline trend to distinguish a genuine treatment effect from normal, ongoing variation.
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A researcher is studying the impact of a new workplace ergonomics program on weekly employee back pain ratings, which naturally fluctuate. Instead of using a simple pretest-posttest design, how should the researcher structure their measurement schedule using an interrupted time-series design to ensure they do not falsely attribute normal variation to the program?