Critiquing an Experimental Design
A research team wants to determine if a new teaching method causes an improvement in student test scores. They implement the new method in a classroom of 30 students for one semester. At the end of the semester, they find the class's average test score is 10% higher than the average score of the class from the previous semester. The team concludes the new teaching method caused the improvement. Based on the principles of a controlled experiment, what is the most significant flaw in their approach that undermines this causal conclusion? Explain your reasoning.
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Introduction to Microeconomics Course
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CORE Econ
Ch.1 Prosperity, inequality, and planetary limits - The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
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The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
Analysis in Bloom's Taxonomy
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
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Gregor Mendel's Pea Plant Experiments as a Foundational Example of Controlled Experiments
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A city government launches a large-scale 'Shop Local' advertising campaign to boost sales at small businesses. Six months later, they observe a 15% increase in average revenue for these businesses and conclude the campaign was the direct cause of the increase. From the perspective of a controlled experiment, what is the primary reason this conclusion is potentially flawed?
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Critiquing an Experimental Design
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To establish that a change in one variable causes a change in another, it is sufficient for a researcher to systematically alter the first variable and then observe a consistent change in the second variable.
Match each research scenario with the principle of experimental design it best illustrates or violates.
A researcher wants to test if a new fertilizer increases tomato yield. They prepare two identical fields of tomatoes, but only apply the new fertilizer to the first field. In this setup, the second field, which does not receive the new fertilizer, serves as the ____ ____, allowing the researcher to isolate the fertilizer's true effect from other factors like weather.
Scientific vs. Everyday Meaning of 'Experiment'
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A researcher wants to scientifically determine if a new teaching method improves student test scores. Arrange the following steps into the correct logical order for conducting a controlled experiment to test this.
A software company wants to determine if changing the color of its 'Sign Up' button from blue to green causes more users to create an account. Which of the following methods best represents a controlled experiment to establish this causal link?