Describe the primary reason why critics frequently question the external validity of single-subject research, and state what specific difficulty they point out regarding the treatment effects observed in these studies.
Question: Describe the primary reason why critics frequently question the external validity of single-subject research, and state what specific difficulty they point out regarding the treatment effects observed in these studies.
Sample answer: Critics frequently question the external validity of single-subject research due to its reliance on very small sample sizes. They point out the difficulty in knowing whether treatment effects observed in just a few participants will successfully generalize to other individuals in the broader population.
Key points:
- Reliance on very small sample sizes in single-subject research.
- Difficulty in determining if treatment effects generalize to others.
- Skepticism about generalizability to the broader population.
Rubric: To receive full credit, the answer must: 1) Identify that the primary reason for concern is the reliance on very small sample sizes. 2) State that the specific difficulty is knowing whether observed treatment effects will successfully generalize to others in the broader population.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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