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Diagnose how the concept of diverse methodological flaws applies to Dr. Aris's research, and explain why the combination of Study A and Study B provides more robust support for her conclusion than either study would alone.
Case context: Dr. Aris wants to investigate the relationship between mindfulness meditation and stress reduction. She conducts two studies. Study A is a randomized controlled laboratory experiment where participants are assigned to either a mindfulness meditation group or a control group; this study has high experimental control but low external validity. Study B is a longitudinal correlational study tracking everyday mindfulness practices and self-reported stress levels in a large community sample, which has high external validity but cannot rule out all confounding variables. Both studies converge on the result that mindfulness reduces stress.
Question: Diagnose how the concept of diverse methodological flaws applies to Dr. Aris's research, and explain why the combination of Study A and Study B provides more robust support for her conclusion than either study would alone.
Sample answer: Dr. Aris's research demonstrates converging evidence through studies with diverse methodological flaws. Study A has high experimental control but suffers from low external validity, whereas Study B has high external validity but lower internal control (cannot rule out all confounding variables). Because the weaknesses of the experiment are balanced by the complementary strengths of the correlational study, their shared finding provides robust support for the conclusion that mindfulness reduces stress.
Key points:
- Identify Study A's low external validity
- Identify Study B's potential confounding variables / lack of experimental control
- Explain how the weaknesses are balanced by complementary strengths
- Describe why the convergence of both studies creates a more robust conclusion
Rubric: 1 point for identifying the specific weaknesses of both studies (low external validity for Study A, and confounding variables / lack of control for Study B). 1 point for describing how their strengths are complementary and balance each other. 1 point for explaining that their convergence yields a more robust conclusion than either study individually.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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