Photo AI
Researchers wanted to see whether providing learning aids during a lecture would help students - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 1 - 2018 - Paper 3
Question 1
Researchers wanted to see whether providing learning aids during a lecture would help students. Students attended an audio lecture on how car brakes function. Before... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Researchers wanted to see whether providing learning aids during a lecture would help students - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 1 - 2018 - Paper 3
Step 1
Identify the experimental/research design used in the lecture notes and learning study.
Answer
The researchers utilized an independent groups design where the participants were divided into two groups: one receiving a skeletal outline of the lecture and the other receiving no learning aid (notepaper).
Step 2
Explain how one participant variable could affect the findings of the lecture notes and learning study.
Answer
One participant variable that could influence the findings is prior knowledge of car brakes. For instance, a student who already understands how brakes work may perform better on the test, regardless of whether they had a learning aid or not. This could introduce bias, as it may skew the results toward those who are already knowledgeable.
Step 3
Explain one way the researchers in the lecture notes and learning study could make the study as generalisable as possible to the target population of students.
Answer
The researchers could employ a stratified sampling method to ensure that the sample reflects the diversity of the overall student population at the university. By including students from different majors and backgrounds, the findings can be more easily generalized across various student groups.
Step 4
Complete Table 1 and calculate Mann-Whitney U for the data in Table 1.
Answer
To complete Table 1, the scores need to be ranked, and the ranks summed for each group. The Mann-Whitney U calculation is given by:
Where:
- is the Mann-Whitney U statistic for the experimental group,
- is the number of participants in the experimental group,
- is the number of participants in the control group,
- is the sum of ranks for the experimental group.
Calculating the above yields the U value, which helps determine if the differences between groups are statistically significant.
Step 5
Explain to the researchers what a Type I error would be in the lecture notes and learning study.
Answer
A Type I error occurs when the researchers incorrectly reject the null hypothesis, concluding that there is an effect (e.g., that learning aids improve understanding) when, in fact, there is none. In this context, it would mean that they claim the skeletal outline significantly helps students when the actual results show no significant difference.
Step 6
Explain what the peer review process would involve for the researchers in the lecture notes and learning study.
Answer
The peer review process will involve the researchers' manuscript being evaluated by experts in the field to assess the study's methodology, data analysis, and conclusions. This review helps ensure the credibility and scientific rigor of the research. Since the study includes quantitative methods comparing the effects of learning aids, it aligns well with the journal's preference for experimental studies, thereby increasing its likelihood of publication.