Education researchers believe that a new approach to tackling truancy
may help to reduce truancy levels. They wish to carry out a trial to
compare the efficacy of the new approach with an existing approach. It is
known that some schools have lower truancy rates than others, and that
schools have differing ways of dealing with truancy.
Comment on how each of the following three designs may be applied to
this trial, and clearly state any pros or cons for each.
(a) A group-comparative design
(b) A matched-pairs design
(c) A crossover design
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how can the three designs be used to combat truancy in schools?
What do you think? I'm sure your teacher wants your ideas, not mine.
i guess so
(a) A group-comparative design: In this design, researchers would divide the participating schools into two groups. One group would implement the new approach to tackling truancy, while the other group would continue using the existing approach. Truancy rates would be compared before and after the intervention in each group.
Pros: This design allows for a direct comparison between the two approaches, providing insights into the effectiveness of the new approach. It also eliminates potential biases due to individual differences among students.
Cons: It does not take into account the specific characteristics of each school and their way of dealing with truancy. The effectiveness of the existing approach might vary across schools, which could influence the results.
(b) A matched-pairs design: In this design, researchers would pair schools with similar characteristics based on factors like student demographics, school size, and previous truancy rates. One school in each pair would be randomly assigned to implement the new approach, while the other school would continue with the existing approach. Truancy rates would be compared between the paired schools.
Pros: This design controls for potential confounding variables and individual differences among schools. By matching schools with similar characteristics, any differences in truancy rates can be more confidently attributed to the intervention.
Cons: Finding suitable pairs of schools with similar characteristics might be challenging, and it might not always be possible to find perfect matches. Additionally, the results might not be generalizable to schools with different characteristics.
(c) A crossover design: In this design, researchers would randomly assign schools to two groups. One group would implement the new approach first, while the other group would continue using the existing approach. After a set period, the groups would switch interventions, allowing each school to experience both approaches. Truancy rates would be measured at each phase.
Pros: This design allows for within-school comparison, as each school serves as its own control. It provides a more robust assessment of the efficacy of the new approach, as it accounts for individual differences within schools.
Cons: It may be challenging to implement the crossover design in practice, as it requires coordination and cooperation from participating schools. There is also a possibility of carryover effects, where the first intervention affects the outcomes of the second intervention.