I am currently reading one paper which randomly assigned students of four classes for experimental and control conditions. However this randomization process was within class and not in a whole, meaning that they had one experimental and one control group in each class, and the intervention proceeded at class- level. The results though were present as a whole (experimental vs control). My doubt is: can this study be considered a randomized control study? Or the fact they randomized within each class is a problem for that?
Thank you in advance and Happy 2021!
This doesn't seem to make alot of sense. Of course, without reading the paper myself, it is difficult to gauge. Maybe they were wanting to see the efficacy of intervention effects on different types of classes? In other words, does the intervention work similarly well in calss type A comapred to class type B? If not, I am really unsure regarding their logic. But again, I do not want to pass too much judgment without having the the paper.
Cory
Cory Cobb thank your for your reply. Meanwhile I talked with the authors and they told me they would not classify as fully randomized as they worked with a teacher who volunteered for the experimental condition (it was a study in a school) and quasi-experimental was a more truthful classification. What confused me there was the randomly assignment at class-level, instead of randomize the four classes in total. But they also told me that at schools is difficult to do that as it is easier to take natural intact classes, to not disrupt normal school functioning
It depends on your objective. Caring facilities, available options, and the situation is a key part of statistical decisions.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Psychology
- Emotional Psychology
- Happiness