| GEA1000: Quantitative Reasoning with Data |
- a. How were the subjects assigned to control and treatment groups? Was treatment assignment blind to the subjects? How about the assessors?
b. Did the authors of your chosen study report the baseline characteristics of the control and treatment groups? If they did, what do you think is the purpose? - a. What potential confounders were controlled for by the researchers? For any one of the variables stated, explain how this variable may be a potential confounder.
b. Is there a potential confounder that was not controlled for? Explain how it may be a potential confounder. - Describe the selection process of subjects used by the researchers. Within your description,
include answers to the following, or explain why it is not possible to do so.
• The extent to which the sampling frame covered the target population
• Whether probability sampling was employed
• The response rate of the study - If the main finding involved a test of hypothesis, what were the null and alternate hypotheses for that test? Did they have sufficient evidence to reject that null hypothesis?
- What were the strengths and limitations of the design of the study? Were they acknowledged by the researchers? For up to two strengths and/or limitations, explain how they
aided/compromised the conclusions of the study. - With reference to your answers to questions 3 and 4, comment on the reliability of the result of the hypothesis test and hence determine the extent to which the findings can be generalized to either the target population or a subpopulation.