Dr Phillips Is a Cognitive-Developmental Psychologist Who Studies How Children

question 32

Essay

Dr. Phillips is a cognitive-developmental psychologist who studies how children learn mathematical principles. His current interest is in studying how children learn multiplication. He recruits 54 second-graders who have not yet learned how to multiply numbers to participate in his study. He is curious as to whether different teaching styles lead to better mastery of the subject. One condition (A) involves having students read a chapter on multiplication from their textbook. One condition (B) involves having students watch a video of cartoon characters explaining multiplication. One condition (C) involves having students being taught multiplication by a teacher. One condition (D) involves having students being taught multiplication by a fourth-grader. In all conditions, participants spend 30 minutes learning the fundamentals of multiplication and are then given the same 15-question multiplication test. The number of questions answered correctly is recorded. The data are below.

Name two ways that Dr. Phillips could avoid selection threat when he is assigning participants to conditions and explain why each of these methods avoids selection threat.

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Definitions:

Business Dealings

The activities or transactions that are carried out by individuals or companies as part of their commercial operations.

Isolated Town

A settlement that is geographically secluded from other populated areas, often leading to unique economic or social characteristics.

Nash Equilibrium

A concept within game theory where no participant can gain by changing strategies if the strategies of the others remain unchanged.

AMD

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., an American multinational semiconductor company that develops computer processors and related technologies.