Discussion 2: Pretests/Posttests and Attrition

This week’s video introduces you to the Hernandez family. Juan and Elena Hernandez are mandated to attend parenting classes. As part of the parenting classes, they are required to participate in both a pretest (taken before classes begin) and a posttest (taken after classes end). Pretests and posttests can yield very useful information. They can measure the learning that has or has not taken place as a result of the education being provided. For this Discussion, imagine what kinds of questions would be on a pretest and posttest for this particular study sample (the parents who are taking parenting classes).

By Day 5

Post your explanation of what you think the social workers wanted to know when they designed the pre/posttest for evaluating the parenting classes. Be sure to address the concept of attrition and whether or not you believe they took that into account. Be sure to explain why. Then, analyze potential lessons learned from attrition. Finally, explain how you might design a study to gather data about the effectiveness of these parenting classes. Use the following questions to focus your thinking:

•        Would you recommend a pre-experimental, experimental, or quasi-experimental design?
•        Would the study involve measurement over time?
•        Would there be a control group?
•        In this group research design you imagine, what or who will be compared?
•        What limitations in terms of generalizability and internal validity can you anticipate based on the research plan you envision?
•        What can you tell the social worker about the issue of client drop out (also called attrition or experimental mortality)?
•        If there is no control group, what type of research design could answer the question: Is this parent training class effective in reducing abusive parenting practices?

Please use the resources to support your answer.

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Pretests/Posttests and Attrition

Introduction

When it comes to evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention, researchers often use pretests and posttests. Pretests are administered before the start of the treatment, while posttests are given after the treatment has been completed. Attrition, or the dropout rate, is another important factor to consider when looking at pretests and posttests. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at all three of these elements and how they can impact the results of a study. We will also discuss how to avoid bias when conducting pretests and posttests.

Literature Review

A literature review is a comprehensive overview of all the knowledge available on a given topic. It includes both published and unpublished sources.

A literature review is usually conducted as part of a research project, such as a thesis or dissertation. It can also be done as part of a journal article or book. The purpose of a literature review is to summarize the current state of knowledge on a topic.

A literature review is not just a summary of the sources. It is an analysis and interpretation of the sources. It should include a critical evaluation of the sources, as well as your own thoughts and insights.

When conducting a literature review, you will need to use databases and libraries to find relevant sources. You can also search online for digital versions of print sources. Once you have found relevant sources, you will need to read them carefully and take notes.

After you have finished reading and taking notes, you will need to write up your findings. This can be done in the form of an essay, report, or paper.

Methodology

Pretests and posttests are commonly used in research to measure change over time. However, attrition, or the loss of participants from a study, can impact the results of these tests. In this blog article, we will discuss how attrition can affect pretests and posttests and what researchers can do to minimize its impact.

When using pretests and posttests, researchers need to be aware of the potential for attrition. Attrition can occur when participants leave the study before it is completed, resulting in a smaller sample size and potentially biased results. While there are many reasons why participants may drop out of a study, some common reasons include boredom, lack of interest, or scheduling conflicts.

To minimize the impact of attrition on pretests and posttests, researchers should use a variety of recruitment methods to ensure that they have a large pool of potential participants. They should also consider offering incentives for participation, such as gift cards or cash prizes. Finally, they should make sure to clearly communicate the expectations and requirements of the study to potential participants before they agree to take part.

Results

When examining the results of pretests and posttests, it is important to consider the potential for attrition. Attrition is the loss of participants from a study due to death, illness, moving away, or other reasons. If attrition rates are high, it can impact the validity of the results.

When looking at the results of pretests and posttests, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Make sure that you have an equal number ofpretest and posttest scores. If you have more pretest scores than posttest scores, it could mean that your attrition rate was high and that could impact the validity of your results.

2. Compare the means ofthe pretest and posttest scores. This will give you an idea of whether or not there was any significant change between the two groups.

3. Look at the standard deviationsof the pretest and posttest scores. This will give you an idea of how much variability there was in the results. A large standard deviation indicates that there was a lot of variability in the results and that could also impact the validity of your findings.

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