A researcher is investigating the effect of a new therapy technique on reducing anxiety levels in adults. Participants are randomly assigned to either the therapy group or a control group. Anxiety levels are measured using a standardized anxiety scale before and after the intervention. During data analysis, the researcher notices that several participants in the therapy group report initial anxiety scores significantly lower than the average.
Which of the following actions should the researcher take to address the potential impact of these outlier scores on the study’s results?
Exclude all participants with anxiety scores below a predetermined threshold to ensure homogeneity within the therapy group.
Use statistical techniques that are robust to outliers, such as the median or trimmed mean, to analyze the data and minimize their influence.
Replace the outlier scores with the average anxiety score of the control group to maintain a balanced dataset.
Increase the sample size to dilute the effect of the outliers on the overall findings without further consideration.
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Create Free Account Log inThis is a free VCE Units 3 & 4 Psychology practice question worth 1 mark, testing your understanding of Organising/analyzing data. It falls under How is scientific inquiry used to investigate mental processes and psychological functioning? in Unit 4: How is mental wellbeing supported and maintained?. Submit your answer above to receive instant AI-powered marking and personalised feedback.
In this unit students explore the demand for sleep and the influences of sleep on mental wellbeing. They consider how changes to a person’s sleep-wake cycle can affect psychological functioning. Students explore the concept of mental wellbeing, including social and emotional wellbeing as a multidimensional and holistic framework. They apply a biopsychosocial approach to specific phobia, exploring how biological, psychological and social factors are involved in its development and management. A student-designed scientific investigation involving the generation of primary data related to mental processes and mental wellbeing is undertaken in either Unit 3 or Unit 4 or across both Units 3 and 4, and is assessed in Outcome 3 of this unit.
Students undertake a student-designed scientific investigation in either Unit 3 or Unit 4, or across both Units 3 and 4, related to mental processes and mental wellbeing. The investigation involves the generation of primary quantitative data. Students apply key science skills to develop and test a research question, gather and analyse data, and communicate findings in a structured scientific poster. A logbook is maintained for authentication and assessment purposes.
ways of organising, analysing and evaluating primary data to identify patterns and relationships, including sources of error and uncertainty
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