Pros and cons of repeated measures design

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Danielle Davis

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Re:Module 6 DQ 2

Consider Mary's study of whether the learning of 6th graders on a math lesson is affected by background noise level. Describe the pros and cons of Mary using a repeated measures design for this study. What would you probably choose to do? Support your responses.

Repeated measures ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) is also referred to as a “within-subjects ANOVA,” “dependent groups,” and “ANOVA for correlated samples” (Haneef, 2014). According to Ho (2010), one of the major pros of utilizing such a design would allow Mary to have multiple observations of the independent variable on each participant, e.g., a pre-test, subsequent post-test and follow-up, as well as, having the dependent variable measured on the same individual at three different times, e.g., pre-treatment, at outcome, and at a follow-up (let’s say 6 months later).

Additionally, as stated by Gravetter and Wallnau (2010), the repeated measures employs the same participants in every treatment condition and means less participants needed, thus Mary will not need to have a large sample size; however, on the other hand, where the smaller sample size can be a pro, the con would revolve around order effects within that small sample (Ho, 2010). Order effects refer to the order of the treatments given having an effect on the participants’ performance. For instance, Mary’s participant performance within the second, and or third, condition may become better because the participants already know what to expect or what to do, or it may become worst if they become tired (Ho, 2010).

I believe that I would probably go with the repeated measures as not as many people are needed, thus less time-consuming, and if I was to be concerned with order effects, I could look at counter-balancing, which is simply alternating the order of the conditions, providing for an equally distributed practice effect across conditions (Ho, 2010).

Danielle

REFERENCES:

Gravetter, F. J. & Wallnau, L. B. (2010). Statistics for the behavioral sciences (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Haneef, A. (n.d.). Repeated measures ANOVA. Retrieved from: http://www.aamnahaneefrepeatedmeasures.com.

Ho, S. (2010). ANOVA: Analysis of variance. Retrieved from: http://www.twu.seanho.com.