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Three high schools participated in a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a new computer. based mathematics curriculum. In each school, four 24 -student sections of freshman algebra were available for the study. The two types of instruction (standard curriculum, computer based curriculum) were randomly assigned to the four sections in each of the three schools. At the end of the term, a standard mathematics achievement test was given to each of the 24 students in each section. a. Is this study experimental, observational, or mixed experimental and observational? Why? b. Identify all factors, factor levels, and factor-level combinations. c. What type of study design is being implemented here? d. What is the basic unit of study?

Step by step solution

01

Determine Study Type

Evaluate if the study assigns treatments or just observes outcomes. The study randomly assigns two types of instruction (standard curriculum, computer-based curriculum) to sections in each school. This manipulation of variables by the researcher indicates an experimental study. Therefore, the study is experimental.

02

Identify Factors and Levels

List the factors and their levels in the study. The primary factor here is the type of instruction. The levels of this factor are 'standard curriculum' and 'computer-based curriculum'.

03

Identify Factor-Level Combinations

Determine the different combinations of factors and their levels. Since the study involves two types of instruction, the combinations will be: (standard curriculum) and (computer-based curriculum).

04

Classify Study Design

Consider the study structure and how treatments are applied. The study uses random assignment of treatments to sections within each school, which indicates a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design.

05

Identify Basic Unit of Study

Determine the smallest division that receives a treatment. Here, the basic unit of study is the 'student', as each student receives a specific type of instruction and their performance is measured individually.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

educational research

Educational research involves systematic investigation aimed at improving educational practices. In this study, educational research focuses on assessing the effectiveness of a new mathematics curriculum. Researchers wanted to see if computer-based instruction performs better than the traditional method.
They gathered data through a structured study involving students from three different high schools. By analyzing the results, they aimed to derive conclusions that could enhance teaching and learning in similar educational settings.

randomized controlled trial

A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is a study design that randomly assigns participants to different treatment groups. This method helps eliminate biases and ensures that differences in outcomes can be attributed to the treatment itself.
In this study, students were randomly assigned to either the standard curriculum or the computer-based curriculum within each school. Such randomization helps create comparable groups, making it easier to attribute any differences in test scores directly to the type of instruction received.

instructional methods

Instructional methods refer to the different ways teaching content is delivered to students. Here, two types of instructional methods were compared:

• Standard Curriculum: Traditional teaching methods without the aid of computers.
• Computer-Based Curriculum: Teaching using computer programs designed to enhance learning.

Evaluating different instructional methods helps in understanding which approaches work best in improving student achievement.

experimental design

Experimental design in educational research ensures that study findings are valid and reliable. Here, the design included:

• Random assignment of students to instructional methods.
• Control groups to compare outcomes.
• Implementation across multiple schools to increase generalizability.

This structured approach allows researchers to isolate the effect of the instructional method on student performance, providing credible evidence for or against the new curriculum.

education curriculum

An education curriculum encompasses the content and methods used to teach students. In this study, two different curricula were evaluated:

• Standard Curriculum: Traditional methods based on established practices.
• Computer-Based Curriculum: Innovative methods using technology to enhance learning.

This comparison helps educators understand the impact of modern teaching tools and techniques on student performance, potentially guiding future curriculum development.