/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 85 A mortgage lender routinely plac... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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A mortgage lender routinely places advertisements in a local newspaper. The advertisements are of three different types: one focusing on low interest rates, one featuring low fees for first-time buyers, and one appealing to people who may want to refinance their homes. The lender would like to determine which advertisement format is most successful in attracting customers to call for more information. Describe an experiment that would provide the information needed to make this determination. Be sure to consider extraneous variables, such as the day of the week that the advertisement appears in the paper, the section of the paper in which the advertisement appears, or daily fluctuations in the interest rate. What role does random assignment play in your design?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Conduct an experiment where all three advertisement types are run in different sections of the paper on different days of the week for several weeks. Using random assignment to distribute the variables, record the viewer response to each ad. The ad with the highest response, after taking into consideration all controlled variables, is the most effective.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Variables

The independent variable in this case is the type of advertisement (low interest rates, low fees for first-time buyers or refinancing options). The dependent variable is the call rate or response from potential customers.
02

Control for Extraneous Variables and Create the Experimental Design

The experiment should be conducted over a period of time, e.g., several weeks. Each week, all three types of advertisements should be run on different days to account for any effects of the day of the week. Ads should also be rotated through different sections of the paper to avoid bias. Changes in the interest rate could be recorded and taken into consideration when tallying the results.
03

Implement Random Assignment

Random assignment will play an essential role in evenly distributing the days, advertisement types, and paper sections among the variables. This step is vital to ensure the validity of the experiment and prevent any biases from affecting the results.
04

Measure the Outcomes

The call rate for each ad and the day it was run should be recorded. Collecting data over a period of time will give a more reliable indication of which ad is most effective.
05

Analyze the Data

Analyze the call data in correlation with the type of advertisement, day of the week it was run, and the section of the paper it appeared on. Given this analysis, the advertisement with the highest viewer response can be identified, taking all controlled variables into account.

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Key Concepts

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

Independent Variable
When designing an experiment, the independent variable is the factor you intentionally change to observe its effect. In the given exercise, the independent variable is the type of advertisement being tested. Each advertisement emphasizes a different selling point: low interest rates, low fees for first-time buyers, or refinancing options. These variations allow the mortgage lender to explore which advertisement resonates best with potential customers.
Adjusting the independent variable should be done systematically and distinctly to ensure clarity in the experiment's outcomes. By focusing on the independent variable, researchers can better understand what changes might lead to increased customer inquiries.
Dependent Variable
The dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and is affected by the independent variable. In this case, the dependent variable is the call rate—representing the number of responses or inquiries received from potential customers about the mortgage offers.
The call rate is crucial because it directly indicates the effectiveness of each advertisement. By analyzing how different advertisements influence customer response rates, the mortgage lender can identify the most compelling message. Ultimately, the aim is to select the advertisement that successfully prompts customers to reach out for additional information, thus reflecting the advert's impact on potential buyers.
Random Assignment
Random assignment is a fundamental part of experimental design that helps ensure unbiased results. By randomly assigning the different advertisement types to specific days and newspaper sections, the experimenter minimizes the influence of confounding factors.
For example, certain days of the week might have higher readership, and some newspaper sections might attract more attention.
  • Randomly rotating advertisement placements helps level out these potential biases.
  • Ensures that each advertisement has an equal chance of being seen under various conditions.
This approach aids in creating a fair comparison among the ads, allowing the researcher to attribute differences in call rates directly to the advertisement's design, rather than external influences.
Extraneous Variables
Extraneous variables are those factors that could inadvertently influence the outcome of an experiment but are not the focus of the study. In the mortgage lender's experiment, extraneous variables might include:
  • The day of the week the ad is placed.
  • The section of the newspaper where the ad appears.
  • Fluctuations in daily interest rates.
To ensure these variables do not skew the results, the experiment must control them.
One way to manage these variables is by spreading ad placements across different days and newspaper sections. Tracking and adjusting for market changes, such as shifts in interest rates, is also essential. Managing extraneous variables effectively ensures the observed outcomes are due to the changes in the independent variable— the type of advertisement— allowing the experimenter to draw clearer conclusions from the data.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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