A researcher has developed a series of in-service training programs for teachers that he believes will improve their effectiveness in the classroom. The researcher observes and compares teacher classroom behavior before and after the teachers attend the in-service training. If this design has a flaw, suggest a way(s) that you would improve it.
a. Use trained observers other than the researcher to make the before and after classroom observations.
b. Use videotapes of before and after teacher behavior and have trained observers in a blind technique evaluate the pre- and post-training tapes.
c. a or b
d. There is no serious flaw in the study. The researcher who developed the program and has an interest in its effectiveness should be the one making the observations.
Question 2
A third grade teacher feels that vocabulary instruction will help her children improve their reading scores. Half of her class receives vocabulary instruction, while the other half has a library period. She will compare reading scores after four months. The Hawthorne effect would be most likely to increase the scores of
a. all the students.
b. the best students.
c. the poorest students.
d. the students with vocabulary instruction.
e. the students without vocabulary instruction.