Chlorpromazine and Placebo in the Treatment of Schizophrenia - Questions on the Research Process

What was the independent variable? What was the dependent variable and how is it measured?

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In the first question, the dependent variable was a failure [in college students], and the independent variable was self-esteem. The dependent variable was measured by tallying the number of students that fail and pass examinations respectively.

Discuss the study's design. What kind of design was used? Was this design appropriate? Why or why not?

The repeat measure experimental design was used in this experiment. The design is also known as within groups. The same test subjects take part in all conditions of the independent variable. This design was appropriate because the same participants are used in each condition, and participant variable was reduced.

Was the experimenter justified in her conclusions? Why or why not?

The conclusion was justified because the experiment had revealed beyond any doubt that low self-esteem was one of the factors that lead to failure of the students that had flunked the test

Case 2

What do you think the hypothesis might be for this study? Is the hypothesis you selected directional or nondirectional? Why did you select a directional or nondirectional hypothesis?

Chlorpromazine has significant positive impact in the treatment of Schizophrenia than placebo. The hypothesis is nondirectional because of the uncertainty of the end result of the interactions between the two variables [independent variables Chlorpromazine and placebo, and the dependent variable schizophrenia]

Next, discuss this study's design. What was the design? Was it appropriate? Why or why not?

What was the purpose of random selection in this study?

The experimental design used in this experiment was Independent measures design. This is because different participants were used in each condition of the independent variable [Chlorpromazine and placebo]. The experimental design was appropriate because it allows different participants to undertake similar conditions of the independent variable. This eliminates the order effect that may lead to boredom and impatience among the schizophrenics.

Randomly sampling the people with schizophrenia reduces experimental error due to biases and gives every individual equal chances of participation in the experiment

What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable and how is it measured?

The independent variables are Chlorpromazine and placebo, and the dependent variable is schizophrenia. The dependent variable was measured by gauging a number of errors made by the sampled subject when performing the tasks after Placebo treatment and later after treatment by chlorpromazine.

Are there possible confounds in this study? If so, how would you control for them?

Individual variations between the sampled groups, for example, age, differences when it comes to the severity of the schizophrenia. This can be solved by leveling the sampling group by picking people of the same age set and at the same stage when it comes to the schizophrenia condition.

Case 3

Was the case justified? Why or why not? (Be sure to support your answer with reference to the strengths and weaknesses of the design, and consider possible confounds.)

No, the case was not justified. This is because, the two sample sizes are not equal and from the information provided, this only means that the original sample was evenly matched at 283 and 53 sampled park workers bailed out of the experiment thus making the results inconclusive. That only means that the association had already lost 53 2pp data.

What kind of study is this? What are the problems associated with this kind of study?

This is a matched pair study, and some of the problems include: It is time-consuming; it is almost impossible to evenly match test subjects unless they are identical twins and finally if one participants bails out the experiments lose a 2pp data.

How would you improve the study?

Increasing the group selection parameters from 4 to 8 to increase the level of similarity amongst test subjects. I would also reduce the sample size to a more manageable one [150-200] to reduce the chances of data loss as well as minimize error in the analysis of the data.