Introducing Social Research Methods by Janet M. Ruane

Author:Janet M. Ruane [Ruane, Janet M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781118874233
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2015-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

Maturation

This threat occurs when participants in a study undergo developmental changes or growth, changes that could influence the dependent variable under investigation. With this validity threat, the researcher can no longer be sure whether changes in the dependent variable are due to the independent variable or to maturation of subjects. Imagine again that our nicotine patch study is aimed at late adolescent smokers and is running for an academic year. At the end of the study period, some skeptics might want to argue that any changes observed in participants’ smoking behaviors might be due to the patch but they might also be due to the fact that the adolescent smokers “outgrew” this phase of risky, rebellious activity. Again, when maturation occurs over the course of a study, our ability to reach causal conclusions can be compromised.

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