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Methodological Critique

Decent Essays

Methodological Critique of “The Effects of a Creative Dance and Movement Program on the Social Competence of Head Start Preschoolers” Study In 2006, a study done by Yovanka B. Lobo and Adam Winsler measured the effects that dance or creative movement had upon low income preschool children’s social competence. The study demonstrated a positive relation between dance and social competence in that there were signs of a gradual gain in a child’s social competence and improvement of their inward and outward behaviors during the two months study period (Lobo & Winsler, 2006). Moreover, one can judge the assurance of a study by looking at the methods used. This study expressed both strong and weak methodological techniques beginning with their sampling …show more content…

In this case, the study's population of interest is Head Start preschool children. The sample size of this study is the summation of 40 fulltime preschool children. The social economic status makeup of these children and their families closely represents the makeup of the majority of Head Start preschooler children and their families all throughout the nation. Also this Head Start was located in a large metropolitan area, specifically in the mid-Atlantic region, with an attending total of 246 children (Lobo & Winsler, 2012). The 40 children were then randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. At a glance, this number may seem great in relation to what was stated by Cozby (2012): "a known rule of thumb is to have at least 20 to 30 participants within each condition group” (p. 164). Although this is excuted in this study, a much greater number was needed to accurately represent all the children in Head Start programs throughout the nation. A study is strengthened by having a larger sample size especially when dealing with larger populations, this then reduces the confidence interval, improves the accuracy of the study, and provides a more accurate insight into the population of interest (Cozby, 2012). A study’s sample size is the determining factor in carrying out a strong study, yet still, confounding variables exist which is why an experimental …show more content…

There were numerous controls recorded to minimize any interference, such as a pretest-posttest experimental method, as well as evidence of a temporal precedence, covariation, and elimination of any alternative explanations. However, there was a lack in external validity in that one cannot generalize these findings to any given group. Cozby (2012) explains, “When examining a single study, we find internal validity to be generally in conflict with external validity. A researcher interested in establishing that there is a causal relationship between variables is most interested in internal validity” (p.86). This provides a general explanation of what may have occurred in this

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