What threat(s) to internal validity are presented in this proposed study design? Explain why.

Assignment and Critique – Identifying Threats to Validity

In this assignment, you will review several cases of study designs. Based on concepts you’ve learned about internal validity so far, you should identify and describe the threats to internal validity that are presented in this case.

Review the following three cases below. For each one, answer the following questions: 

1. What threat(s) to internal validity are presented in this proposed study design? Explain why.

2. If you were consulting for this research team, how would you advise them to change their study design to minimize the identified threats to internal validity? 

Research Design #1: 

A manager is preparing his employees for a certification test. He has them take a sample test, which they do poorly on. He then has them all take an online training program to practice. After the online training, the manager has his employees take the sample training test again. Can we say the online training was effective?