A high school teacher conducted a test of a new approach to teaching math. Students were given a pretest when their math class began and a posttest at the end of the semester. The students' math performance improved. The teacher learned near the end of the semester, however, that in their science classes the students were using new computer software that included much of the math the teacher covered in his course. What threats to internal validity does the new computer software represent?

Question

Nikolai Garrison

Computers & Technology

7 May, 21:16

A high school teacher conducted a test of a new approach to teaching math. Students were given a pretest when their math class began and a posttest at the end of the semester. The students' math performance improved. The teacher learned near the end of the semester, however, that in their science classes the students were using new computer software that included much of the math the teacher covered in his course. What threats to internal validity does the new computer software represent?

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Answers (1)

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Alyvia Zavala · Answer 1

It represents a threat of instrument change.

Explanation:

Internal validity is a method to determine if research has been performed properly. It is based on the number of confounding variables present in the experiment. If an experiment is carried out and confounding variables are avoided, the internal validity is high, and viceversa. In an ideal context, the experiment's internal validity will be high, which will mean its results will be trustworthy.

The students, by making use of a computer software, lowered the validity of the test performed by the teacher.