Kara works as a dog trainer. she reads a new book that describes some unusual training methods, and she wants to test them out on the dogs she works with. she assigns each dog to one of two groups

General
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kara works as a dog trainer. she reads a new book that describes some unusual training methods, and she wants to test them out on the dogs she works with. she assigns each dog to one of two groups by picking a number out of a hat. half the dogs are assigned to one group, and half the dogs are assigned to the other group. for a month, she trains one group using her old methods and the other group using the unusual methods. at the end of the month, kara records that the dogs that were trained with her old methods obey her 80 percent of the time and those that were trained with the unique methods obey her 90 percent of the time. kara concludes that the unique methods work better. kara can best improve her experimental design by

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How can Kara best improve her experimental design?

Answer:
Kara can improve her experimental design to ensure more reliable results and accurate conclusions by implementing the following strategies:

Random Assignment: Rather than assigning dogs to different groups by picking numbers out of a hat, Kara should consider using a more robust randomization technique. Random assignment helps to minimize bias and ensures that the groups are comparable at the beginning of the experiment.

Control Group: Kara should include a control group in her experiment. A control group would consist of dogs that do not receive any specific training during the month. By comparing the performance of the control group with the two experimental groups, Kara can better evaluate the effectiveness of the training methods.

Blinding: Implementing blinding techniques can also enhance the quality of the experiment. Kara could use a double-blind design where both the dog trainers and the dogs are unaware of which training method is being used. This helps to eliminate any potential bias that could influence the results.

Sample Size: Increasing the number of dogs in each group can help improve the statistical power of the experiment. A larger sample size provides more reliable results and increases the generalizability of the findings to a broader population of dogs.

Longer Duration: Extending the duration of the experiment can also be beneficial. Training effects may take time to manifest fully, so a longer training period can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of the training methods.

By incorporating these enhancements into her experimental design, Kara can ensure a more robust and scientifically sound evaluation of the training methods, leading to more reliable conclusions.