(Answered) SOCW 6301 week 5 Discussion 2: Pretests/Posttests and Attrition

This week’s video introduces you to the Hernandez family. Juan and Elena Hernandez are mandated to attend parenting classes. As part of the parenting classes, they are required to participate in both a pretest (taken before classes begin) and a posttest (taken after classes end). Pretests and posttests can yield very useful information. They can measure the learning that has or has not taken place as a result of the education being provided. For this Discussion, imagine what kinds of questions would be on a
pretest and posttest for this particular study sample (the parents who are taking parenting classes).
By Day 5
Post your explanation of what you think the social workers wanted to know when they
designed the pre/posttest for evaluating the parenting classes. Be sure to address the
concept of attrition and whether or not you believe they took that into account. Be sure
to explain why. Then, analyze potential lessons learned from attrition. Finally, explain
how you might design a study to gather data about the effectiveness of these parenting
classes. Use the following questions to focus your thinking:
 Would you recommend a pre-experimental, experimental, or quasi-experimental
design?
 Would the study involve measurement over time?
 Would there be a control group?
 In this group research design you imagine, what or who will be compared?
 What limitations in terms of generalizability and internal validity can you anticipate
based on the research plan you envision?
 What can you tell the social worker about the issue of client drop out (also called
attrition or experimental mortality)?
 If there is no control group, what type of research design could answer the question: Is
this parent training class effective in reducing abusive parenting practices?
Please use the resources to support your answer.

Solution:

The study design I would recommend for the clients is quasi-experimental which entails comparing one group to itself at different times. This would involve taking a pre-test and post-test for the clients over a period of time to establish the effectiveness of the intervention (Hancock & Algozzine, 2016). This study would not have a control group as the group under this study is unique and cannot be compared. What the social worker wanted to know by designing pre-test and post-test is the progressive impact of the therapeutic interventions with the clients. Please click the icon below to purchase full solution at $5