In a study of occupational stress, researchers used a standardised stress questionnaire to compare two groups of hospital employees. Participants in Group A were a volunteer sample of clinical nurses who responded to a hospital poster advertising a free weekly mindfulness workshop. Participants in Group B (the control group) were a volunteer sample of medical administrative staff who responded to an invitation printed in a monthly staff newsletter.
The researchers used an inferential statistical test to see if there was a significant difference in stress scores between the two groups.
Question
Explain one reason why there might be a problem of bias and generalisation in this study. How could the researchers modify their study to deal with this problem?
Practise AQA A Level Psychology Scientific processes with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 689 questions, matched to the AQA A Level Psychology (7182) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
