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?
689 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Psychology Scientific processes. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.