In an investigation into workplace environment and cognitive productivity, a researcher conducted a study across two regional branches of a software consultancy firm (Branch A and Branch B).
All programmers worked for two weeks in a workspace equipped with active acoustic noise-cancelling panels and ambient pink noise played through overhead speakers. After two weeks, the researcher recorded the daily average number of programming errors made by each programmer.
All programmers worked for two weeks in a workspace that was identical in layout, desk spacing, and equipment, but without noise-cancelling panels or ambient pink noise (relying only on standard office acoustics). After two weeks, the same researcher recorded the daily average number of programming errors made by each programmer.
Identify the experimental design used in this investigation. Explain one reason why this design was a suitable choice in this case.
Practise AQA A Level Psychology Scientific processes with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 100 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.