Scenario:
A Learning & Development researcher wants to know if in-class leadership training is more effective than online training, and if online training is more effective than no training. She expects the results of her proposed study to generalize to leaders at all levels in her organization. She randomly samples from mid-level managers with 3-5 years of experience, and obtains a sample of 99 mid-level managers with an average tenure of 4.1 years on the job. She then randomly assigns 33 managers to receive in-class leadership training, 33 managers to receive online leadership training, and 33 managers to receive no leadership training. Three months after the training, she administers a 360-degree feedback survey measuring leadership behaviors to the direct reports, peers, and supervisors of the 99 managers. As she expected, managers who received in-class training received significantly higher 360 ratings than managers who received online training, and managers who received online training received significantly higher 360 ratings than managers who received no training. Based on these results, she recommended that the in-class leadership training should be optional for all managers and senior leaders, and that online training should be mandatory for all new managers who decide not to attend the in-class training.
Please describe the following:
1. The researcher’s hypothesis/hypotheses
2. The researcher’s population of interest
3. The researcher’s sample
4. Threats to internal and external validity (and a justification for each; this does not need to be exhaustive, just mention the threats most likely to impact the study)
5. Describe whether you think the conclusions that the researcher came to are accurate and justify your conclusion.
