This essay will report the main points in the article “How to Avoid Statistical Traps”. I will explain why it is a necessity to use more than one statistical report for an assessment to be accurate concerning research methods within the educational system. Furthermore, I will also illustrate why this article was not surprising due to the clarifications provided by Gerald W. Bracey concerning research methods.
Gerald W. Bracey, in the article “How to Avoid Statistical Traps”, explains why researchers should be careful when examining and presenting data. Bracey claims that when collecting data to conduct a research study, it is important that researchers use multiple data sources. He provides an explanation of the issues with using only one statistical source of data. Research conducted using only one data source will most likely not be accurate. For example, if a researcher conducted a study on the attendance of eleventh grade high school students, and if that researcher used …show more content…
These are two different types of measurements of the achievement of studies by students. For example, just because a student does well on their homework and in class studies does not mean that the student will do well on standardized testing. In class participation, class quizzes and class activities can help the student to achieve a higher grade. This is an example of passing rates. Moreover, a student is not evaluated on those same achievements, rather the student is evaluated on just the standardized test scores. This is an example of the student’s proficiency rate. When doing research, it is necessary that the researcher separates these two data interpretations because they are very different. Passing rates and average test scores tell two different things for researchers. A report that Bracey gave about a student refusing to take an Ohio state proficiency test
Gerald W. Bracey, in the article “How to Avoid Statistical Traps”, explains why researchers should be careful when examining and presenting data. Bracey claims that when collecting data to conduct a research study, it is important that researchers use multiple data sources. He provides an explanation of the issues with using only one statistical source of data. Research conducted using only one data source will most likely not be accurate. For example, if a researcher conducted a study on the attendance of eleventh grade high school students, and if that researcher used …show more content…
These are two different types of measurements of the achievement of studies by students. For example, just because a student does well on their homework and in class studies does not mean that the student will do well on standardized testing. In class participation, class quizzes and class activities can help the student to achieve a higher grade. This is an example of passing rates. Moreover, a student is not evaluated on those same achievements, rather the student is evaluated on just the standardized test scores. This is an example of the student’s proficiency rate. When doing research, it is necessary that the researcher separates these two data interpretations because they are very different. Passing rates and average test scores tell two different things for researchers. A report that Bracey gave about a student refusing to take an Ohio state proficiency test