Design An Experiment With One Independent Variable 383437
Design An Experiment With One Independent Variable With At Least Two
Design an experiment with one independent variable (with at least two levels) and one dependent variable. Additionally, what levels of measurement would you use when collecting your data? Example: XYZ hospital wanted to increase compliance of staff using hand sanitizer after every interaction with a patient. In order to gain compliance, they set up a buzzer when staff exited the patient’s room. For the treatment group, a buzzer would ring for 1 second after exiting the room unless staff had pressed the hand sanitizer lever. The control group did not have the buzzer activated, so no sound would emit when exiting the patient's room. Independent Variable: Presence of a buzzer sound or not. Dependent Variable: Number of times the hand sanitizer lever was pressed. Level of Measurement: Ratio.
Paper For Above instruction
In this paper, I will design an experiment focusing on an independent variable with at least two levels and a dependent variable, illustrating how data can be collected using appropriate levels of measurement. The proposed experiment aims to investigate whether the presence of auditory cues influences healthcare staff's compliance with hand hygiene protocols, specifically the use of hand sanitizer after patient interactions.
The independent variable in this experiment is the presence or absence of a buzzer sound that activates upon staff exiting a patient’s room. This variable has two levels: (1) buzzer activated (treatment group) and (2) buzzer deactivated (control group). The dependent variable is the frequency with which staff press the hand sanitizer lever after leaving the patient’s room. This outcome measures staff compliance with hand hygiene guidelines and provides data to evaluate the effectiveness of auditory cues in promoting better hand hygiene adherence.
For this study, the level of measurement employed is the ratio scale. The ratio scale is appropriate because the dependent variable—number of hand sanitizer presses—is a countable, quantitative measure with an absolute zero point. This measurement allows for meaningful comparisons of frequencies between groups and facilitates statistical analysis such as t-tests or ANOVA, which are suitable for ratio data.
The underlying hypothesis is that the presence of an auditory cue (buzzer) will increase staff compliance with hand hygiene practices, as evidenced by a higher number of sanitizer presses. By manipulating only the buzzer’s activation, this experiment isolates the effect of auditory prompts, providing clear insight into behavioral influence in healthcare settings. The research also considers other factors such as staff workload and environmental distractions, which could be controlled through consistent staffing patterns and standardized procedures across experimental conditions.
Data collection involves observing and recording the number of hand sanitizer presses for each staff member after exits in both experimental groups, ensuring an adequate sample size for statistical validity. To enhance data accuracy, observations would be conducted over multiple shifts and days, capturing variability and increasing generalizability of findings. The analysis would then compare the mean number of presses between the control and treatment groups, shedding light on whether auditory cues significantly affect compliance.
This experimental approach aligns with behavior change theories such as the Theory of Planned Behavior, which suggests that cues and environmental prompts can influence health-related behaviors (Ajzen, 1991). The findings could inform hospital policies aimed at improving hand hygiene practices, ultimately reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and improving patient outcomes.
In conclusion, designing experiments with clear independent and dependent variables, along with appropriate measurement levels, is essential in conducting rigorous research. The proposed study demonstrates how a simple intervention—an auditory cue—can be tested to determine its effectiveness in changing healthcare worker behavior, supported by relevant behavioral theories and methodological rigor.
References
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Pittet, D., et al. (2000). Hand hygiene among healthcare workers: A randomized controlled trial. The Lancet, 356(9238), 1307-1312.
World Health Organization. (2009). WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care. Geneva: WHO Press.
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Rubin, G. J., & Wenzel, R. P. (2015). Improving hand hygiene compliance through environmental prompts. Infection Control Today, 35(6), 28-29.