I'm thinking this might be a fresh example for research methods class. This would be a nonequivalent control group pretest postest quasi-experimental design, right? In fact, there are probably data out there could make this an interrupted time series design...right?
I'm only hesitating because it's not clear what the nonequivalent control group is other than all the other bridges that did not have barriers put up. It would be interesting if they had added statistical data on comparing the Bloor to the Golden Gate over similar time frames. If not quasi-experimental design, then what? Just a naturalistic observation? Field experiment? I'm leaning strongly to quasi-experiment. I'm sorry to be more interested in the design issue than the underlying human condition issue but frankly, that's just how it is--I like the idea of the design with all of it's alternative explanations as a class discussion point. So can anyone chime in on that? Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. Professor, Psychological Sciences University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 tay...@sandiego.edu<mailto:tay...@sandiego.edu> ________________________________ From: sbl...@ubishops.ca [sbl...@ubishops.ca] Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:01 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Bloor street bridge suicide study There's a grim but interesting study of suicide rates on the Bloor Viaduct in Toronto before and after the placement of a suicide prevention barrier. Lots of statistics to crunch. Full text of the article available at: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/341/jul06_1/c2884 As is characteristic of natural experiments, the results do not lead to any conclusion with confidence. Don't miss the thoughtful commentary contributed by Isaac Sakinofsky as a rapid response at http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/341/jul06_1/c2884#238506 ) Sinyor, M. and Levitt, A. (2010). Effect of a barrier at Bloor Street Viaduct on suicide rates in Toronto: natural experiment. BMJ 2010;341:c2884 Stephen -------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sblack at ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: tay...@sandiego.edu. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a21b0&n=T&l=tips&o=3580 or send a blank email to leave-3580-13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a2...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=3583 or send a blank email to leave-3583-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
