Question

A class was curious if their teacher could grade and return double-spaced papers faster than single-spaced papers. For a certain assignment, each student flipped a coin to determine if they would single-space or double-space their paper. The students agreed to all use the same font. The students who double-spaced received their graded papers back significantly faster than students who single-spaced.

The class concluded that any teacher can grade and return papers faster if they are double-spaced rather than single-spaced.
Why is their conclusion not appropriate?

Answer 1

The class's conclusion is not valid as it is based on a single instance rather than a broader, more representative study. It lacks statistical rigor and cannot be generalized to the grading habits of all teachers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The class's conclusion that any teacher can grade and return papers faster if they are double-spaced is not appropriate because it is based on a single teacher's experience and lacks a broader sample size. The experiment took place under specific conditions: the same teacher, assignment, and student cohort, which does not necessarily reflect the general grading habits of all teachers. Because the study's design is too narrow to apply universally, it would require more extensive research across different teachers, assignments, and subjects to make a valid conclusion on the effect of double-spacing on grading speed.