Answer:
Inclusion/exclusion criteria should be based on the study objectives and research questions to ensure proper participant selection aligned with research goals. Random sampling is effective as it prevents selection bias and ensures fairness. Stratified sampling and other ethical considerations like participant confidentiality and the potential impact on society are also important in research design. Therefore, the correct multiple-choice option is (C).
Step-by-step explanation:
Inclusion/exclusion criteria for a research study should be primarily based on the study objectives and research questions. This ensures that the participants selected are appropriate for the research and can provide reliable data related to the experimental goals. Aspects such as voluntary participation, fairness in selection, confidentiality preservation, participant risks, and potential societal benefits are all important ethical considerations during participant selection.
Moreover, using a random sample is an effective method for participant selection because it gives everyone in the population an equal chance of being part of the study, thus reducing selection bias.
Determining the type of sampling is crucial for understanding how representative the sample is of the population. For instance, if a soccer coach selects players of various ages to form a team, this is an example of stratified sampling, as they are chosen from specific subgroups or stratas. In experimental design, it is important to consider the explanatory and response variables, the treatments, the potential for lurking variables, and the use of blinding to reduce bias. Randomly dividing participants into groups, with one group serving as a control, is a standard practice to isolate the effect of the treatment being studied.Therefore, the correct multiple-choice option is (C).