Question 28

Question

You are a university student researching the effectiveness of different study techniques for improving academic performance. You come across an article titled "The Ultimate Study Hack: How to Ace Exams with Minimal Effort." The article claims to reveal a secret study method that guarantees success on exams with minimal time and effort. As part of the process to critically evaluate the credibility of the article, you review the methodology presented. It appears that the study was done with only one research subject (the author herself). In this scenario, how does the methodology influence the credibility of the research?


it indicates a limited sample size, potentially affecting the reliability of the study’s conclusions


It highlights the author’s personal experience, suggesting practical insights.


It demonstrates a rigorous approach to self-experimentation, enhancing the study’s validity.


It demonstrates the author’s thoroughness in conducting the study, positively affecting the study’s conclusions.

Answer 1

The most accurate assessment of the scenario is:

It indicates a limited sample size, potentially affecting the reliability of the study’s conclusions.

Having only one research subject (the author herself) means the findings cannot be generalized to a larger population, making the conclusions less reliable. A limited sample size raises questions about the validity and applicability of the results, as they may not reflect the experiences or outcomes of other students who use different study techniques.