Dr. Mias is conducting a study on the effect of meditation on the anxiety levels of elderly hospice patients; however, the patients' declining health affects their anxiety levels in between each measurement. Which threat to internal validity has confounded this study?
A) History
B) Instrumentation
C) Maturation
D) Regression toward the mean

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maturation is the threat to internal validity that has confounded this study. Maturation refers to the changes that occur in participants over time, which may affect the outcome measure independently of the intervention being studied. In this case, the patients' declining health is a form of maturation that could affect their anxiety levels in between each measurement, making it difficult to determine whether any changes in anxiety levels are due to the meditation intervention or simply due to the natural course of their illness.

Dr Mias Is Conducting a Study on the Effect of Meditation