An art therapist collects data from six weekly art therapy sessions conducted at more than one site to show that art therapy reduces the symptoms of depression in clients who have lost a spouse. How could the design be modified to improve external validity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By using a protocol or treatment manual, the therapist can ensure that the treatment is consistently delivered at each site, reducing the potential for site-specific effects to impact the results. This improves external validity by increasing the likelihood that the results will generalize to other settings beyond the specific sites used in the study. Using more than one test (A) or measurement can increase the reliability and validity of the findings, but it does not necessarily address external validity concerns. Using a standard test or measurement (C) may also improve the quality of the data, but it is not specific to external validity. Eliminating participants who did not complete the full 6 weeks (D) can improve the internal validity of the study by reducing the potential for bias, but it does not address external validity concerns.

An Art Therapist Collects Data from Six Weekly Art Therapy