Data Collection

By the end of this module, learners should be able to:

  • Identify the defining characteristic of an experiment versus an observational study and the characteristics of a randomized controlled experiment,
  • Explain the role of randomization in sampling from a population and in assigning treatments in experiments,
  • Describe how lack of randomization can lead to bias both in sampling from a population and in assigning treatments in experiments,
  • Differentiate between the use of randomization in sampling from a population and in assigning treatments in experiments,
  • Identify the mechanisms that could explain an observed relationship between two variables,
  • Critique data collection methods and the validity of resulting conclusions.

Topics covered in this module

Expected time to complete the learning resources in this module: 1 hour.

Learning resources:

  1. Sampling ‎(video)
  2. Observational Studies (video)
  3. Experiments (video)