Analytic methods for questions pertaining to a randomized pretest, posttest, follow-up design.
Delineates 5 questions regarding group differences that are likely to be of interest to researchers within the framework of a randomized pretest, posttest, follow-up (PPF) design. These 5 questions are examined from a methodological perspective by comparing and discussing analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) methods and briefly discussing hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) for these questions. This article demonstrates that the pretest should be utilized as a covariate in the model rather than as a level of the time factor or as part of the dependent variable within the analysis of group differences. It is also demonstrated that how the posttest and the follow-up are utilized in the analysis of group differences is determined by the specific question asked by the researcher.
Rausch
Joseph R
JR
Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. jrausch@nd.edu
Maxwell
Scott E
SE
Kelley
Ken
K
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design