Three research assistants were assigned the task of counting the number of times a particular student exhibited inattentive behaviors during a 30-minute math class. The first research assistant counted five inattentive behaviors, the second recorded eight, and the third observed only two. Assuming the three research assistants are equally accurate in what they observed, the most likely explanation for this discrepancy in recordings would be that the inattentive behavior
A)was not the correct hypothesis.
B)was not observed for a long enough period of time.
C)was not precisely operationally defined.
D)would require at least five observers for an accurate count.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The discrepancy in recordings among the three research assistants most likely stems from the inattentive behavior not being precisely operationally defined. Without a clear, specific definition of what constitutes inattentive behavior, each assistant could have interpreted and recorded the behavior differently, leading to the observed variation in their counts.

Three Research Assistants Were Assigned the Task of Counting the Number