Study #3
A social worker who is on the staff of a police department in a large city conducts a study to reduce depression and modify behaviors toward the abuser among women who have experienced intimate partner violence. All women who report an incident of intimate partner to the police during April or May are invited to participate in the study. The researcher obtains the names of these woman from the police reports. The invitation is made within one week of the reported incident by calling the woman. Women who agree to participate in the study are randomized to receive the new treatment or to receive the usual treatment. The new treatment is a 6-week therapy and support group. The usual treatment is an offer to meet with the social worker and receive referral information. Immediately after randomization, but prior to receiving either the new or the usual treatment, the researcher asks the study participants to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire includes the PHQ-9, a scale that assesses depressive symptomatology. Each item is a symptom of depression and the woman is asked to indicate the frequency with which she is currently experiencing that symptom. A higher score indicates higher level of depressive symptomatology. There are two questions about how the woman plans to respond to the intimate partner violence, including whether she plans to leave the abuser and whether she plans to press charges against the abuser.
Flag question: Question 5
Question 51 pts
What is the study design?
Group of answer choices
Case-control study
Experimental study
Cohort study
Cross-sectional study
Pre-experimental study
Quasi-experimental study