Read this fictitious study and then answer the questions that follow: Brusser and Joansy wanted to test the effectiveness of a new relaxation/biofeedback intervention on menopausal symptoms

Read this fictitious study and then answer the questions that follow:

Brusser and Joansy wanted to test the effectiveness of a new relaxation/biofeedback intervention on menopausal symptoms. They invited women who presented themselves in an outpatient clinic with complaints of severe hot flashes to participate in the study of the experimental treatment. These 50 women were asked to record, every day for 3 weeks before the intervention, the frequency and duration of their hot flashes. The intervention involved five 1-hour sessions over a period of 1 week. Then for 3 weeks after the treatment the women were asked to record their hot flashes again every day. At the end of the study, Brusser and Joansy found that both the frequency and average duration of the hot flashes had been significantly reduced in this sample of 50 women. They concluded that their intervention was an effective therapy in treating menopausal hot flashes.

a. What is the independent variable in this study?

b. What are the dependent variables in this study?

c. Was there random assignment in this study?

d. Is the design experimental, quasi-experimental, pre-experimental, or nonexperimental?

e. What is the specific name of the design used in this study?

f. Is the study design within subjects or between subjects?

g. Was there blinding in this study?

h. Provide at least one way in which this study could have been improved based on your chapter readings.