I agree with the attached and only wish to add that this discussion points
to the need for replication. I have no trouble believing that a study on
undergraduates at college x generalizes to some population. Which
population that might be remains open to speculation. Replication gives
us a chance to determine how broad or narrow that population might be.
Michael
On Fri, 9 Feb 2001, Thom Baguley wrote:
> Richard A. Beldin wrote:
> >
> > R A Fisher showed that random assignment of treatments to subjects from
> > "almost any population" generates a proability distribution of treatment
> > differences which satisfies the assumptions of ANOVA Random sampling of
> > the population is not required but extrapolation to populations not
> > studied is risky, of course.
>
> An excellent summary.
>
> Random sampling from a specifiied population is (nigh on) impossible unless
> you have a finite, proximate target population in mind (e.g., a specific pool
> of voters, consumers or whatever).
>
> Extrapolation or generalization will always be tricky. For example, imagine I
> could randomly sample from everyone on the planet. I'd still have problems
> trying to generalize those findings to people alive in 10 or 50 years time (or
> in the past).
>
> Generalization has to rely heavily on theory and domain knowledge no matter
> how good the stats.
>
> Thom
>
>
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*******************************************************************
Michael M. Granaas
Associate Professor [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Psychology
University of South Dakota Phone: (605) 677-5295
Vermillion, SD 57069 FAX: (605) 677-6604
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All views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily
reflect those of the University of South Dakota, or the South
Dakota Board of Regents.
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