It's Not Effect Sizes So Much as Comments About Their Magnitude That Mislead Readers.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	It's Not Effect Sizes So Much as Comments About Their Magnitude That Mislead Readers.
Authors:	Robinson, Daniel H., Whittaker, Tiffany A., Williams, Natasha J., Beretvas, S. Natasha
Source:	Journal of Experimental Education. Fall2003, Vol. 72 Issue 1, p51-64. 14p. 4 Charts.
Subjects:	Statistical hypothesis testing, Distribution (Probability theory), Mathematical statistics, Sensory perception, Readers
Abstract:	The authors investigated the influence of effect size and comment inclusion on readers' perceptions of research results. In three experiments, undergraduates, graduates, and faculty read a journal article that either included or did not include an effect size and commentary about the effect size. Contrary to a previous study by Robinson, Fouladi, Williams, and Bera (2002), which concluded that including effect sizes causes readers to overestimate result importance, the authors found that including a comment about the magnitude of the effect size was more important than simply including the effect size in influencing undergraduates' perceptions of research results' importance. Graduate students and faculty members were less influenced by inclusion of either effect sizes or comments. Recommendations concerning effect size and comment inclusion polices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	The authors investigated the influence of effect size and comment inclusion on readers' perceptions of research results. In three experiments, undergraduates, graduates, and faculty read a journal article that either included or did not include an effect size and commentary about the effect size. Contrary to a previous study by Robinson, Fouladi, Williams, and Bera (2002), which concluded that including effect sizes causes readers to overestimate result importance, the authors found that including a comment about the magnitude of the effect size was more important than simply including the effect size in influencing undergraduates' perceptions of research results' importance. Graduate students and faculty members were less influenced by inclusion of either effect sizes or comments. Recommendations concerning effect size and comment inclusion polices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00220973
DOI:	10.1080/00220970309600879