ANCOVA Research Scenario:

A church operates a large substance abuse recovery program and seeks to enhance its effectiveness. To this end, they hire a researcher to evaluate their program and offer improvement suggestions. Specifically, they want to know if different types of recovery training classes (traditional 12-step, Celebrate Recovery 12-step, uniquely designed nouthetic approach) have varying effects on a person's substance consumption.

Previously, a pilot study used ANOVA to measure the impact of these three teaching programs on the number of relapses over six months. However, they now question whether a person's existing Bible knowledge might influence the results. The researcher decides to further investigate the teaching methods, considering participants' biblical knowledge, assessed by a general biblical knowledge test scored by the percentage of correct answers (0 to 100).

Participants (N=99) are randomly assigned equally to one of the three teaching groups. Their biblical knowledge and number of relapses are scored to determine if there is covariance. Design this research based on the information provided using an ANCOVA statistic.

Question:
What measurement tool can be used to determine the number of relapses in six months?

To determine the number of relapses in six months, a measurement tool such as self-reported questionnaires, structured interviews, or official records should be used, ensuring that the data collection method is reliable, valid, and maintains participant confidentiality.

Measurement Tool for Number of Relapses

To determine the number of relapses in six months for the substance abuse recovery program research, a reliable and valid measurement tool is needed. This could be in the form of self-reported questionnaires, structured interviews, or official records of substance use incidents. When using self-reports or interviews, researchers can employ a standardized questionnaire where participants note each relapse incident over the six-month period. Official records, if accessible, may include hospital admissions, treatment records, or police reports. Consistency in the method of data collection is crucial to ensure the accuracy and comparability of data across all participants.

It is important that the chosen measurement tool has been previously validated and has shown reliability in similar research studies. Moreover, the anonymity and confidentiality of the participants must be maintained when collecting and recording relapse information to encourage honest reporting.