Causal Inference and Its Application in Everyday Life and Ministry: The Impact of P-Hacking on Research Validity and Replicability

VERVIEW
Counselors are increasingly required to demonstrate the efficacy of their interventions and
treatment strategies. Within the helping profession, there is increasing pressure to provide
treatments that are evidence-based. The essays provided in this course will assist you with
developing meaningful contributions to scientific literature as you eventually develop your
dissertation.
INSTRUCTIONS
In EDCO 735 there will be 7 essay assignments you will need to complete. In each module there
will be two essay prompts related to the textbook material for that specific module. For each
essay assignment, answer both essay questions using a minimum of 300 words for each essay. A
title page (no abstract) and reference page are required. Current APA 7 must be used to cite
sources. Course textbooks and materials are allowed for the essay assignments.
Describe how the idea of causal inference can apply to your interactions in everyday life.
Also, make an argument for how the idea of causal inference could be applied the way we
approach ministry.
• Begin by explaining what the p value reveals about the probability that a study is replicable.
Next. describe the major alternatives to the use of α < .5 (NHST). What is p-hacking? Describe common researcher practices can be described as p-hacking and how research results might be implicated as a result of p-hacking. Moreover, how are future research studies which are attempting to replicate these studies implicated as a result of p-hacking?