### Campus Study Spaces: Pilot Research Brief

| Measure | Recorded value |
| --- | --- |
| Volunteers invited | 48 |
| Completed questionnaires | 36 |
| Missing questionnaires | 12 |

### Study design

For this brief, pretend you are reviewing a study report about two different layouts for a campus study space. Over four weeks, students at one campus could choose either the collaborative or the quiet room. Of the 48 students who volunteered to take part in this pilot, 36 (75%) filled in a short questionnaire after their last visit about their experience using the study space. Staff did not collect information about students’ grades.

### Results and interpretation

- 18 students said they preferred the collaborative study room, and 18 students said they preferred the quiet study room. It would not be accurate to use these data to make a general statement about study-space preference on this campus, because the sample was voluntary (students chose whether or not to take part), and we don’t know what the preferences were of the students who didn’t respond (12 out of 48).
- It would not be accurate to use these data to say which room layout was more effective for learning. Preference is not a measure of learning. And since grades weren’t measured, we don’t have any information about the effect, if any, that using either room had on grades.
- The study’s design doesn’t allow researchers to say that anything about the design of either study space led to better academic performance.

### Next steps

For future studies, consider ways of increasing the number of volunteers and randomly assigning students to rooms. Keep measuring preference/satisfaction separately from any measure of academic performance.

### Review checklist

- Make clear that students volunteered to take part.
- Don’t present anything as an improvement in academic performance, since performance wasn’t measured.

### FAQ

Can I say anything about grades?

Grades weren’t measured, so no.

Can I say anything about all students at all universities?

This study measured the opinions of students at one campus, so no.