4) A mass transit agency is considering two proposed methods for rating the clea

Question

4) A mass transit agency is considering two proposed methods for rating the cleanliness of is trains. One proposal is to have raters count the number of pieces of trash in the centermost car of each train as it arrives at the end of the line on Wednesday at 8pm. Another proposal is to have observers ride the train several different times a week, at different locations and describe their cleanliness in a written report using their own words. Which measure is more reliable? Why measure is more valid? If you were in charge of making the decision between these two proposals, which one would you choose? Why?

Explanation / Answer

There are pros and cons involved in both the methods; However, method 2 would be the first choice as it gives a more subjective and detailed answer after comparatively far greater analysis and far lower uncertainty involved.
Method 1 concentrates on a very small part of the train (single central bogey) that too only at one time in the entire week. This can be easily manipulated by getting the particular bogey(or car) cleaned just before it arrives at the end of the line. However, the advantage of this method is that it gives a specific objective metric (no: of trash pieces) that can be easily compared across trains; Moreover, it doesn't comment on the size and nature of the trash piece;

The second method is quite subjective and cannot be compared through a standardised metric. It will requrie greater man-power to process the trains at different times a week at different locations. However, the written reports will offer much greater detail about the overall cleanliness of the train.

So it is better to choose the second method as it is more exhuastive and insightful in addition to being less random and less vulnerable to manipulation compared to the first method.

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