Natalie C. Landon-Brace edited Biases.tex  about 10 years ago

Commit id: 74e0e67596d93f53e4414ef9b5e6506bc42cafd8

deletions | additions      

       

\subsection{Biases and Limitations}  There were several biases and limitations which can be identified in the selection of participants and execution of the experiment. The first is that the sample participants were drawn from engineering students at the University of Toronto. As such there is a significantly lower percentage of girls to draw from in the student pool. The population tested in this experiment therefore represents the standard engineering male:female ratio of 3:1. Another is that due to the long range of distances required, the experiment had to be conducted outside. This lead to differences in weather conditions such as wind and cloud cover between participants. Most significantly, the 20 m target was not shaded as well as the 10 m and 30 m targets, which may have decreased accuracy at this distance. Finally, the paintball is powered by pressurized air tanks. Over time and with use, the pressure in the tanks decreases, leading to a decrease in muzzle velocity and apparent accuracy. As such, those shooting later ``in''  a tank would be shooting with a lower velocity and it might be more difficult to shoot accurately. Tanks were changed several times throughout the experiment in an effort to compensate for this as best as possible, though the effect may still have been noticeable.  Pressure in air tanks in shooting.