Microsoft Word Ed Horwitz Post Dissertation Fina docx

 Research Design      
 
The education facilitator administered the surveys for the participants of the financial 
education program. Participants were informed that completion of the surveys was a requirement 
of attending the financial education program, resulting in a 100% response rate. Using a blind 
matching technique, participants’ pre and post individual surveys were matched. All information 
was kept confidential and no personally identifiable information was captured in the surveys.  
 
The pre survey (Appendix A) had 53 questions relating to demographic characteristics 
and the assessment of financial literacy, financial satisfaction, marital satisfaction, money 
beliefs, and money behaviors. The post survey had 50 questions similar to those of the pre 
survey, relating to the assessment of financial literacy, financial satisfaction, marital satisfaction, 

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money beliefs, and money behaviors. The use of a calculator should have had no bearing on the 
results as the ten financial literacy assessment questions did not require the use of one. Surveys 
were distributed with white blank envelopes with self-adhesive strips to help seal and ensure 
confidentiality and privacy.  
 
In addition, a control group was utilized to help isolate the effects of financial education 
among program participants. The participants and control group each received the pre and post 
surveys at the same time. With the pre survey, the control group also received two financial 
education booklets covering similar topics to those of the financial education program. The 
participant and control groups were provided the survey for completion within a 72-hour period.
 
The addition of a second participant group surveyed a year apart helped to address 
potential maturation threats to internal validity. Also, participant groups attended classes in the 
morning, afternoon, and evening to help address the potential validity threats related to 
delivering the educational program at a specific time of day. Lastly, there were no restrictions on 
the number of employees who could self-select and participate when these programs were 
offered, creating the largest possible participant sample groups.    
 
Some additional data was collected approximately 90 days after the conclusion of the 
second financial education program to provide employees the time to follow through on desired 
financial management changes, and implement desired changes in financial beliefs. The 90-day 
follow up time period is similar to that of research by Danes (2004) and Danes, Casas, and 
Boyce (1999) who looked at financial education, literacy, and subsequent behaviors among high 
school students. 

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