Microsoft Word Ed Horwitz Post Dissertation Fina docx

 Research Design 
 
The facilitator of the education classes administered the surveys for the participants of the 
education program. Completion of the survey by participants was a requirement of attending the 
financial education program, and a 100 percent response rate was received. Participants’ pre and 
post individual surveys were matched using a blind matching technique. All information was 
kept confidential and no personally identifiable information was collected in the surveys.  
 
The pre survey (Appendix A) had 53 questions relating to financial knowledge, 
demographic characteristics, and the assessment of financial satisfaction. The post survey 
consisted of 50 questions relating to the assessment of financial literacy and satisfaction, similar 
to those of the pre survey. Since the demographic characteristics are assumed not to have 
changed, they were not assessed in the post survey. In order to help ensure confidentiality and 
privacy during collection, blank white envelopes with self-adhesive strips were distributed with 
the surveys.  
A control group was also utilized to help isolate the effects of financial education among 
program participants. The participants and control group each received the surveys at the same 
time. Financial education booklets covering similar topics to those of the financial education 
program were distributed to the control group after completion of the pre survey. The participant 
and control groups had up to 72 hours for completion of the surveys.  
 
To help address the historical effect related to the economic times for which the 

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education program occurred, two separate participant groups were surveyed a year apart. 
Additionally, the class times were held in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings, which should 
help address concerns as to the time of day the programs were delivered. In order to create the 
largest participant sample groups, there were no restrictions on the number of employees who 
could participate when these programs were offered.