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Table of Contents
I. II.
B. Strategies in Controlling
C. Experimental Designs
a.
Pre-Experimental Designs 1. 2. 3. One-Shot Experimental Case Study One Group Pretest Static Group Design
b.
True Experimental Designs 1. 2. 3. 4. Pretest Posttest Control Group Design Solomon Four Group Design Posttest Only Control Group Design Within Subjects Design
c.
Quasi-Experimental 1. Design 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Simple Time Series Design Control Group Time Series Design Reversal Time Series Design Alternating Treatment Design Multiple Baseline Design Nonrandomized Control Group Pretest Posttest
III.
Recommendation
Introduction
The nature of Experimental designs in research is to identify the cause and effect relationship of traits that a researcher wants to investigate. Given this, it attempts to control all influential factors except those whose possible effects that the study aims to focus on. The researcher has to involve himself in meticulous preparation in carrying out an experimental research design so as to come up with solid conclusions.
In the following sections, we will distinguish the difference between independent and dependent variable and we will explore the importance of control for studying cause-and-effect relationships. Afterwards, we will introduce you to a variety of research designs and possible applications.
Treatment or Intervention is applied to one group that has possible effect on the variable being studied e.g. new drug, instructional method.
Variable is any quality or characteristic in a research investigation that has two or more possible values. In research, these are the traits that are needed to be identified and tested. For instance, we would like to check on the effectiveness
of classroom learning of children. To do this, we could check the included diagram for possible traits we can consider in the assessment.
Instructional method Teacher educational background Belief in classroom discipline Prior learning experience Study strategies Childrens intelligence
Independent variable is a variable that the researchers studies as a possible cause of something and is being directly manipulated by the researcher.
Dependent variable is a variable that is potentially influenced by and to some extent depends on the Independent Variable.
Problem: Compare the relative effectiveness of 2 different drugs being used to treat hypertension
Experiment: Take BP measurement of all participants, randomly assigned each to 2 groups. Group 1 will take Drug 1 then Group 2 will take Drug 2. Later, take BP measurement then we will compare.
Interpretation: We manipulate what drug each person will take, meaning the drug is the Independent variable. The BP Measurement is the Dependent variable.
Confounding Variables
In experimental research, internal validity is vital. Internal validity is the extent to which its design and the data it yields allows the researcher to draw accurate conclusions about the cause-and-effect relationships being studied and without it any data obtained are impossible to interpret.
1. Keep things constant If one or two factors are the same for everyone, it cannot possibly account for any difference that we see in the duration of our study. 2. Include a Control Group In using experimental designs, the researcher has to set up 2 particular groups - The Control Group and Experimental Group. The Control Group is the one that receives either no treatment or a neutral treatment that should have a little, if any, effect. While the Experimental Group receives all the treatment or intervention formed. The researcher has
3. Randomly assign people to groups 4. Assess equivalence before the treatment with one or more pretest identify matched pairs where one in each group is being compared, who are identical with respect to characteristics that are relevant to the study e.g.
achievement test scores in two different instructional programs by using students of the same age, sex and IQ scores 5. Expose participants to both or all experimental conditions undergo all experimental & control treatment then measure the effects of each treatment independently (within-subject or repeated measures design) 6. Statistically controlling of Confounding variables use partial correlation, analysis of covariance or structural equation modeling
Research Designs
The following designs are categorized as: Pre-Experimental Designs, True Experimental designs and Quasi-Experimental Designs. I have included
One advantage is this is easy to carry out but one major disadvantage in using is this particular designs has low internal validity which as mentioned earlier is essential is Experimental Research.
One notable feature of this design is it has an Experimental Group and Control Group. However, in this design it is the only Experimental Group that is being exposed to the treatment and there is no attempt to check for similarity between the groups prior treatment