Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Chapter 8
Introduction
Explanatory research
Research that seeks to explain the cause of a phenomenon, and typically asks what causes what? or why is it this way?
Introduction
Causal hypothesis
Introduction
Introduction
Causal hypotheses and experimental
designs
Experimental designs
A study design in which the independent variable is controlled, manipulated, or introduced in some way by the researcher
Introduction
The classic experiment: Data collection
Introduction
The classic experiment: Data collection
If practical and ethical, a study can be designed so that the dependent variable is measured first and then, the independent variable is introduced or manipulated and, finally, the dependent variable is measured again.
Can see whether the introduction of the independent variable comes before change in the dependent variable.
Experimental Designs
Control group
Exposed to all the influences that the experimental group is exposed to except for the stimulus
Experimental Designs
Stimulus The experimental condition of the independent variable that is controlled or introduced by the researcher in an experiment The researcher tries to treat the two groups exactly
alike, except instead of the stimulus, the control group receives no treatments, an alternative treatment, or a placebo
Experimental Designs
Placebo
Experimental Designs
Internal validity
Agreement between a studys conclusions about causal connections and what is actually true
Experimental Designs
Experimental design
An experimental design with two or more randomly selected groups (an experimental and control group) in which the researcher controls or introduces the independent variable and measures the dependent variable at least two times (pretest and posttest measurement)
Experimental Designs
Experimental design
Pretest
The measurement of the dependent variable that occurs before the introduction of the stimulus of independent variable
Experimental Designs
Experimental design
Posttest
The measurement of the dependent variable that occurs after the introduction of the stimulus or the independent variable
Experimental Designs
Experimental design
Probability sampling
A sample that gives every member of the population a known (nonzero) chance of inclusion
Experimental Designs
A technique for assigning members of the sample to experimental and control groups by chance to maximize the likelihood that the groups are similar at the beginning of the experiment
This can be done by flipping a coin to determine which subject is assigned to which group Assign each subject a number and using either a random number table or electronic random number generator to select members of each group
Experimental Designs
Assigning members of the sample to groups by matching members of the sample on one or more characteristics and separating the pairs into two groups with one group randomly selected to become the experimental group
Experimental Designs
2.
The study uses at least one experimental and one control group, selected using a strategy to make the groups as similar as possible The dependent variable is measured at least two time for the experimental and control groups. The first measurement is before and the second is after the independent variable is introduced
Experimental Designs
Experimental design
Experimental Designs
Experimental Designs
The biological and psychological processes that cause people to change over time
Experimental Designs
Experimental Designs
Internal validity and experiments
History
Experimental Designs
Internal validity and experiments
Selection
bias
A bias in the way the experimental and control or comparison groups are selected that is responsible for preexisting differences between the groups.
Experimental Designs
Posttest-only control group experiment
Either because it is not possible to do a pretest or because of a concern that using a pretest would sensitize the experimental group to the stimulus Same design elements as other experiments: control of manipulation of the stimulus and two or more groups using random selection or assignment
Experimental Designs
Extended experimental design
A controlled experiment with an additional experimental and control group with each receiving a posttest only
Experimental Designs
Experimental Designs
Quasi-experimental design
An experimental design that is missing one or more aspects of a true experiment Most frequently random assignment into experimental and control groups Used when it is not ethical or practical to do a controlled experiment
Experimental Designs
Experiments in the field
Field experiment
An experiment done in the real world of classrooms, offices, factories, homes, playgrounds, and the like
Experimental Designs
Experiments in the field
Generalizability
The ability to apply the results of a study to groups or situations beyond those actually studied
Focal Research
A Field Experiment in the Classroom by Chris
Caldeira
Hypothesized that using film clips to teach sociological concepts in conjunction with the textbook and lecture is more effective in helping students learn core concepts than the lecture and textbook without the clips.
Experimental Designs
Experiments in the laboratory
Laboratory research
Research done in settings that allows the researcher control over the conditions, such as in a university or medical setting Research examples
Hobza and Aaron Rochlen (2009) Bushman and Anderson (2009)
Experimental Designs
Experiments in the laboratory
Important to evaluate a studys external validity or the ability to generalize the results from the laboratory to the real world
Experimental Designs
Experiments in the laboratory
4.
Was the situation very artificial, or did it approximate real life? How different were study participants from other populations? To what extent did the participants believe that they were up for inspection, serving as guinea pigs or play acting, or have other feelings that would affect responses to the stimulus? To what extent did the researcher communicate his or her expectations for results to the subjects with verbal or nonverbal cues?
Experimental Designs
Experiments in the laboratory
Experimenter expectations
One way to handle the issue of experimenter expectations is to use a double-blind experiment.
Experimental Designs
Experiments in the laboratory
Double-blind experiment
An experiment in which neither the subjects nor research staff who interact with them knows the memberships of the experimental or control groups.
Experimental Designs
Natural experiments
A study using a real-work phenomena that approximates an experimental design even though the independent variable is not controlled, manipulated, or introduced by the researcher
Experimental Designs
Natural experiments
Wars, hurricanes, & political events might effect some groups and not others. Example
Large samples are required Not practical, ethical, and possible to manipulate the independent variable In these scenarios researchers may consider panel, trend, cross-sectional, or case study designs
Summary
Study design options
Quiz Question 1
An experimental design has the advantage over non-experimental approaches of determining the order in which events occur and
a. b. c. d.
controlling the effects of other variables. minimizing the costs of the research. accommodating ethical concerns. proving conclusively that a relationship is causal.
Quiz Question 2
In a classic experimental design, it is important to take measures of control and experimental groups
a. b. c. d. e.
before and after treatment. at least once during the research. after the treatment. before the treatment. it is not important to take measures.
Quiz Question 3
In experimental designs, it is important that the control group and the experimental group
a. b.
c. d.
are as similar as possible. represent very different groups so that the research is generalizable. do not come from the same background. receive the same treatment.