In causal-comparative research, the researcher investigates the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable by comparing two or more groups of individuals. For example, an educational researcher may want to determine whether a computer-based ACT program has a positive effect on ACT test scores.
What is causal comparative research?
Causal-comparative research is a family of research designs used to examine potential causes for observed differences found among existing groups . Causal-comparative research is useful for the study of causes where experimental assignment or manipulation is infeasible, unethical, or in some way prohibited.
What are the three types of causal comparative research?
- Exploration of Effects.
- Exploration of Causes.
- Exploration of Consequences.
What are the characteristics of causal comparative research?
- Is either retrospective or prospective.
- The independent variable is not (nor should it be) manipulated by the researcher.
- The groups are already formed.
- Differences between the groups is not brought on by the researcher.
- Typically explore & compare one independent variable.
What are the example of ex post facto or causal comparative?
Causal research uses different terms: ex post facto studies gather data retrospectively (e.g. given the obvious effects of smoking, the researcher will look in the past to find the potential cause), causal comparison where data are gathered from pre-formed groups and the independent variable is not manipulated in the ...
What is an example of causal research?
The meaning of causal research is to determine the relationship between a cause and effect. ... For example, when a company wants to study the behavior of their consumers towards the changing price of their goods , they use causal research. They might test the behavior of customers depending on different variables.
What is an example of descriptive research?
Some examples of descriptive research are: A specialty food group launching a new range of barbecue rubs would like to understand what flavors of rubs are favored by different people.
What is the goal of causal comparative?
The researcher’s goal is to determine whether the independent variable affected the outcome, or dependent variable, by comparing two or more groups of individuals .
What type of research is comparative study?
Comparative research essentially compares two groups in an attempt to draw a conclusion about them . Researchers attempt to identify and analyze similarities and differences between groups, and these studies are most often cross-national, comparing two separate people groups.
What are the similarities and differences between correlational and causal comparative research?
“An important difference between causal-comparative and correlational research is that causal-comparative studies involve two or more groups and one independent variable, while correlational studies involve two or more variables and one group .” (Gay & Airasian, 2000, 364).
What is an example of experimental research?
For example, in order to test the effects of a new drug intended to treat a certain medical condition like dementia, if a sample of dementia patients is randomly divided into three groups, with the first group receiving a high dosage of the drug, the second group receiving a low dosage, and the third group receives a ...
Is causal comparative research qualitative or quantitative?
There are four main types of Quantitative research : Descriptive, Correlational, Causal-Comparative/Quasi-Experimental, and Experimental Research. attempts to establish cause- effect relationships among the variables. These types of design are very similar to true experiments, but with some key differences.
What is experimental research in your own words?
Experimental research is a study that strictly adheres to a scientific research design . It includes a hypothesis, a variable that can be manipulated by the researcher, and variables that can be measured, calculated and compared. ... The researcher collects data and results will either support or reject the hypothesis.
What is an example of ex post facto research?
The assignment of subjects to different groups is based on whichever variable is of interest to the researchers. For example, a researcher is interested in how weight influences self-esteem levels in adults . ... This is an ex post facto design because a pre-existing characteristic (weight) was used to form the groups.
What is the aim of ex post facto research?
Ex post facto design is a quasi-experimental study examining how an independent variable, present prior to the study in the participants, affects a dependent variable .
What are types of variables?
- Independent variables. An independent variable is a singular characteristic that the other variables in your experiment cannot change. ...
- Dependent variables. ...
- Intervening variables. ...
- Moderating variables. ...
- Control variables. ...
- Extraneous variables. ...
- Quantitative variables. ...
- Qualitative variables.
