Full Answer Section

Quasi-Experimental Research

Example: A study comparing the academic performance of students in a new online learning program to those in a traditional classroom setting.

• Key Characteristics:
  • Lack of random assignment to groups.
  • Manipulation of the independent variable.
  • Less control over extraneous variables compared to true experiments.
  • Weaker causal inference than true experiments.

Non-Experimental Research

Example: A correlational study examining the relationship between hours of study and exam performance.

• Key Characteristics:
  • No manipulation of variables.
  • Observation of naturally occurring relationships between variables.
  • Cannot establish causation, only correlation.
  • Useful for exploring complex phenomena and generating hypotheses.

How the Research Types Differ

Evaluating Research Design Effectiveness

Example 1: Experimental Research

• Strength: The random assignment of participants to groups helps to control for extraneous variables, increasing the internal validity of the study.  
• Weakness: The artificial nature of the experimental setting may limit the generalizability of the findings to real-world situations.  

Example 2: Quasi-Experimental Research

• Strength: This design allows researchers to study real-world interventions and programs that cannot be easily manipulated.
• Weakness: The lack of random assignment can weaken the causal inference, as other factors may influence the outcome