Classification of research designs: Experimental and Non-Experimental designs Flashcards
What is the main difference between experimental and non-experimental research designs?
Experimental designs involve the active introduction of an intervention by the researcher, while non-experimental designs do not manipulate variables and observe phenomena naturally.
What are the key characteristics of an experimental design?
An experimental design includes manipulation of the independent variable, control of conditions to reduce error, and randomization to groups.
What is the purpose of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)?
The purpose of an RCT is to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention and establish a reliable cause–effect relationship.
List two advantages of experimental designs.
- High level of control allowing determination of cause and effect.
- Scientifically robust and repeatable.
What is one of the disadvantages of experimental designs?
Experimental designs can be expensive and time-consuming, and sometimes create unrealistic scenarios.
How are participants assigned to groups in an RCT?
Participants are randomly assigned to experimental or control groups.
What is a non-experimental research design?
A non-experimental design observes phenomena in a natural setting without manipulating the independent variable.
What are two main types of non-experimental designs?
- Descriptive designs, which aim to describe variables.
- Correlational designs, which examine relationships between variables.
What is the aim of correlational research designs?
To explore relationships between variables without establishing causality.
What is the main advantage of non-experimental designs?
Non-experimental designs are low-cost, practical, and can represent real-world scenarios closely.
What is a disadvantage of non-experimental designs?
Non-experimental designs cannot rule out extraneous variables as the cause of the observed outcome.
Define “Odds Ratio” in epidemiological studies.
Odds Ratio represents the odds of an outcome occurring given a particular exposure, compared to the odds of the outcome occurring without that exposure.
What is “Relative Risk” in the context of research studies?
Relative Risk compares the probability of an event occurring in an exposed group to the probability of it occurring in a non-exposed group.
What is a “double-blind procedure” in an RCT?
A double-blind procedure means neither the participants nor the researchers know which group participants have been assigned to, reducing bias.
What is the main goal of descriptive non-experimental designs?
To describe the frequency or features of a phenomenon without aiming to explain it.
