Experimental Research

Question 1

Experiment in Research

Answer 1

The experiment allows to focus sharply on causal relationships. Researcher can observe causation.
• Experiments are for a narrower scope and scale
• Experiments are better suited for smaller studies
• Characteristics of participants should be similar to be able to make comparison

Question 2

General Steps in Experiment

Answer 2

• Researchers begin with the hypothesis
• Modify something in a situation (ex. introduce a program, a stimulus, an intervention)
• Compare outcome with and without modifications/intervention

Question 3

Experiment in Research - Major Conditions

Answer 3

Major conditions:

a) Randomly assigned participants for control group
b) Randomly assigned participants for experimental group
c) A specific intervention to be tested

• An experiment examines the effect of the independent variable on a dependent variable

Question 4

Random Assignment in Experiment

Answer 4

• Participants (subjects) are randomly assigned into two groups
• Ideally it is better to randomly sample first and then randomly assign participants into groups
• Random means that each subject could end up in any group. All have equal chance to be in the group (control or experimental)
• Due to practicality, many researchers use convenience sampling and then randomly assign the subjects into the groups (through random assignment technique)

Question 5

Three Main Components of Experimental Designs

Answer 5

• Control Group (not for pre-experimental designs)
• Experimental Group
• Experimental Intervention/s/Stimulus/Program

Question 6

Experimental Designs - Control Group

Answer 6

In experimental design is the group which will not receive an intervention but will also be tested

Question 7

Experimental Designs - Experimental Intervention

Answer 7

• Is the designed program (usually new or experimental), the impact of which should be tested?
• In order to observe whether the new experimental intervention caused an impact/change among the participants of experimental group, the comparison will be made with the control group which did not receive a new intervention.
• As a result, the experiment may determine whether a new intervention is effective or not

Question 8

Experimental Designs - Experimental Group

Answer 8

Is the group which will be or is introduced to a new (experimental) intervention

Question 9

Experimental Intervention - Double-Blind Experiment

Answer 9

A double-blind experiment guards against experimenter bias because neither the experimenter nor the subjects know which subjects are in control and experimental groups

Question 10

Experimental Designs

Answer 10

Major options for designs:
• Experimental
• Pre-experimental
• Quasi-Experimental

Question 11

Experimental Design - Pretest-Post Test Control Group Designs

Answer 11

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Question 12

Experimental Design - Extended the Pretest-Post Test Control Group Design

Answer 12

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Question 13

Experimental Design - Solomon Four Design

Answer 13

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Question 14

Experimental Design - Alternative Treatment Design with Pretest

Answer 14

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Question 15

Pre-Experimental Designs - One short Case Study Design/ One group post test design only

Answer 15

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Question 16

Pre-Experimental Design - Static Group Comparison/Post test only non-equivalent group design

Answer 16

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Question 17

Pre-Experimental Designs – One Group Pretest-Post Test Design

Answer 17

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Question 18

Quasi-Experimental Design

Answer 18

The main difference between experimental design and the quasi-experimental is:
- No randomization, meaning that participants are not randomly assigned to control and experimental group.

Question 19

Options for Quasi Experimental Design

Answer 19

• Basic quasi-experimental design
• Multiple pretest design
• Simple interrupted time-series designs
• Interrupted time-series with a nonequivalent comparison group time series design

Question 20

Basic Quasi-Experimental Design

Answer 20

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Question 21

Quasi-Experimental Design - Multiple Pretest Design

Answer 21

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Question 22

Quasi-Experimental Design - Simple Interrupted Time-Series Designs

Answer 22

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Question 23

Quasi-Experimental Design - Interrupted Time-Series with a Nonequivalent Comparison Group Time Series Design

Answer 23

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