12 Questions
What is a reason why not all data can be gathered experimentally?
Antecedent conditions cannot always be applied or created
What is the primary advantage of using non-experimental approaches in research?
They allow researchers to study behaviors in a natural setting
What is external validity?
The generalizability or applicability to people and situations outside the research setting
What is the trade-off between internal and external validity?
What we gain in external validity we might lose in internal validity
What is the purpose of non-experimental approaches in research?
To provide useful data in situations where an experiment is not practical or desirable
What is internal validity?
The degree to which research design allows us to make causal statements
What is the primary focus of phenomenology?
Personal experience as a source of data
What is the purpose of case studies, according to Kazdin (2003)?
To serve as a source of inferences, hypotheses, and theories
What is a common limitation of researchers in imposing units?
Limits on the responses that subjects may contribute to the data
How do antecedent conditions and imposed units change?
Independently
What is the primary goal of a case study?
To provide a descriptive record of a single individual's experience
What is the benefit of having a high degree of manipulation in research?
It increases the validity of the results
Study Notes
Alternatives to Experimentation
- Not all data can be gathered experimentally due to limitations such as:
- Antecedent conditions that cannot be applied or created
- Ethical reasons that prevent the creation of experimental studies
- The desire to study behaviors as they occur naturally
External Validity
- Refers to the generalizability or applicability of research findings to people and situations outside the research setting
- High external validity means that observations can be generalized to other settings and people
- "What we gain in external validity we might lose in internal validity."
Nonexperimental Approaches
- Used in situations where an experiment is not practical or desirable
- Include:
- Existing real-life situations
- Natural setting
- Rare occurrences
- Sample personal information
- Each of these approaches can provide useful data
Internal and External Validity
- Internal Validity: the degree to which research design allows for making causal statements
- High internal validity means that changes in behavior observed across treatment conditions were caused by differences in treatments
Dimensions of Research Approaches
- According to Willems (1969), research approaches can be described along two major dimensions:
- The degree of manipulation of antecedent conditions
- The degree of imposition of units
- Each dimension has pros and cons
Phenomenological Study
- Example: "Purkinje Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals"
- Aims to describe an individual's immediate experience
- Begins with personal experience as a source of data
Case Study
- A descriptive record of a single individual's experience, behavior, or both
- Kept by an outside observer
- Serves five major purposes:
- Source of inferences, hypotheses, and theories
- Source for developing therapy techniques
- Allows the study of rare phenomena
- ...
Five Common Nonexperimental Approaches
- Phenomenology
- Case Studies
- Field Studies
- Archival Studies
- Qualitative Studies
This quiz assesses your understanding of non-experimental research designs, including the limitations of experimental studies and the importance of external validity. Learn why antecedent conditions cannot always be applied or created and how researchers study behaviors in natural settings.
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