QuizGecko Alternatives: Experimentation in Research Quiz and Flashcards

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

Description

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.