Nonexperimental Research Designs PDF

Research Designs – Several ways to classify research designs 1. Quantitative Experimental and nonexperimental designs 2. Qualitative continued on next slide 1  None...

Research Designs – Several ways to classify research designs 1. Quantitative Experimental and nonexperimental designs 2. Qualitative continued on next slide 1  Nonexperimental Research All nonexperimental research is descriptive. There is no manipulation or control of variables. Researcher can describe the phenomenon only as it exists. Important to obtain valid study results in this type of research Researcher must attempt to control for extraneous variables through such means as careful selection of the study sample. Extraneous variables or study limitations must also be considered. continued on next slide 2 Nonexperimental Research Types of Nonexperimental Designs – Survey studies – Correlational studies – Comparative studies – Methodological studies – Secondary analysis studies continued on next slide 3  Nonexperimental Research Types of Nonexperimental Designs – Survey studies Self-report data are collected from samples. – Purpose of describing populations on some variable(s) of interest Control exercised by researcher in survey research lies in the sampling technique. Surveys generally ask subjects to report attitudes, opinions, perceptions, or behaviors. continued on next slide 4 Nonexperimental Research – Survey studies Self-report data – Phone, Mail, Internet, Personal contact Most common data-collection techniques are questionnaires and interviews. Cross-sectional or a longitudinal approach – Cross-sectional survey subjects are studied at one point in time – Longitudinal surveys follow subjects over an extended period of time. continued on next slide 5 Nonexperimental Research Types of Nonexperimental Designs – Correlational studies Examines strength of relationship between two or more variables –How is change in one variable associated with changes in another? Correlational Coefficient –Indicates the strength and direction of relationship between variables – Indicates positive (+) or negative (–) information » +1.00: perfect positive correlation continued on next slide » –1.00: perfect negative correlation 6 Nonexperimental Research – Correlational studies Correlational Coefficient –Positive relationship »As value of one variable increases, value of the other increases –Negative relationship »Inverse »As value of one variable increases, value of the other decreases continued on next slide 7 Nonexperimental Research – Comparative studies Examines differences between groups on a dependent variable No manipulation of independent variable Retrospective or prospective continued on next slide 8 Nonexperimental Research – Comparative studies Retrospective or ex post facto – Dependent variable (effect) is identified in the present. – Attempt is made to determine the independent variable (cause) in the past. Prospective studies – Independent variable or presumed cause is identified at the present. – Subjects are followed in the future to observe the dependent variable (effect). continued on next slide 9 Nonexperimental Research – Secondary analysis studies Data from a previous study may be analyzed. – New research questions or hypotheses Efficient and economical – Data collection is the most time-consuming part of most studies. Have become very popular among investigators Controversial due to possible misrepresentation of study results continued on next slide 10 Quantitative Research Designs: Nonexperimental Designs – Action studies – Meta-synthesis – Comparative studies studies – Correlational studies – Methodological – Evaluation studies studies – Meta-analysis – Secondary analysis studies studies – Survey studies 11