Causal-comparative Research

Causal-comparative Research

1. Characteristics

   • Seeks to identify associations among variables
   • Attempts to determine the cause or consequences of differences that already exist between or among groups of individuals

2. Types

   • Exploration of effects
   • Exploration of causes
   • Exploration of consequences

3. Versus Correlational Research

   • Both seek to explore relationships among variables

4. Versus Experimental Research

   • Experimental - the group membership is manipulated Casual-comparative - the group differences already exist.

5. Steps

   • 1. Formulating a problem. 2. Selecting a sample. 3. Instruments. 4. Design

6. Threats to internal validity

   • Lack of randomization and inability to manipulate an independent variable
   • Possibility of a subject selection bias
   • Location, instrumentation and loss of subjects
   • Implementation, history, maturation, attitude of subjects, regression and texting threats

7. Data analysis

   • Construct frequency polygons
   • Means and standard deviations
   • Use of t-test for differences between means
   • Analysis of covariance
   • Interpreted with caution!

8. Associations between categorical variables

   • Both crossbreak tables and contingency coefficients can be used to investigate possible associations between categorical variables.