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Quasi-experiment quantitative research is a method utilized to assess the effects of an intervention or treatment without employing random assignment of participants to groups. Unlike true experiments that rely on randomization, quasi-experiments use pre-existing groups or other non-randomized strategies. This design is valuable for identifying causal relationships in situations where randomization is not practical or ethical.
Quasi-experiment quantitative research offers a robust alternative to true experiments by allowing researchers to examine intervention impacts within real-world settings. This design is especially useful when studying complex phenomena or conducting educational and social research where randomization might be impractical or impossible.
Use of pre-existing groups or non-randomized approaches for participant assignment.
Emphasis on identifying causal relationships despite the absence of random assignment.
Flexibility in addressing ethical and practical constraints of research.
Type | Description |
---|---|
Non-equivalent Control Group Design | Involves comparing outcomes between a treatment group and a non-randomized control group. |
Interrupted Time Series Design | Examines effects of an intervention over multiple time points before and after its implementation. |
Matched Group Design | Participants are matched on certain characteristics to create comparable groups. |
Allows evaluation of interventions in real-world settings.
Ethical and practical when randomization is not feasible.
Provides valuable information on causal relationships.
Potential for selection bias due to non-random assignment.
Challenges in controlling for confounding variables.
Difficulty in establishing strong internal validity.
To improve the validity of quasi-experimental designs, researchers can employ various strategies:
Use matching techniques to create comparable groups.
Implement statistical controls for potential confounding variables.
Conduct longitudinal studies to observe changes over time.
Use multiple pre-tests and post-tests to assess the consistency of results.
Quasi-experiments are widely used in diverse fields including:
Educational research to evaluate teaching methods and curricula.
Social sciences to assess the impact of policies and programs.
Health sciences for studying interventions where randomization is not ethical.
Quasi-experiment quantitative research is a powerful tool for evaluating interventions in situations where randomization is impractical or unethical. Despite its limitations, it allows researchers to draw meaningful conclusions about causal relationships in real-world contexts. By carefully addressing validity concerns, quasi-experimental designs can provide invaluable insights across various domains.
Campbell, D. T., & Stanley, J. C. (2050). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research. Houghton Mifflin.
Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2051). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference. Houghton Mifflin.
Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2052). Quasi-Experimentation: Design & Analysis Issues for Field Settings. Houghton Mifflin.
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