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    Causal Comparative Research

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    Usha Kiran
    Causal-comparative research aims to determine the cause of, or consequences for, existing differences between groups. It is also known as ex post facto research since it looks retrospectively at potential causes or effects after a situation has occurred. Some key characteristics are that it compares two or more groups that are already different in some way and investigates potential reasons for or impacts of those differences, but does not involve direct manipulation of variables. Some weaknesses include lack of randomization and inability to manipulate variables.

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    Causal Comparative Research

    Uploaded by

    Usha Kiran
    107 views9 pages
    Causal-comparative research aims to determine the cause of, or consequences for, existing differences between groups. It is also known as ex post facto research since it looks retrospectively at potential causes or effects after a situation has occurred. Some key characteristics are that it compares two or more groups that are already different in some way and investigates potential reasons for or impacts of those differences, but does not involve direct manipulation of variables. Some weaknesses include lack of randomization and inability to manipulate variables.

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    types of qualitative research approach.

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    Causal-comparative research aims to determine the cause of, or consequences for, existing differences between groups. It is also known as ex post facto research since it looks retrospectively at potential causes or effects after a situation has occurred. Some key characteristics are that it compares two or more groups that are already different in some way and investigates potential reasons for or impacts of those differences, but does not involve direct manipulation of variables. Some weaknesses include lack of randomization and inability to manipulate variables.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    107 views9 pages

    Causal Comparative Research

    Uploaded by

    Usha Kiran
    Causal-comparative research aims to determine the cause of, or consequences for, existing differences between groups. It is also known as ex post facto research since it looks retrospectively at potential causes or effects after a situation has occurred. Some key characteristics are that it compares two or more groups that are already different in some way and investigates potential reasons for or impacts of those differences, but does not involve direct manipulation of variables. Some weaknesses include lack of randomization and inability to manipulate variables.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Causal-comparative

    Research
     To determine the cause for, or
    consequences of, existing
    differences in groups of
    individuals
     Also referred to as ‘ex post
    facto’
    facto research (Latin for ‘after
    the fact’) – retrospection
    Cause for / Consequence of
     Cause for – inquiry teaching method vs.
    lecture teaching method (difference in
    performance)

     Consequences of – vegetarian diet vs. non-


    vegetarian diet (difference in mental health)

     Any other examples?


    Questions…
    1. How is a causal-comparative study similar
    to a descriptive study?

    2. How is a causal-comparative study similar


    to a correlational study?

    3. How is a causal-comparative study different


    from an experimental study?
    When to use a causal-
    comparative design?
    1. When it is unethical to manipulate an
    independent variable (e.g. diet)

    2. When the independent variable CANNOT


    be manipulated (e.g. sex, ethnicity, etc.)

    3. When the independent variable not been


    changed due to ignorance or negligence
    (e.g. teaching methods)
    Did you know?

     Causal-comparative studies are most


    common in the field of medicine and
    sociology

     Why?
    Which of the following questions
    would lend themselves well to causal-
    comparative research?
    1. How many students were enrolled in PSYC101 this semester?
    2. Which subject do high school students like least?
    3. How do elementary school teachers teach phonics?
    4. Are two-year-old girls more aggressive than two-year-old boys?
    5. How might Jimmy Thomas be helped to read?
    6. Is teacher enthusiasm related to student success in academic
    classes?
    7. What is the best way to teach arithmetic?
    8. Do female students perform better in literature classes than
    male students?
    9. Does sleep (amount of time) affect academic performance of
    students at college?
    Weaknesses

    1. Lack randomization…so what?

    2. Inability to manipulate an independent


    variable…so what?
    Threats to internal validity

     Location

     Instrumentation

     Loss of subjects
    Data analysis
    1. Construct frequency polygons (to compare
    data graphically)
    2. Calculate means and standard deviations
    3. Statistical testing – t-test or ANOVA
    4. Results of causal-comparative studies
    should always be interpreted with caution…
    they do not prove cause and effect!

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