Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Casual Comparative Research
Casual Comparative Research
Definition
It is a quantitative research
To determine the cause or consequences of the
differences that already exist between or among group of individuals- ex post facto
Description
At least two different groups are compared on a
dependent variable or measure of performance (called the effect) because the independent variable (called the cause) has already occurred or cannot be manipulated. Dependent variable-the change or difference occurring as a result of the independent variable. Independent variable- an activity of characteristic believed to make a difference with respect to some behavior.
Characteristic
The researcher attempts to determine the cause, or
reason, for pre existing differences in groups of individuals. Attempts to identify cause and effect relationships. Involve two or more group variables. Involve making comparison. Individuals are not randomly selected and assigned to two or more groups. Cannot manipulate the independent variable Less costly and time consuming
Steps Taken
Process
Problem formulation Identify and define particular phenomena of interest and then to consider possible causes for, or consequences of these phenomena Sample Define carefully the characteristic to be studied and select group that differ in this characteristic Instrumentation No limitation Design Involve selecting groups that differ on particular variable of interest, compare and remember no manipulation!
variable I. One group possesses some characteristics that the other does not II. Each group possesses the characteristic but in differing amounts
II
(b)
O (Measurement) O (Measurement)
II
Cont.
Data Analysis Construct frequency polygons Calculate means and standard deviations T-test to show differences between means The result do not prove cause and effect, but only identifying the relationship
Two levels (high & low) Exists naturally in the population of teachers at the
start of study. Sample Two groups sampled, one for each level of the independent variable High Experience Low Experience
Design and Procedure Select two groups that differ on some independent variable One group possesses some characteristic that the other does not Each group possesses the characteristic but in differing amount The independent variable must be clearly operationally defined * Randomly sample subjects from each of the two groups Collect background information on subjects to determine the equality of the groups Compare groups on the dependent variable
Design and Procedure Control of Extraneous variable What other variable besides years of experience could explain job satisfaction among teachers? Matching: Each subject in the high experience group is matched with a subject with a low experience group along the variable of class size. Each high experience teacher who teachers a large class is matched with a low experience teacher who teaches a large class. Each high experience teacher who teaches a small class is matched with a low experience teacher who teaches a small class.
Data Analysis Mean- job satisfaction ratings for High Experience and Low Experience subjects are compared using t-test, ANOVA or other appropriate statistical test. Rejection of the null hypothesis supports the alternative hypothesis that years of experience result in increased job satisfaction.
Cont.
Data collector bias
Instrument decay Attitude
Regression
Pre-test/treatment interaction effect
affect or may logically be expected to affect the variable on which groups are being compared? Step 2: ask: What is the likelihood of the comparison groups differing on each factor? Step 3: Evaluate the threats on the basis of how likely they are to have an effect.