Causal-comparative research is a type of research that aims to identify the causal relationship between two or more variables. Also known as quasi-experimental research, it is used to investigate the effects of an independent variable on a dependent variable in situations where it is not possible or ethical to manipulate the independent variable. Instead, researchers observe differences between groups that already differ on the independent variable.
Causal-comparative research is often used in educational research to investigate the effects of an instructional method, program, or intervention on student learning outcomes. It is also used in health research to investigate the effects of a medical treatment or intervention on a particular health outcome.
Examples of causal-comparative research include:
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A study that compares the academic achievement of students who attend a high-performing school with the achievement of students who attend a low-performing school. The independent variable is the school attended, and the dependent variable is the academic achievement. The researcher would observe and compare differences between groups, but they cannot manipulate the independent variable (i.e., change the school that students attend).
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A study that examines the effects of a new reading program on the reading comprehension of students. The independent variable is the reading program, and the dependent variable is the reading comprehension. The researcher would observe and compare differences between groups that have been exposed to the new reading program and those who have not. However, they cannot randomly assign participants to groups because it is not ethical or feasible to withhold the program from some students.
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A study that investigates the effects of a specific medical treatment on the recovery time of patients with a particular health condition. The independent variable is the medical treatment, and the dependent variable is the recovery time. The researcher would compare differences in recovery time between groups that have received the treatment and those who have not. Again, they cannot randomly assign patients to groups because it is not ethical or feasible to withhold treatment from some patients.
Causal-comparative research is useful for investigating cause-and-effect relationships in situations where it is not possible or ethical to conduct a true experiment. However, it is important to recognize that this type of research has limitations and is not as powerful as a true experimental design in establishing causality.
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