Describe the spectrum of internal validity across true experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental (correlational) research designs. Identify which design is generally the highest, which is the lowest, and which occupies the middle ground, explaining the specific structural characteristics (manipulation, control, and random assignment) that place each design at its respective point on this spectrum.
Question: Describe the spectrum of internal validity across true experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental (correlational) research designs. Identify which design is generally the highest, which is the lowest, and which occupies the middle ground, explaining the specific structural characteristics (manipulation, control, and random assignment) that place each design at its respective point on this spectrum.
Sample answer: According to the course content, true experimental research has the highest internal validity because it utilizes the manipulation of an independent variable and strict control over extraneous variables to rule out alternative explanations. In contrast, non-experimental (correlational) research ranks lowest because it fundamentally lacks both variable manipulation and control. Quasi-experimental research occupies the middle ground because it incorporates some structural features of an experiment but lacks others, such as the random assignment of participants.
Key points:
- True experimental research has the highest internal validity due to manipulation and control of extraneous variables.
- Non-experimental research is the lowest because it lacks both manipulation and control.
- Quasi-experimental research is in the middle because it contains some experimental features but lacks random assignment.
Rubric: Grading Rubric: - Correctly identifies the order of the spectrum: Experimental (highest), Quasi-experimental (middle), and Non-experimental (lowest). - Explains that true experiments have highest validity due to manipulation of the independent variable and control of extraneous variables. - Explains that non-experimental research has the lowest validity due to the complete lack of manipulation and control. - Explains that quasi-experimental research is in the middle because it contains some experimental features but lacks random assignment.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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