Use PsycINFO or a similar database to find a quasi-experimental or nonexperimental research study. (Note: Try using a specific term such as nonequivalent control group or cross-sectional as a search term. Or look for a topic that involves comparing different populations of participants. For example, using gender differences as a search term should lead you to studies comparing males and females.) Once you have located an article, answer each of the following questions.
a. Describe the structure of the research study. For example, what variables are measured? How many groups are involved? Are the participants measured several times or only once?
b. Does your study fi t into one of the general categories of quasi-experimental research discussed in this chapter? If so, which one?
(Warning: You may find that your study is much more complex than the examples discussed in the text. In this case, it may be that a simple quasi-experimental study is one small part of a more complicated design. If you have a complex design, try to identify the part of the study that corresponds to a quasi-experimental design.)
c. Identify one factor in the study that prevents it from being a true experiment. That is, why are the researchers unable to say that changes in one variable are unquestionably responsible for changes in another variable?