Answering questions:
Note: You may only complete one extra credit assignment. Think about whether this option would work for you. It is difficult to conduct social experiments outside of laboratory settings. This is a sociology course so your experiment can NOT be conducted in a laboratory.
In this paper, you will describe an experimental research design which you could use to investigate your research question. (Note: you might need to revise your question slightly in order to make an experimental design your topic.) Experiments are appropriate when you can test your hypothesis using a controlled environment in which the effect of the Independent Variable on the Dependent Variable can be measured by directly and intentionally manipulating the Independent Variable.
Select one of the following 3 options be sure to identify which one you are using – and describe your basic research design:
A. Use a True Experiment to investigate your research question. There are 7 parts to your answer.
a. Identify at least 2 groups which would meet the criteria for 1) an experimental group; and 2) a comparison or control group. Describe how you would choose those groups so they fit the requirements and that any differences between the two groups are due to the treatment (in the design of the experiment).
b. Next describe how you would ensure comparability of groups would you use randomization (of individuals or groups); or would you use matching (of individuals or groups).
c. Describe how you would intentionally manipulate the Independent Variable.
d. Discuss the time-order of your Independent and Dependent variables and how this may be used to determine causality.
e. Will you use a pre-test, post-test, or both to measure your Dependent Variable(s)? How would this fulfill the requirements for a true experiment?
f. How capable would your True Experiment be of assessing causality?
g. Finally, what ethical issues would be involved in your study?
B. Use a Non-Equivalent Control Group design to investigate your research question. There are 6 parts to your answer.
a. Identify at least 2 groups which would meet the criteria for 1) an experimental group; and 2) a comparison or control group. Describe how you would select your comparison group ? would you use individual or group matching?
b. Describe how you would intentionally manipulate the Independent Variable.
c. Discuss the time-order of your Independent and Dependent variables and how this may be used to determine causality.
d. Will you use a pre-test, post-test, or both to measure your Dependent Variable(s)? How would this fulfill the requirements for a true experiment?
e. How capable would your Non-equivalent Control Group Experiment be of assessing causality?
f. Finally, what ethical issues would be involved in your study?
C. Use a Before-and-After Quasi-Experimental Design to investigate your research question. There are 4 parts to your answer.
a. Discuss the group you would select to answer your research question. Discuss how your group could be used to take both pre-test and post-test measurements.
b. Describe whether and how you would intentionally manipulate the Independent Variable.
c. Discuss the time-order of your Independent and Dependent variables and whether this may be used to determine causality.
d. How capable would your Before-and-After Quasi-Experimental design be of assessing causality?
e. Finally, what ethical issues would be involved in your study?