Problem:
Remember all participation replies each topic week should be substantive with 250 words. If citing a source please demonstrate APA 7th edition.
As I prepare for the first residency, reviewing the GCU quantitative and qualitative core designs has helped me better understand how important design alignment is, but I still have questions about which quantitative core design best fits my proposed study. My current research interest involves whether pre-session pairing influences student outcomes, and I am considering a study that compares three or more groups based on different levels or types of pre-session pairing. Because these groups would likely be naturally occurring rather than randomly assigned, one of my main questions is whether this would be best classified as a causal-comparative design rather than a quasi-experimental design (Grand Canyon University [GCU], 2025). I would like additional clarification on how GCU distinguishes between these designs when the study examines group differences but does not involve true manipulation or random assignment.
Another question I have is how to ensure the design aligns with the research question, variables, and statistical analysis. Creswell and Creswell (2023) explain that quantitative research requires clearly defined independent and dependent variables and a design that supports the intended analysis. Since I am currently thinking about comparing outcomes across three or more groups, I believe a causal-comparative design is the most interesting and potentially the best fit because it allows for examining differences among pre-existing groups without implementing an intervention (GCU, 2022). Right now, I need more guidance on whether this design would appropriately support an analysis such as ANOVA and whether it fully aligns with my proposed study on pre-session pairing. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (6th ed.). SAGE Publishing.
Grand Canyon University. (2022). GCU doctoral research: Foundational principles of research design (2nd ed.).
Grand Canyon University. (2025). Quantitative and qualitative core designs.