Preexisting variable that is often a characteristic inherent to an individual, which differentiates the groups or conditions being compared in a research study. Because the levels of the variable are preexisiting, it is not possible to randomly assign participants to groups.

Nonequivalent Control Group Design Study groups are randomly assigned to either receive the treatment or receive a control treatment. A second measure of the outcome is taken and compared to the baseline measure to see if the treatment had a significant effect in comparison to the control.

What are the Characteristics of Experimental Research? Experimental research contains dependent, independent and extraneous variables. The dependent variables are the variables being treated or manipulated and are sometimes called the subject of the research.

This is the most common type of quasi-experimental design. Example: Nonequivalent groups design You hypothesize that a new after-school program will lead to higher grades. You choose two similar groups of children who attend different schools, one of which implements the new program while the other does not.

Quasi experiments resemble quantitative and qualitative experiments, but lack random allocation of groups or proper controls, so firm statistical analysis can be very difficult.

• 1 Quantitative Research: Lack of Detail. Many people criticize quantitative research because the researchers have very little ability to find out more detail.
• 2 Quantitative Research: Missing Variables.
• 3 Qualitative Research: Subjectivity.
• 4 Qualitative Research: No Generalization.

Quantitative Research Pros: Larger sample: A broader study can be made, involving more subjects and enabling more generalization of results. Objectivity and accuracy: Few variables are involved as data relates to close-ended information.

List of the Advantages of Quantitative Research

• The quantitative approach allows you to reach a higher sample size.
• You can collect information quickly when using quantitative research.
• Quantitative research uses randomized samples.
• Results duplication is possible when using quantitative research.

Quantitative analysis allows researchers to test specific hypotheses, and its statistical nature allows for generalization. The cons for quantitative research are that you don’t get specific details that you might be able to achieve with qualitative (ex. “It tastes like metal.”)

Quantitative researchers generally have four main preoccupations: they want their research to be measurable, to focus on causation, to be generalisable, and to be replicable.

What is missing from quantitative research methods is the voice of the participant. Possibly the most important point about qualitative research is that its practitioners do not seek to generalize their findings to a wider population.

Allows for a broader study, involving a greater number of subjects, and enhancing the generalization of the results; Allows for greater objectivity and accuracy of results. Generally, quantitative methods are designed to provide summaries of data that support generalizations about the phenomenon under study.