Design Method: Quasi-Experimental or non-Experimental

Full Answer Section

      Another advantage of an experimental approach is that it is very rigorous and systematic. This means that my research findings are likely to be more reliable and generalizable than findings from non-experimental studies. However, there are also some disadvantages to using an experimental approach. One disadvantage is that it can be difficult and expensive to implement. I would need to identify a large enough sample of participants and to randomly assign them to the experimental and control groups. I would also need to carefully control for other variables that may affect student achievement. Another disadvantage of an experimental approach is that it can be artificial and may not reflect real-world conditions. For example, it may be difficult to randomly assign students to different teaching methods in a real-world school setting. Conclusion Despite the disadvantages, I believe that an experimental approach is the best way to investigate the effects of a new teaching method on student achievement. This is because an experimental approach allows me to establish causality and to draw more reliable and generalizable conclusions. 2,000-Word Essay on Using an Experimental Approach to Investigate the Effects of a New Teaching Method on Student Achievement In this essay, I will discuss how I would use an experimental approach to investigate the effects of a new teaching method on student achievement. I will begin by defining experimental research and explaining the key principles of experimental design. I will then discuss how I would apply these principles to my research proposal. What is Experimental Research? Experimental research is a type of research in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables and measures the effect on another variable. The variable that the researcher manipulates is called the independent variable. The variable that the researcher measures is called the dependent variable. Experimental research is designed to establish causality. That is, experimental research allows the researcher to conclude that the independent variable caused the change in the dependent variable. This is because the researcher has controlled for other variables that may affect the dependent variable. Key Principles of Experimental Design There are three key principles of experimental design:

1. Random assignment: Participants are randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. This ensures that the two groups are equivalent at the start of the study, and that any differences in the dependent variable at the end of the study are due to the independent variable, not to other factors.
2. Control group: The control group is a group of participants who do not receive the experimental treatment. The control group is used to compare the results of the experimental group.
3. Internal validity: Internal validity refers to the extent to which the study is designed to rule out alternative explanations for the results. In an experimental study, internal validity is achieved by random assignment and by controlling for other variables that may affect the dependent variable.

Applying Experimental Design to My Research Proposal I would apply the key principles of experimental design to my research proposal as follows:

1. Random assignment: I would randomly assign students to the experimental group and the control group. This would ensure that the two groups are equivalent at the start of the study, and that any differences in student achievement at the end of the study are due to the new teaching method, not to other factors.
2. Control group: The control group would be a group of students who receive the traditional teaching method. The control group would be used to compare the results of the experimental group.
3. Internal validity: I would control for other variables that may affect student achievement, such as student motivation and prior knowledge. I would do this by collecting data on these variables and by statistically controlling for them in my analysis.

Conclusion By using an experimental approach, I can be confident that the changes in student achievement that I observe are due to the new teaching method, and not to other factors. This will allow me to draw more reliable and generalizable conclusions about the effectiveness of the new teaching method.  

Sample Answer

   

I am considering using an experimental approach for my research proposal. An experimental approach allows me to manipulate the independent variable (the new teaching method) and to randomly assign participants to the experimental group (which receives the new teaching method) and the control group (which does not receive the new teaching method). This allows me to control for other variables that may affect student achievement, such as student motivation and prior knowledge.

One of the main advantages of an experimental approach is that it allows me to establish causality. That is, I can be confident that the changes in student achievement that I observe are due to the new teaching method, and not to other factors. This is because I have randomly assigned participants to the experimental and control groups, and I have controlled for other variables that may affect student achievement.