The characteristics of experimental and nonexperimental quantitative research.

Full Answer Section

      Nonexperimental research

• Does not involve the manipulation of variables.
• The researcher does not randomly assign participants to different groups.
• The researcher cannot control for extraneous variables.
• The researcher cannot make causal inferences.

Here are some of the key differences between experimental and nonexperimental research:

• Manipulation of variables: In experimental research, the researcher manipulates one or more variables to see how they affect other variables. In nonexperimental research, the researcher does not manipulate any variables.
• Random assignment: In experimental research, the researcher randomly assigns participants to different groups. This helps to ensure that the groups are equivalent at the start of the study. In nonexperimental research, the researcher does not randomly assign participants to groups. This means that the groups may be different at the start of the study, which can make it difficult to interpret the results.
• Control of extraneous variables: In experimental research, the researcher tries to control for extraneous variables. Extraneous variables are variables that could affect the outcome of the study, but are not the variables that the researcher is interested in. In nonexperimental research, the researcher cannot control for extraneous variables. This means that the results of nonexperimental research may be confounded by extraneous variables.
• Causal inferences: In experimental research, the researcher can make causal inferences. This means that the researcher can conclude that the manipulation of the independent variable caused the change in the dependent variable. In nonexperimental research, the researcher cannot make causal inferences. This is because there are many other possible explanations for the observed results.

Here is the research question the researchers were trying to answer in the study: Does the use of a computer-based intervention improve the academic performance of students with learning disabilities? The type of quantitative research design that was used in the study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT). An RCT is a type of experimental research in which participants are randomly assigned to different groups. One group receives the intervention, while the other group does not receive the intervention. The researcher then compares the outcomes of the two groups to see if the intervention had an effect. The researchers' conclusion follows logically from the evidence presented. The researchers found that the students who received the computer-based intervention had significantly higher academic achievement scores than the students who did not receive the intervention. This suggests that the computer-based intervention was effective in improving the academic performance of students with learning disabilities. However, it is important to note that the study had some limitations. One limitation is that the study was conducted with a relatively small sample size. This means that the results of the study may not be generalizable to a larger population. Another limitation is that the study did not control for all of the potential extraneous variables. This means that there is still some uncertainty about whether the computer-based intervention was the only factor that contributed to the improvement in academic achievement scores. Overall, the study provides some evidence that the use of a computer-based intervention can improve the academic performance of students with learning disabilities. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to identify the specific mechanisms by which the intervention works.

Sample Answer

   

Experimental research

• Involves the manipulation of one or more variables.
• The researcher randomly assigns participants to different groups.
• The researcher controls for extraneous variables.
• The researcher can make causal inferences.