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Provide an example of experimental, quasi-experimental, and nonexperimental research from the GCU Library and explain how each research type differs from the others. When replying to peers, evaluate the effectiveness of the research design of the study for two of the examples provided.
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Introduction: In the field of medical research, various research designs are used to study the effectiveness of different treatments, drugs, or methods. Three research types that are commonly used include experimental, quasi-experimental, and nonexperimental research. In this answer, we will provide an example of each research type from the GCU Library and explain how they differ from each other.
Experimental research involves manipulating one variable and studying the effect on the other variable. A study that uses this research type is “A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment” by Zakzanis et al. (2018). The researchers randomly assigned participants to either receive cognitive-behavioral therapy or a control group. The study measured the reduction in anxiety symptoms in participants over time. The manipulated variable was the cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the measured variable was the reduction in anxiety symptoms.
Quasi-experimental research is similar to experimental research but lacks random assignment. An example of this type of research is “A Retrospective Study on the Effect of Wearing High-Visibility Clothing on Pedestrian Safety in Dusk and Dark Conditions” by Chung et al. (2019). The study measured the effect of wearing high-visibility clothing on pedestrian safety in dark conditions. The researchers did not randomly assign participants to either use high-visibility clothing or not, but instead used existing data on pedestrian accidents to compare the effectiveness of wearing such clothing.
Nonexperimental research involves collecting data without manipulating any variable. An example of this type of research is “A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Among College Students in the United States” by Yu et al. (2019). The study collected data on the prevalence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors among college students in the US. The researchers did not manipulate any variable but instead observed and recorded data to draw conclusions.
When evaluating the effectiveness of the research design, it is important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each type of research. For example, experimental research with random assignment is considered the gold standard in research design because it allows for cause-and-effect relationships to be established. However, quasi-experimental and nonexperimental research can still provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of a treatment or method. In evaluating the examples given, I would say that Zakzanis et al.’s study is a well-designed experimental study that effectively measured the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy. On the other hand, Chung et al.’s quasi-experimental study lacks random assignment but still provides valuable insight into the effectiveness of high-visibility clothing on pedestrian safety.
