Chapter 13: Quasi-experiments and Small N designs

Question 1

What is a quasi-experiment? What type of claim is made?

Answer 1

An experiment where researchers don’t have full experimental control. Participants can’t be randomly assigned to one level or another (e.g. nature, politics etc.)

Causal claim is made, but research itself is between correlational and experimental

Question 2

What is a non-equivalent control group posttest only design (quasi-experiment)?

Answer 2

There is no random assignment and only tested once after exposure of one level of the independent variable
e.g. rate of organ donation vs. default consent

Question 3

What is a non-equivalent control group pretest/posttest design?

Answer 3

There is no random assignment and tested before and after intervention
e.g. plastic surgery and self esteem

Question 4

What is an interrupted time-series design?

Answer 4

Design measures a variable repeatedly before, during and after the interruption of an event
e.g. suicide rate after 13 reasons why

Question 5

What is a non-equivalent control group interrupted time-series design?

Answer 5

No random assignment, measurements during a period of time
e.g. effect of legislation on opium abuse

Question 6

Name 3 reasons why quasi-experiments are useful

Answer 6

1 Real world opportunities to study
2 Ethical concerns are solved
3 External validity increases

Question 7

What is a quasi-independent variable?

Answer 7

A variable that is pre-existent in an individual (e.g. depression)

It’s different from participant variables, since participant variables try to document similarities/differences in social identities

Question 8

What is a stable baseline design?

Answer 8

Researcher observes behavior for a long baseline period before starting treatment

Question 9

What is a multiple baseline design?

Answer 9

Like a stable baseline design, but then you measure multiple aspects for that long period