Causal-Comparative Research
Causal-comparative research is a family of research designs used to examine potential causes for observed differences found among existing groups. Causal-comparative research is useful for the study of causes where experimental assignment or manipulation is infeasible, unethical, or in some way prohibited. It is frequently used with large-scale survey data such as Programme for International Student Assessment or National Assessment of Educational Progress but also common in smaller scale studies. It is similar to correlational research designs, except that the independent variable to be tested is categorical (e.g., school or class membership) and the analysis explicitly attempts to test causality. Although some scholars debate the conceptual distinction between causal-comparative and correlational designs in education research and recommend merging correlational and causal-comparative under the heading “nonexperimental ...
Looks like you do not have access to this content.
Reader's Guide
Assessment
Cognitive and Affective Variables
Data Visualization Methods
Disabilities and Disorders
Distributions
Educational Policies
Evaluation Concepts
Evaluation Designs
Human Development
Instrument Development
Organizations and Government Agencies
Professional Issues
Publishing
Qualitative Research
Research Concepts
Research Designs
Research Methods
Research Tools
Social and Ethical Issues
Social Network Analysis
Statistics
Teaching and Learning
Theories and Conceptual Frameworks
Threats to Research Validity
- All
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z