Designing A Study

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Designing A Study
Adapted from The Research Methods Knowledge Base,
William Trochim (2006). Methods for Social
Researchers in Developing Counries, The Ahfad
University for Women Online Statistics
Education A Multimedia Course of Study, David M.
Lane, Rice University.
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Agenda

• Introduction
• Types of Designs
• Experimental Design
• Quasi-experimental Design

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Introduction

• Research design
• A plan for providing a sound, possibly conclusive
  answer to your research question
• Varies greatly depending on research question and
  methods of data collection
• Elements of a research design
• Observations/measures
• Treatment/program
• Groups
• Assignment to group
• Time

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Types of Design
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Experimental Designs

• The most rigorous of all research designs
• To assess whether there is a causal relationship
  between the program and outcome
• Need to setup control group and treatment group
  to observe the outcome
• Example Randomized Control Trials (RCTs)

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Quasi-experimental Designs

• Same as an experimental design but lacks random
  assignment
• Non-equivalent group design use of 2 intact
  groups we think are similar as treatment and
  control ? Use simple difference
• Regression-discontinuity design participants are
  assigned to treatment/control group based on a
  pre-specified cutoff score

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Regression-discontinuity design
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