Chapter Checklists

As a consumer interpreting the results of research, you should be able to

1. Distinguish among and identify experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental research designs
2. Understand the strengths and limitations of each design form as they relate to research findings
3. Interpret findings from non-experimental research designs without extending findings to explanations of cause and effect
4. Examine research procedures for influences of researcher effects and procedural bias
5. Read the methods section of a written research report and make independent assessments of the appropriateness of the researchers' design choices

As a researcher, you should be able to

1. Select and develop the appropriate research design for your hypotheses or research questions
2. Argue for your design choices
3. Explain the benefits of experimental forms over quasi-experimental and non-experimental forms
4. Facilitate appropriate random assignment of participants to treatment and control groups
5. Manipulate independent variables according to their theoretical foundation
6. Conduct manipulation checks of independent variables
7. Interpret findings from experimental and quasi-experimental designs with respect to cause-effect relationships
8. Limit findings from non-experimental research designs to description
9. Develop a research protocol to limit researcher effects and procedural bias when conducting research studies