How Quasi-Experimental Is Different Than Experimental Research

There are different components of research that help the researcher in his research. One of those components is the research design. It helps the researcher to integrate his research in a logical way. There are two major types of research design. Those are quasi-experimental research and experimental research. In experimental research, participants are randomly assigned to participate in the research. But, quasi-experimental research does not randomly assign participants. A researcher can use quasi-experimental research in education-related researches, especially for PhD dissertation writing. This article aims to discuss the major difference between these two research designs. Apart from this, it will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both terms. So, let’s discuss in detail:

Purpose of Both Research Designs:

Both research designs aim to understand the reasons behind a certain phenomenon. Experimental research will always control all the factors that can affect the research. But, it is near to impossible to control all the factors. When it is impossible to control them, a researcher can consider quasi-experimental research. Both research designs are closely interlinked with each other. There are several similarities and differences between both research designs. It will help us to know how quasi-experimental is different than experimental research. So, let’s discuss similarities first:

Similarities between Quasi-Experimental Research and Experimental Research:

Both research designs will consider research participants with a condition.
A researcher will always measure the outcome of interest in his research.
Later on, a researcher can test the difference of outcome. It will also help him to address the research problem.

So, these are some of the major similarities between quasi-experimental and experimental research. Now, let’s discuss major differences:

Differences between Quasi-Experimental Research and Experimental Research:

Experimental research will always randomly assign the research participants in the research. But, quasi-experimental research does not randomly assign research participants. It is one of the major differences between these two research designs.
Quasi-experimental research treats research participants in a completely different way. Participants receive different treatment in unknowable ways. It is the key responsibility of a researcher to control these different treatments. He can control them in a statistical way.

These are two major differences between quasi-experimental and experimental research.

Key Components of Experimental Research:

There are always key components in any research design. So is the case with experimental research design. It has three major components. Those are manipulation of variables, random assignment, and sampling. In the manipulation of variables, a researcher will manipulate the factor. He will do it so that he can avoid affecting the outcome. Random assignment will assign participants in a random way. Random sampling means each participant has an equal chance of participation.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Experimental Research:

The major advantage is controlling the environment in which the researcher is researching. It helps him to estimate the variable effect truly with the outcome. A researcher cannot assure the external validity of the research. The reason behind this is its artificial experimental nature. So, it is one of the major disadvantages of experimental research design.

Key Components of Quasi-Experimental Research:

Quasi-experimental research also has several components. It also involves the manipulation of a variable. But, it is important to note that it manipulates independent variables. It will manipulate it when it does not assign participants randomly. Other key components are nonequivalent research group designs. Apart from this, pretest-posttest and interrupted time-series research designs are major components.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Quasi-Experimental Research:

This research design is less expensive and time-consuming. It is one of the major advantages of this research design. A researcher will save a lot of time avoiding random assignments. Apart from this, a researcher can strengthen research design with control groups. There are several disadvantages of this research design too. There might be a biased selection of research participants. It is one of the major disadvantages of quasi-experimental research. Apart from this, there might be biasness in interpreting research results. So, a researcher must use advanced statistical analysis when using this research design.

Conclusion:

There are different components of research. One of those components is the research design. It further has two types, and those are quasi-experimental and experimental research. This article discussed the major differences between these two research designs. In experimental research, participants are randomly assigned to participate in the research. But, quasi-experimental research does not randomly assign participants. Apart from this, this article also discussed major similarities between these two designs. It also discussed key components of each design. This article also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of quasi-experimental and experimental research.