Non-Experimental Research
By definition, nonexperimental designs are those in
which none of the three criteria for true
experimentation exists in the structure of sample
selection, exposure to an experimental condition,
and data collection.
These designs are most useful when testing a
concept or construct a set of relationships.
Characteristics
Incapable of establishing cause-effect relationships.
Involves various ways of data analysis.
Primary- analysis of data collected by the
researcher himself.
Secondary- analysis of data collected by
other people.
Meta-analysis- analysis of data expressed
numerically.
Survey Research
Aims at knowing what a big number of people think
and feel about some sociological issues.
Requires interview, questionnaire, and online
survey.
Purpose
To obtain information about peoples
opinions and feelings about certain issue.
To identify present condition, needs, or
problems in a short span of time.
To seek answers to problems.
Strengths
Versatility- can tackle any issue affecting
society.
Efficiency- not costly
Generality- it can get a good representation
or sample of a large group of people.
Confidentiality- capable of safeguarding the
privacy of the respondents.
Weak points
Cannot provide sufficient evidence about
the relationships of variables.
Cannot promote interpretive and creative
thinking.
Cannot have an effective application.
Example:
A study to assess the factors influencing
postnatal depression among postnatal
mothers in Balanga City.
Correlational Research
Examines if variables relate to each other.
Quantifies the strength or relationship between the
variables.
Strengths
Correlational research allows researchers to
collect much more data than experiments.
Because correlational research usually takes
place outside of the lab, the results tend to
be more applicable to everyday life.
Weak points
Correlation research only uncovers a
relationship; it cannot provide a conclusive
reason for why there's a relationship.
A correlative finding doesn't reveal which
variable influences the other.
For example, finding that wealth
correlates highly with education
doesn't explain whether having
wealth leads to more education or
whether education leads to more
wealth.
Example:
A correlational study to assess the
relationship between stress and coping
behavior seen among patients with
myocardial infarction in selected hospitals in
Balanga City.
Comparative Research
States the differences or similarities between or
among people, things, objects, etc.
Examine the differences between two groups on
some dependent variable.
Strengths:
Scientific process
Can utilize to control theories and analyse
the correlations of more than one variable
Weak points
Time consuming than survey
Relies mainly on statistics
Example:
A comparative study of dietary practices of
anemic and non-anemic adolescent girls in
selected colleges.