Causal Comparative

Research(ex post facto)

What is it ?

Causal Comparative
Research
The AIM

Determine the cause of

existing differences
among groups.

Causal Comparative
Research
At least two different groups are compared
on a dependent variable or measure of
performance (called the effect) because
the independent variable (called the
cause) has already occurred or cannot be
manipulated.
Dependent variable-the change or
difference occurring as a result of the
independent variable.
Independent variable- an activity of
characteristic believed to make a difference
with respect to some behavior.

Causal Comparative
Research
The researcher attempts to determine the
cause, or reason, for pre existing
differences in groups of individuals.
Attempts to identify cause and effect
relationships.
Involve two or more group variables.
Involve making comparison.
Individuals are not randomly selected and
assigned to two or more groups.
Cannot manipulate the independent variable
Less costly and time consuming

Causal Comparative
Research

Type 1

Type 2

Exploration of
Exploration of
causes (independent
effects (dependent
variable) of a group
variable) causes by
membership.
membership in a
Question: What
given group.
causes individuals to
Question: What
join a gang?
differences in abilities
are caused by gender?

Type 3
Exploration of the
consequences
(dependent variable)
of an intervention.
Question: How do
students taught by
the inquiry method
react to propaganda?

Causal Comparative
Research
1. Problem

STEPS
Taken

2. Sample
3. Design and
Procedure
4. Data Analysis

Causal Comparative
Research
Example: The Relationship between Years of Experience and
Job Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design
Hypotheses

Alternative- Teachers with a high level of experience will be more

satisfied with their jobs than teachers with low levels of experience.

Null- Teachers with a high level of experience will be equally satisfied

with their jobs when compared to teachers with low levels of
experience.

Variables
Dependent- Job satisfaction
Independent- Years of experience

Two levels (high & low)

Exists naturally in the population of teachers at the start of study.

Causal Comparative
Research
Example: The Relationship between Years of Experience and
Job Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design (cont.)
Sample

Two groups sampled, one for each level of the independent variable

High Experience

Low Experience

Causal Comparative
Research
Example: The Relationship between Years of Experience and
Job Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design (cont.)
Design and Procedure

Select two groups that differ on some independent variable

One group possesses some characteristic that the other does not

Each group possesses the characteristic but in differing amount

The independent variable must be clearly operationally defined

* Randomly sample subjects from each of the two groups

Collect background information on subjects to determine the equality of
the groups
Compare groups on the dependent variable

Causal Comparative
Research
Example: The Relationship between Years of Experience and Job
Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design (cont.)
Design and Procedure
Control of Extraneous variable

What other variable besides years of experience could explain job

satisfaction among teachers?

Matching: Each subject in the high experience group is matched with a

subject with a low experience group along the variable of class size.

Each high experience teacher who teachers a large class is matched with
a low experience teacher who teaches a large class.

Each high experience teacher who teaches a small class is matched with a
low experience teacher who teaches a small class.

Causal Comparative
Research
Example: The Relationship between Years of Experience and
Job Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design (cont.)
Data Analysis

Mean- job satisfaction ratings for High Experience and Low Experience
subjects are compared using t-test, ANOVA or other appropriate
statistical test.

Rejection of the null hypothesis supports the alternative hypothesis that

years of experience result in increased job satisfaction.

Causal Comparative
Research

Causal Comparative
Research
More Examples of Causal
Comparative Research
A researcher measured the mathematical
reasoning ability of young children who had
enrolled in Montessori schools and
compared the scores with a group of similar
children who had not been to Montessori
schools.
A researcher measured the frequency of
students misbehavior at schools which use
corporal punishment and compared that to
schools which did not use corporal
punishment.

Causal Comparative
Research
Mini-Quiz: True or False
1.Causal Comparative Research studies
determine to identify the cause-effect
relationships.
2. Causal Comparative typically involve two or
more groups and one independent variable.
3. Causal Comparative involves one group and
one independent variable.

Causal Comparative
Research
Mini-Quiz: True or False
4. The independent variable can be manipulated.
5. Each group in a causal comparative study
represents a different population.
6. There are two types of causal-comparative
research
7. Lack of randomization and manipulation to the
variables are the weakness of Causal
Comparative.

Causal Comparative
Research
Mini-Quiz: True or False
8. Less expensive/costly and time consuming.
9. Interpretation of the findings requires
considerable caution because the cause may be
the effect and the effect may be the cause.
10. Also called ex post facto.

Causal Comparative
Research
Mini-Quiz: True or False
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

TRUE
TRUE
FALSE
FALSE
TRUE

6. FALSE
7. TRUE
8. TRUE
9. TRUE
10. TRUE