Transcript CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE

CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE
CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE
investigators attempt to determine the
cause or consequences of differences
that already exist between or among
groups of individuals
 Causal-comparative research is also
referred to sometimes as ex post facto
(from the Latin for “after the fact”)
research.

group difference variable

is either a variable that cannot be
manipulated, this naturally occurring
variable that cannot be manipulated are:
Age, Gender, Ethnicity, Learning style,
Socio-economic status, Parental
educational level, Family environment,
Preschool attendance, and Type of school.

Sometimes ethical constraints prevent a variable
from being manipulated, thus preventing the
effects of variations in the variable from being
examined by means of an experimental study.
Example: In the effects of a new diet on
very young children. Ethical
considerations, however, might prevent
the researcher from intentionally changing
the diet to which the children are
exposed.
three types

There are three types of causalcomparative research
◦ exploration of effects
◦ exploration of causes
◦ exploration of consequences
which differ in their purposes and structure.
Differences between Causal-Comparative
and Experimental Research
CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
No manipulation takes place.
The Independent variable is
manipulated
Has greater evidence for causation
Provides weaker evidence for
causation
The groups are already formed
and the researcher must locate
them.
The independent variable has
already
occurred
The researcher can sometimes
assign subjects to treatment
groups;
The researcher manipulates the
independent variable to determine
its effects
Similarities between Causal-Comparative
and Experimental Research
CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Require at least one categorical variable
(group membership)
Both compare group performances
(average scores) to determine relationships
Both typically compare separate groups of subjects
(Except in counterbalanced, time-series, or single-subject
experimental designs)
Differences between Causal-Comparative
and Correlational Research
CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
Typically compare two or more
groups of subjects,
Studies typically involve at least
one categorical variable (group
membership).
Compares average or use crossbreak tables.
Requires a score on each
variable for each subject.
Investigates two (or more)
quantitative
Analyzes data using scatter plots
and/or correlation coefficients
Similarities between Causal-Comparative
and Experimental Research
CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Both causal-comparative and correlational studies are
examples of associational research
Conducted them seek to explore relationships
among variables.
Attempts to explain phenomena of interest
Seeks to identify variables that are worthy of later
exploration through experimental research
Provides guidance for subsequent experimental studies
Neither permits the manipulation of variables
by the researcher
Both attempt to explore causation
Sample Study
“Relationship between percent body fat and
menstrual patterns in athletes and nonathletes”
conducted by Ouellette, MacVicar, and
Harlan.

This study is considered causalcomparative because there are 2 groups
of subject that are formed, the athletes
and non-athletes which serves as the
independent variable, with some several
dependent variables (body fat percentage
and the menstrual cycle).

With hypothesis concerning why the 2
compared groups differ on those variable.
It is also evident when viewing the
variables, independent variables had
occurred before the researcher
conducted the study.

There are no manipulations done by the
researcher. The basic design is ex-post
facto wherein the researcher selected
two groups that differ on a particular
variable of interests and comparing them
on other variables without manipulations.
The researcher did not assign people to
be athletes or not, they just used their
present lifestyle.

Selection of the sample of individuals to be
studied was done by carefully identifying the
characteristics of the group. The sample used
on this study was composed of a 54
collegiate athletes aged 18-22 years old. On
the other hand, the non-athlete group was
composed of 52 nursing student ages 18-22.
The study lacks participants because it may
not be considered representative of the
majority. As well as some studies state that
menstrual cycle for women under 25 years
are unvarying.

The participants used monthly health
calendars to report for their monthly
menstrual cycle. As well as sell-report was
done by the participants to give the
researcher the information about their
physical activity. Skin-fold thickness and
weight was measured monthly at the
athletes subject’s training facility.
REFERENCES:
Fraenklen, J. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education. (8th ed., pp. 365 - 391)
Knapp, T. (1998). Quantitative nursing research. (pp. 86-97). Sage Publications, Inc.
Mertens, D. (2010). Research and evaluation on education and psychology. (3rd ed., pp. 151-161).
Polit, D. (2008). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. (8th ed.).
Powers, B. (2011). Dictionary of nursing theory and research. (4th ed.). Springer Publishing
Company.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/amethyst212/causal-comparative-n-survey
(n.d.). Causal comparative and correlational research. Retrieved from
http://www.hci.sg/admin/uwa/MEd7_8633/Causal-comparative_research.pdf
Causal-Comparative
By: Emerson V. Castillo, R.N.