Difference between causal comparative and experimental research design
COMPARISON BETWEEN CAUSAL COMPARATIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL
Causal comparative and experimental research both attempt to establish cause
effect relationship and both involve comparison. But there are difference
between two methods.
In experimental design researcher select a random sample and then randomly
divide the sample into two or more groups. Groups are assigned to the
treatment and the study is carried out.
Causal comparative research attempts to identify a causative relationship between
an independent variable and a dependent variable.
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In causal comparative design individuals are not randomly assigned to
treatment groups because they already were assigned into groups before the
research began. In experimental research the independent variable is
manipulated by the researcher whereas in causal comparative research the
groups are already firmed and already different on the independent variable.
Independent variable in causal comparative cannot be manipulated by the
researcher
Causal comparative research involves comparing two groups in order to explain
existing differences between them on some variables of interest. In causal
comprehensive research the groups being compared have already been formed
and if any treatment (if there was a treatment), it also has already been applied.
Correlational research on the other hand does not look at differences between
groups. Rather it looks for relationship within a single group.
Causal comparative research compares groups but the correlational research looks
at one group having nothing to do with establishing evidence of causality.
In correlational research some, independent variable is labelled as predictor
variable but not in causal comparative research.
Both designs differ on the scaling of the independent and/or dependent variables.
Causal comparative researches include at least one categorical variable. The
correlational research includes only quantitative variables. i.e. intelligence,
attitude, age, income, job satisfaction etc.
