Subject-selection bias always remains a possibility and poses a threat to the internal validity of a study. However, there are drawbacks of causal-comparative research too, such as its inability to manipulate or control an independent variable and the lack of randomization. While raw test scores, assessments and other measures (such as grade point averages) are used as data in this research, sources, standardized tests, structured interviews and surveys are popular research tools. Organismic variables such as age, sex and ethnicity.Achievement and other ability variables.Some common variables investigated in this type of research are: None of the variables can be influenced and cause-effect relationship has to be established with a persuasive logical argument. This data can include differences in opportunities, privileges exclusive to certain groups or developments with respect to gender, race, nationality or ability.įor example, to find out the difference in wages between men and women, researchers have to make a comparative study of wages earned by both genders across various professions, hierarchies and locations. Researchers use causal-comparative research to achieve research goals by comparing two variables that represent two groups. Usually, it’s easier to compare a variable with the known than the unknown.Įxamples Of Causal Comparative Research Variables This is not as common as retrospective causal-comparative research. The researcher initiates a study, beginning with the causes and determined to analyze the effects of a given condition. Prospective Causal Comparative Research.They attempt to determine whether or not a variable influences another variable. Retrospective Causal Comparative Researchįor this type of research, a researcher has to investigate a particular question after the effects have occurred.There are two types of causal-comparative research design. The main purpose of a causal-comparative study is to explore effects, consequences and causes. Independent variables can’t be manipulated.Two or more groups are included as variables.This method tries to identify cause and effect relationships.Let’s look at some characteristics of causal-comparative research: In a causal-comparative design, researchers study cause and effect in retrospect and determine consequences or causes of differences already existing among or between groups of people. Variables can’t be manipulated sometimes, but a link between dependent and independent variables is established and the implications of possible causes are used to draw conclusions. It makes a study descriptive rather than experimental by scrutinizing the relationships among different variables in which the independent variable has already occurred.
It identifies the causes of certain occurrences (or non-occurrences). In a causal-comparative research design, the researcher compares two groups to find out whether the independent variable affected the outcome or the dependent variable.Ī causal-comparative method determines whether one variable has a direct influence on the other and why. Unlike correlation research, this doesn’t rely on relationships. This relationship is usually a suggested relationship because we can’t control an independent variable completely. Examples Of Causal Comparative Research VariablesĬausal-comparative research is a method used to identify the cause–effect relationship between a dependent and independent variable.She realized that causal-comparative research emphasizing physical development in different groups of people would lay a good foundation to establish the product. After carefully analyzing the project requirements, Ritu decided to follow a causal-comparative research design. They demanded that comparative analysis be made the main campaign design strategy. The client wanted a causal-comparative study highlighting the drink’s benefits. Ritu was in charge of marketing a new protein drink about to be launched.