While it is difficult to establish cause-and-effect relationships conclusively with any research design, laboratory experiments offer the greatest potential for inferring causal relationships. This is due to their careful control of experimental conditions, and to the practice of randomisation ensuring that groups are equivalent in composition. To infer causation, a researcher needs to be able to eliminate alternative explanations.
In experimental research, some of the main alternative explanations are:
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Selection effect. If participants can select their own treatment condition (experimental or control), groups will not be equivalent. Randomisation addresses this alternative explanation.
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Maturation. Any naturally occurring process within persons that could account for the observed change.
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History. Any event to which subjects are exposed around the time of the experiment, which could account for observed differences between subjects.
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Instrumentation. Any change in measurement instrument or procedures from one application of a treatment to another.
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Mortality. Participants dropping out from a study.
Answers & Comments
Answer:
Inferring causation in experimental research
While it is difficult to establish cause-and-effect relationships conclusively with any research design, laboratory experiments offer the greatest potential for inferring causal relationships. This is due to their careful control of experimental conditions, and to the practice of randomisation ensuring that groups are equivalent in composition. To infer causation, a researcher needs to be able to eliminate alternative explanations.
In experimental research, some of the main alternative explanations are:
▪
Selection effect. If participants can select their own treatment condition (experimental or control), groups will not be equivalent. Randomisation addresses this alternative explanation.
▪
Maturation. Any naturally occurring process within persons that could account for the observed change.
▪
History. Any event to which subjects are exposed around the time of the experiment, which could account for observed differences between subjects.
▪
Instrumentation. Any change in measurement instrument or procedures from one application of a treatment to another.
▪
Mortality. Participants dropping out from a study.
Explanation:
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