discussion

We begin with experimental methods and the power of these methods for establishing cause and effect relationships. You get the opportunity to examine experimental methods in more details.

Note: For your research proposal, you will be asked to identify a specific method. For the next you will learn more about the various methods in detail. As you formulate your proposal, use the activities during these weeks to determine whether the method used that week will be the best fit for your proposal. As you determine fit, bear in mind the trade-offs for sampling, measurement, and determining cause-and-effect relationships.

Instructions

Select 2 research articles related to the area of interest for your research proposal that utilize an experimental method.

In the Discussion area

Present the following for each article:

APA reference (this gives you practice with APA reference citations)

Type of experimental design (Between, Within, or Mixed);

How participants were assigned to conditions?

How did they manage threats to external and internal validity (if at all)?

Describe how the study may help you develop your own research project either methodologically or in terms of your question/hypothesis.

In summary, for this assignment, the skills that you are going to practice are: 1) Find, 2) Describe, and 3) Apply.