Require that the researcher actively

intervenes to bring about the

desired effect
Test cause-and-effect relationships
Provide level II and III evidence

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Three criteria are needed to infer

causality:
1. The causal (independent) and
effect (dependent) variables
must be associated with each
other
2. The cause must precede the
effect
3. The relationship must not be
explainable by another variable
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Three properties:
Randomization
Control
Manipulation
A research study using a true
experimental design is commonly called a
randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Each subject in the

study has an equal
chance of being
assigned to the
control group or the
experimental group
R R
O1
Assumes that any
O2
important
intervening variable
will be equally
R R
O1
distributed between
O2
the groups
minimizing variance
and decreasing
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.
selection
bias

Introducing one or
more constants
into the
experimental
situation
Acquired by:
Manipulating the
independent
variable
Randomly
assignment
Using a control
group
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Doing something to at least some

of the subjects
The independent variable is
manipulated when some subjects
(experimental group) receive the
intervention and others (control
group) do not

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Use experimental and control groups

Have a very specific sampling plan,
using inclusion and exclusion
criteria
Intervention fidelity ensures that
every subject receiving the
intervention receives the identical
intervention

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Use statistical comparisons to

determine any differences
between groups
Sample size is importanttoo large
wastes time, resources, and
money; too small may lead to
inaccurate results

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

If sample size is too small,

differences may not be detected,
resulting in a
type II error
Determining the right sample size
is called a power analysis
Researchers should provide
information that the sample size
was adequate
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Classic RCTs usually follow these

steps:
1. Representative sample is recruited
from the population of interest
2. Demographics and measurement of
the variables of interest
(dependent variables) are collected
BEFORE the intervention

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Classic RCTs usually follow these

stepscontd:
3. Participants are randomized to the
experimental or control group
4. Measurement of the variables of
interest (dependent variables) are
collected to assess the effect of the
intervention

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

RCT is a strong design for testing

cause-and-effect relationships
Other Experimental Designs
Solomon Four Group
After-Only

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Subjects randomly assigned to four

groups: experimental, control,
experimental after group, and
control after group
The experimental after group and
control after group receive no
pretest, only posttests
Controls for testing effects that are a
threat to internal validity
More expensive because it requires a
larger sample
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Posttest only control group design

Randomly assigned experimental
and control groups, but neither is
pretested or measured
Particularly useful when testing
effects are suspected to be a
potential major threat to internal
validity

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Most powerful for testing cause-andeffect relationships owing to the

use of control, manipulation, and
randomization

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

May be complicated to design and

expensive to conduct
May be difficult or impractical for
certain clinical settings or because
of ethical considerations

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Also test cause-and-effect

relationships
Randomization may not be possible,
or there may not be a control group
Lack of control makes evidence
provided by quasi-experimental
designs less convincing
Provide level III evidence
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Nonequivalent control group design

Experimental and control group but no
randomization
Threats to internal validity include
selection, maturation, testing, and
mortality
Results of the study still relatively
strong because the researcher is able
to compare the two groups on
antecedent variables before the
intervention
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Randomization is not used and makes

the assumption that the
experimental and control groups
are equivalent before the
introduction of the independent
variable
Confidence in the findings depends
on the integrity of this assumption
that the two groups are comparable
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Used when only one group is

available for study
Only an experimental group, and data
are collected before and after an
experimental treatment
No control group, no randomization

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Design is useful for determining

trends over time
Data are collected multiple times
before the intervention to
establish a baseline
Data are then collected multiple
times afterward to determine a
change from baseline
Testing, maturation, and selection
are all potential threats
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Practical, less expensive, and

sometimes the only feasible
alternative because these designs
are more adaptable to real-world
settings
Replication of a study can strengthen
evidence
Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Unable to demonstrate clear causeand-effect relationships

Mosby items and derived items 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.