This session is to introduce students to experiments and quasi-experiments. By presenting a number of experimental designs, this session offers insights into the understanding of experimental design, its advantages and disadvantage, and how to carry out experiments step by step.

Key Questions:

Why conduct experiments in real-world educational settings? And how to?

1. When do we need to carry out an experiment?
2. How to select variables, and measure the effects of independent variables on dependent variables?
3. Are randomized controlled trial (RCT) the “gold standard” of research designs?
4. Will quasi-experiments be good enough?

Share your Experiments here~~

Readings:

Bryman, A (2008), Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press, Third Edition. Chapter14 (Quantitative Data Analysis)

 Robson, C (2011). Real World Research. Wiley-Blackwell, Third Edition. Chapter 5 Fixed Designs

Johnson, B & Larry Christensen, L.B. (2010), Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches. Sage Publications, Fourth Edition. Chapter 11 Experimental Research, and  Chapter 12 Quasi-Experimental and Single-Case Designs

Please click on here to reflect on what you have learned from this session.

Pygmalion Experiment Discussion Board