1 Designing A Study Adapted from The Research Methods Knowledge Base, William Trochim (2006). & Methods for Social Researchers in Developing Counries, The Ahfad University for Women & Online Statistics Education: A Multimedia Course of Study, David M. Lane, Rice University.

2 Agenda Introduction Types of Designs Experimental Design Quasi-experimental Design 2

3 Introduction Research design –A plan for providing a sound, possibly conclusive answer to your research question –Varies greatly depending on research question and methods of data collection Elements of a research design –Observations/measures –Treatment/program –Groups –Assignment to group –Time

4 Types of Design 4

5 Experimental Designs The most “rigorous” of all research designs –To assess whether there is a causal relationship between the program and outcome –Need to setup control group and treatment group to observe the outcome –Example: Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) 5

6 Quasi-experimental Designs Same as an experimental design but lacks random assignment –Non-equivalent group design: use of 2 intact groups we think are similar as treatment and control  Use simple difference –Regression-discontinuity design: participants are assigned to treatment/control group based on a pre-specified cutoff score 6

7 Regression-discontinuity design 7