Question

As you are sifting through evidence, you must discern the level and value of the evidence. On a continuum of natural to highly controlled settings, put these studies in order beginning with the least controlled setting. Explain your rationale. a. Experimental study conducted in a laboratory in a psychology research center on a university campus b. Grounded theory study conducted in participants’ homes c. Quasi-experimental study in an outpatient clinic after the clinic was closed d. Descriptive comparative study using a mailed survey

Answer 1

The following are the studies arranged from least controlled setting to high control:

1. Descriptive comparative study using a mailed survey - The descriptive comparative study includes two variable to compare the quality or application of one over another. This is the least controlled study as mail survey does not have good control over data collection on time and data integrity might be compromised.

2. Quasi-experimental study in an outpatient clinic after the clinic was closed - The Quasi-experimental study to estimate the impact or cause is done but in this case it is done passively on the out patient and at after clinic hours suggest low importance and low control over the study focus and timeline.

3. Grounded theory study conducted in participants’ homes - Grounded theory is a qualitative research and is a systematic research that worked through data collection by interviews, etc and no significant amount of scientific experimental and control is involved

4. Experimental study conducted in a laboratory in a psychology research center on a university campus - Experimental study conducted at the university is a quantitative research done in a scientifically structured manner. A quantitative research as higher control over qualitative research due to more scientific objectives, focus, data analysis and acceptance. therefore the experimental study has the highest control among the given study and is arranged at the last due to its high control setting.