Psychology Research
The two articles utilize the quasi-experimental design, which involves manipulating an independent variable without random assignment of participants. In the research articles, the researchers are interested in the variables that cannot handle independent variables that cannot be randomly assigned. Holman and Axtell (2016) focus on examining job redesign interventions and their impact on employee outcomes. Davis et al. (2019), focus on the opioid epidemic with behavioral interventions among adolescents and young adults. The two studies are effective in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of quasi-experimental research design.
The research designs were appropriate for their hypothesis since it helped study the effect of an independent variable when any kind of control cannot be achieved. It is effective in the hypothesis since the variable cannot be manipulated; thus, it is applicable in a true experiment. It is also effective since it applies when randomization is impractical or unethical. The research designs are thus the gold standard for assessing the causal hypothesis. The research designs are also appropriate for the goal and the research question since they effectively prevent random assignment of variables. For instance, Holman and Axtell’s (2016) study aims to examine a multiple mediator-multiple outcome approach in redesigning jobs. One of the best approaches to achieve the goal is a quasi-experimental design. However, this is despite the existing weaknesses of the research design, which the researchers can hardly control.
The major limitation of concluding a non-experimental study is that it cannot easily establish a cause-and-effect relationship. It is also important to note that it cannot manipulate the predictor variables and the methods of the study. The non-experimental study cannot establish how one event leads to change in another variable, which is the effect. Cause-and-effect relationships are important in carrying out research. They help determine how variables affect other factors and how their manipulation can be examined. For instance, in psychology, it is crucial to ensure that the cause occurs before the effect of psychology research studies. Davis et al. (2019) carry out a study demonstrating the value of cause and effect relationships in studying opioids and behavioral interventions among young adults and adolescents.
Researchers also find it hard to conclude non-experimental research because there is no specific research question. Therefore, there is no question to help establish if a causal relationship occurs among the available variables. It is also hard to manipulate the independent variable. It is also difficult to conclude the study since the research is broad and exploratory in nature. Another major weakness of non-experimental research is that the results cannot be absolutely error-free. Therefore, researchers are careful when they make conclusions since the conclusions can be misleading.
The studies did not have a random sample since quasi-experimental research does not have a random assignment. In the quasi-experimental design, random assignment is impossible or difficult to achieve. Therefore, the absence of randomization of the samples limits the study’s ability to conclude that a causal relationship exists between an intervention and an outcome. Another major problem is that using the quasi-experimental design leas to the possibility of confounding bias. The results of the two studies, including Holman and Axtell (2016) an Davis et al. (2019), demonstrate the likelihood of bias. The confounding bias leads to the inability of a study to examine the ability to determine the existence of a causal relationship between the existing variables.
References
Davis, J. P., Prindle, J. J., Eddie, D., Pedersen, E. R., Dumas, T. M., & Christie, N. C. (2019). Addressing the opioid epidemic with behavioral interventions for adolescents and young adults: A quasi-experimental design. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(10), 941.
Holman, D., & Axtell, C. (2016). Can job redesign interventions influence a broad range of employee outcomes by changing multiple job characteristics? A quasi-experimental study. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 21(3), 284.
