Causal

COMPARATIVE
RESEARCH
By: RAINE P. RAMOS

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

MINI QUIZ: TRUE or FALSE
1.

Causal Comparative Research studies determine to identify the

cause-effect relationships.

2.

Causal Comparative typically involve two or more groups and

one independent variable.

3.

Causal Comparative involves one group and one independent

value.

4.

The independent variable can be manipulated.

5.

Each group in a casual comparative study represents a different

population.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

MINI QUIZ: TRUE or FALSE
6.

There are two types of causal-comparative research.

7.

Lack of randomization and manipulation to the variables are

the weakness of Causal Comparative.

8.

Less expensive/costly and time consuming.

9.

Interpretation of the findings requires considerable caution

because the cause may be the effect and the effect may be the
cause.

10. Also

called ex post facto.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

ANSWERS:
1.

TRUE

2.

TRUE

3.

FALSE

4.

FALSE

5.

TRUE

WHAT IS CAUSAL COMPARATIVE

RESEARCH?
Also

known as ex post facto research

(Latin for after the fact).

In

this type of research investigators

attempt to determine the cause or
consequences of differences that already
exist between or among groups of
individuals.

IN OTHER WORDS

Causal-comparative

research is an attempt
to identify a causative relationship
between an independent variable and a
dependent variable.

The

relationship between the independent

variable and dependent variable is usually a
suggested relationship (not proven) because
you (the researcher) do not have complete
control over the independent variable.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

THE AIM

Determine the cause of

existing differences among
groups.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

At

least two different groups are compared on a

dependent variable or measure performance
(called the effect) because the independent
variable (called the cause) has already occurred
or cannot be manipulated.

Dependent variable the change or difference

occurring as a result of the independent variable.

Independent variable an activity of

characteristic believed to make a difference with
respect to some behavior.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

The researcher attempts to determine the cause, or

reason, for pre existing differences in group of
individuals.

Attempts to identify cause and effect relationships.

Involve two or more group variables.

Involve making comparisons.

Individuals are not randomly selected and assigned to

two or more groups.

Cannot manipulate the independent variables.

Less costly and time consuming.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

STEPS TAKEN

1. Problem
2. Sample
3. Design and
Procedure
4. Data
Analysis

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

EXAMPLE: The Relationship between Years of Experience and Job
Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design

Hypothesis

Alternative Teachers with a high level experience will be more satisfied

with their jobs than teachers with low levels experience.

Null Teachers with a high level of experience will be equally satisfied

with their jobs when compared to teachers with low levels of
experience.

Variables

Dependent Job satisfaction

Independent Years of satisfaction

Two levels (high & low)

Exists naturally in the population of teachers at the start of study.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

EXAMPLE: The Relationship between Years of Experience and Job
Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design (cont.)

Sample

Two groups sampled, one for each level of independent variable

High experience

Low experience

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

EXAMPLE: The Relationship between Years of Experience and Job
Satisfaction
Causall Comparative Design (cont.)

Design and Procedure

Select two groups that differ on some independent variable.

One group possesses some characteristic that the other does not.

Each group possesses the characteristic but in differing amount.

The independent variable must be clearly operationally defined.

* Randomly sample subjects from each of the two groups

Collect background information on subjects to determine the equality

of the groups.

Compare groups on the dependent variable.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

EXAMPLE: The Relationship between Years of Experience and Job
Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design (cont.)

Design and Procedure

Control of Extraneous Variable

What other variable besides years of experience could explain job

satisfaction among teachers?

Matching: Each subject in the high experience group is matched with

a subject with a low experience group along the variable of class size.

Each high experience teacher who teaches a large class is matched

with a low experience teacher who teaches a large class.

Each high experience teacher who teaches a small class is matched

with a low experience teacher who teaches a small class.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

EXAMPLE: The Relationship between Years of Experience and Job
Satisfaction
Causal Comparative Design (cont.)

Data Analysis

Mean job satisfaction ratings for High Experience and Low

Experience subjects are compared using t-test, ANOVA or other
appropriate statistical test.

Rejection of the null hypothesis supports the alternative hypothesis

that years of experience result in increased job satisfaction.

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

MORE EXAMPLES OF CAUSAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

A researcher measured the mathematical reasoning ability of

young children who had enrolled in Montessori schools
compared the scores with a group of similar children who had
not been to Montessori schools.

A researcher measured the frequency students misbehavior at

schools which use corporal punishment and compared that to
schools which did not use corporal punishment.

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