After you have successfully completed this unit, you will be able to:
• Define nonexperimental research and distinguish it clearly from experimental research
• Explain when a researcher might choose to conduct nonexperimental research as opposed to experimental research
• Define correlations
• Graph scatter diagrams
• Identify when correlations are inappropriate
• Identify the advantages of correlational research
• Identify the limitations of correlational research
• Describe naturalistic observation
• Identify the advantages and limitations of naturalistic observation
• Describe case studies
• Identify the advantages and limitations of case studies
• Describe survey research
• Identify the advantages and limitations of survey research
• Describe archival research
• Identify the advantages and limitations of archival research
• Define quasi-experimental research
• Identify the advantages and limitations of quasi-experimental research
• Define cross‐sectional research
• Describe the advantages and limitations of cross‐sectional research
• Define longitudinal research
• Describe the advantages and limitations of longitudinal research
• Describe common threats to internal validity, including selection, history, maturation, regression to the mean, instrumentation, and testing
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