One-group pretest-posttest design
There is only one group of participants who will be exposed to a treatment. Participants are tested
before and after the treatment. In some way, this design is similar to action research where a teacher
researcher aims to improve student learning by implementing some activities believed to help address a
problem. Their pretest and posttest scores will be compared to evaluate whether there is a significant
gain.
One-group posttest-only design
In the one-group posttest-only design, there is no measure of participants’ dependent variable of
interest. After an experimental treatment, participants are given a posttest and the scores are checked. If
high-test scores are achieved, on the basis of the design, it is difficult to assume that they resulted from
the treatment alone because there is no comparison of test scores with scores achieved before the
treatment, and there are no comparison group scores to compare the posttest scores to.
Single-case designs
Single-case designs, also known as single-subject or N-of-1 designs, are research designs used to
study the behavior or outcomes of an individual or a small group of individuals. These designs
are particularly useful when researchers want to investigate the effects of an intervention or
treatment on a specific person or a very small sample. Single-case designs offer a way to explore
causal relationships and assess the effectiveness of interventions with a high degree of control
over individual variability.
Single-Case Design Example: Imagine a student struggling with completing homework
assignments. A teacher first observes and records how long it takes the student to finish
homework each day (baseline phase). Then, the teacher introduces a reward system for
completing assignments promptly (intervention phase). The teacher continues to monitor the
time taken to complete homework. If the student's performance improves, it suggests the
intervention may be effective; if it declines, it raises questions about its effectiveness.
Post-test-only control group design:
The posttest-only control group design is a type of experimental research design used to
evaluate the effects of an intervention or treatment on a group of participants. In this design,
participants are randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group.
Example: Suppose researchers are testing a new study technique to improve students' exam
performance. Participants are randomly assigned to two groups: the treatment group, which
receives the new study technique, and the control group, which uses the traditional study
method. After a set study period, both groups take the same exam. The posttest scores are then
compared to determine if the new study technique led to better exam performance compared
to the traditional method.
Pretest-posttest control-group designs
The pretest-posttest control group design is a type of experimental research design commonly
used to assess the effectiveness of an intervention or treatment. This design involves two
groups: a treatment group that receives the intervention and a control group that does not.
Both groups are assessed twice, once before the intervention (pretest) and once after the
intervention (posttest).
Example: Imagine a study evaluating the effectiveness of a new teaching method to improve
reading skills. Participants are randomly assigned to either the treatment group, which receives
the new teaching method, or the control group, which continues with the traditional teaching
method. Both groups are assessed on their reading skills before the intervention (pretest). Then,
the treatment group experiences the new teaching method, while the control group maintains
the status quo. Finally, both groups are assessed again on their reading skills after the
intervention (posttest). The pretest-posttest control group design allows researchers to compare
changes in reading skills between the two groups, providing insights into the effectiveness of
the new teaching method.
Randomized matched subject, pretest–posttest control-group design
The randomized matched-subject, pretest–posttest control-group design is a sophisticated
experimental research design that combines randomization with the matching of participants
based on certain characteristics. This design aims to increase the precision of group
comparisons and control for potential confounding variables.
Example: Consider a study examining the impact of a new stress reduction program on
individuals' well-being. Participants are first matched based on their initial stress levels,
personality traits, and demographic factors. After matching, they are randomly assigned to
either the treatment group, which undergoes the stress reduction program, or the control
group, which does not. Both groups are measured on well-being before and after the
intervention. The combination of random assignment and matching helps control for potential
confounding variables, allowing researchers to attribute any observed changes to the stress
reduction program.
Factorial designs
Factorial designs are a type of experimental design used in research to study the effects of two
or more independent variables simultaneously. These designs allow researchers to examine not
only the main effects of each independent variable but also the interactions between them
Example: Consider a study examining the effects of two factors: type of teaching method (A)
and time of day (B) on students' test scores. The design might be a 2x2 factorial design, where
Factor A has two levels (traditional teaching vs. interactive teaching) and Factor B has two levels
(morning vs. afternoon). The four cells represent the combinations of these levels, and
researchers can assess main effects and interactions to understand how teaching method and
time of day jointly influence test scores.
Repeated-measures design
A repeated-measures design, also known as a within-subjects design, is a type of experimental
or observational research design where each participant is exposed to all conditions or levels of
the independent variable. In this design, the same group of participants is measured on multiple
occasions or under different experimental conditions.
Example: Suppose researchers want to investigate the effect of different types of exercise on
individuals' mood. In a repeated-measures design, the same group of participants would be
asked to engage in three types of exercises (e.g., jogging, yoga, weightlifting) on separate
occasions. The order of the exercises is counterbalanced, and participants' mood is measured
after each exercise session. This design allows researchers to assess how each individual's mood
changes across the different types of exercise while controlling for individual differences.
Pretest-Posttest non-randomized control-group designs
A pretest-posttest non-randomized control-group design is a type of research design that lacks
random assignment of participants to groups. In this design, participants are not randomly
assigned to either the treatment or control group, and both groups are measured on a
dependent variable both before and after the treatment or intervention.
Example: Imagine a study assessing the effectiveness of a stress management workshop.
Participants who voluntarily sign up for the workshop constitute the treatment group, and
individuals who choose not to attend or are unavailable serve as the control group. Both groups
are assessed for stress levels before the workshop (pretest) and after the workshop (posttest).
The lack of random assignment introduces the possibility of differences between the groups at
the outset, and researchers must carefully consider alternative explanations for any observed
effects.
One-group or control-group time-series designs
One-group or control-group time-series designs are research designs used to study the effects
of an intervention or treatment over a period of time. These designs involve the repeated
measurement of a dependent variable before, during, and after the implementation of an
intervention. There are two main types: one-group time-series design and control-group time-
series design.
One-Group Time-Series Design:
1. Single Group: Participants are measured multiple times before, during, and after the
intervention, creating a time series of data points.
2. Intervention Period: The intervention is introduced, and researchers observe changes in
the dependent variable over time.
3. Example: Suppose a school implements a new reading program, and researchers collect
reading scores from students every month for a year. The time-series design helps assess
whether changes in reading scores coincide with the introduction of the new program.
Control-Group Time-Series Design:
Two Groups: This design involves both a treatment group and a control group.
Baseline Measurement: Both groups are measured before the intervention begins to establish
baseline data
Intervention Period: The treatment group receives the intervention, while the control group
does not.
Post-Intervention Measurements: Both groups are measured over time to assess changes in the
dependent variable.
Example: In a healthcare setting, researchers may introduce a new medical treatment to one
group of patients while another group receives the standard treatment. Health outcomes are
measured regularly to determine if the new treatment leads to improvements compared to the
standard treatment.
