A true experimental design differs from a quasi-experimental design in terms of the _____.
A) random assignment of participants to conditions
B) manipulation of independent variables
C) comparisons between or among groups
D) systematic factors related to conditions

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The random assignment of participants to conditions is a key characteristic of a true experimental design that distinguishes it from a quasi-experimental design. In a true experiment, participants are randomly assigned to different conditions, allowing for causal inferences to be made about the effects of the independent variable. In a quasi-experimental design, participants are not randomly assigned, which limits the ability to draw causal conclusions. While both true experimental and quasi-experimental designs involve the manipulation of independent variables and comparisons between groups, it is the random assignment that distinguishes the two types of designs. The answer is therefore A) random assignment of participants to conditions.

A True Experimental Design Differs from a Quasi-Experimental Design in Terms