"A quasi-experimental design is one that looks a bit like an experimental design but lacks the key ingredient -- random assignment." see http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/quasiexp.php
I think it has to do with the quasi you cannot randomly assign people to groups and cannot infer causality. With correlational you are simply examine the relationship between two nominal variables.
To make an experiment more valid, ensure that the sample size is representative of the population, use random assignment to assign participants to groups, and control for any confounding variables that could impact the results.
variables and enviornment conditions are controlled
Confounding variables in the Stanford prison experiment could include the psychological characteristics of the participants, such as pre-existing attitudes towards authority or aggression. Additionally, the specific conditions in which the experiment took place, such as the lack of oversight and the power dynamics between the guards and prisoners, could also be considered confounding variables that influenced the outcomes of the study.
The common element of a well-designed experiment is a clear research question or hypothesis, a control group for comparison, random assignment of participants to groups, and proper data collection and analysis techniques.
A valid experiment is characterized by a clear hypothesis, a control group for comparison, random assignment of participants, and the ability to replicate the results. It should also have ethical considerations and controls in place to minimize bias and confounding variables.
Participants can be assigned to groups using random assignment, where each individual has an equal chance of being placed in any group, or through matched assignment, where participants are matched on key variables before being assigned to groups. Other methods include stratified random assignment, where participants are grouped based on specific characteristics before random assignment, and block randomization, where participants are assigned to groups in blocks to ensure equal group sizes.
Two conditions that students keep constant in an experiment are the control variables (variables that are not changed) and the initial conditions (starting point of the experiment). These conditions ensure that any observed effects are due to the independent variable being tested.
Experimental research methods, such as randomized controlled trials, are designed to establish cause and effect relationships by manipulating one or more variables and observing the effect on another variable. These methods involve random assignment of participants to different conditions to ensure that any observed effects can be attributed to the manipulation of the independent variable. Longitudinal studies that track changes over time can also provide evidence of cause and effect relationships, although they may be subject to confounding variables.
The independent variable is the amount or type of exercise that the participants engage in. The dependent variable is the participants' weight measurements.
To improve the validity of an experiment, ensure that the experiment is well-designed with controlled variables to isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. Use random sampling to select participants and random assignment to groups to minimize bias. Additionally, replicate the experiment to confirm results and gather more data for robust conclusions. Finally, ensure that measurement tools and methods are reliable and valid for assessing the outcomes.
data