A researcher introduces a new phonics program in one preschool and uses a neighboring preschool as a no-treatment control group. After the program is in place for one academic year, the researcher intends to evaluate the reading skills of the students in both preschools and then compare their scores. This research cannot be classified as a true experiment because ____.
A) the treatment is administered to only one group
B) there is no pretest to determine mathematics ability before the program
C) the researcher does not control the assignment of participants to groups
D) it is not conducted in a laboratory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A true experiment requires that the researcher control the assignment of participants to groups in order to ensure that any observed differences in outcomes are attributable to the treatment group receiving the intervention, rather than any pre-existing differences between the groups. In this case, the researcher is not controlling the assignment and therefore cannot make a causal claim regarding the effectiveness of the phonics program.

A Researcher Introduces a New Phonics Program in One Preschool