Question: module 3 dq 2 argument Rachel

In an ideal world, every research study would include strict experimental controls, randomization that perfectly mimics the population of interest, require minimal expense in terms of time, money, and effort, and yield convincing evidence that answers the research questions definitively without causing any harm or distress to the participants of the study. However, within the realm of educational research it is nearly impossible to perform a true experiment where the researcher controls potential confounding variables, manipulates the independent variables, and creates a sample that perfectly represents the population. In fact, Wells, Kolek, Williams, and Saunders (2015) found that only 2.1 % of research published in three of the top educational journals between 2006 and 2010 were from true experiments.

To impose the types of control necessary for a true experiment within educational research might create ethical dilemmas the researcher is unwilling to create or unable to mitigate. Eyisi (2016) asserts that educational researchers must take every precaution to avoid harming the participants in the study. Harm to students in the educational realm can be physical, psychological, or may even be a negative impact on scholastic attainment. When human subjects form the sample, the participant (or their guardian) must consent to participate, be informed of the nature of the research, and any possible consequences for participating in the research. The information disseminated in the consent process can impact the responses of the potential participants in the study. Thus, informed consent can make it difficult to perform randomized assignments to the treatment and control groups in educational research. These ethical considerations impact my own study, which is why I am conducting a non-experimental study within the educational realm.