After reading this chapter, you should be able to

6.1 Identify the type of questions that researchers aim to answer using research design.

6.2 Explain three categories of research design: experimental, quasi-experimental, and nonexperimental.

6.3 Define and explain internal and external validity.

6.4 Describe and implement three elements of control required in an experiment, and distinguish between laboratory and field experiments.

6.5 Describe factors that threaten the internal validity of a research study.

6.6 Describe factors that threaten the external validity of a research study.

6.7 Define and explain mundane and experimental realism.