After reading this chapter, you should be able to

• „„State the definition of nonexperimental quantitative research.
   
• „„List categorical and quantitative independent variables that cannot be manipulated by a researcher.
   
• „„Evaluate evidence for cause and effect using the three required conditions for cause-and-effect relationships.
   
• „„Explain the “third-variable problem.”
   
• „„List and briefly describe the three major techniques of control that are used in nonexperimental research.
   
• „„Compare and contrast cross-sectional research, longitudinal research, and retrospective research.
   
• „„Compare and contrast the two types of longitudinal research.
   
• „„Identify descriptive research studies, predictive research studies, and explanatory research studies when examining published research.
   
• „„Explain the difference between a direct effect and an indirect effect in causal modeling.
   
• „„Draw the typology of nonexperimental quantitative research formed by crossing the time dimension with the research objective dimension.