Question

Arrange the following designs with respect to hypothesis test/cause-effect relationship (least to highest):
(A) Experimental designs
(B) Exploratory qualitative designs
(C) Longitudinal designs
(D) Cross-sectional quantitative designs

• A. (A), (B), (C), (D)
• B. (B), (D), (C), (A)
• C. (B), (C), (D), (A)
• D. (C), (B), (D), (A)

Hint:

Experimental designs are best for establishing cause-effect relationships due to controlled conditions, while exploratory qualitative designs are more suited for generating hypotheses.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Research designs are categorized by their rigor for hypothesis testing and cause-effect determination, progressing from least to most structured:

• Exploratory qualitative designs (B): Least structured; used for initial phenomenon exploration, not hypothesis testing.
• Cross-sectional quantitative designs (D): Capture data at one point for correlation analysis.
• Longitudinal designs (C): Track changes over time to establish temporal order.
• Experimental designs (A): Most rigorous; ideal for hypothesis testing and cause-effect links.