This article stresses the importance of controlling extraneous variables when studying educational problems. Various types of research studies are described. The experimental research design, which is ideally suited to detecting causal relationships if proper controls are used, and quasi-experimental procedures, which are employed when true experimental designs cannot be used, are discussed. Threats to internal validity are presented and hypothetical examples are given to illustrate these threats and the means of controlling them. The importance of utilizing control groups is illustrated.
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