ABSTRACT
Nonexperimental approaches focus on attribute independent variables. The qualitative nonexperimental approaches or designs consist of phenomenological, grounded theory, ethnographic, case study, and narrative research approaches. The comparative approach differs from the randomized experimental and quasi-experimental approaches because the investigator cannot randomly assign participants to groups and because there is not an active independent variable. The goal of the case-study approach is to develop deep understanding of a case or cases. Ethnography is a research approach which evolved from anthropology and sociology. The goal of studies conducted through the phenomenological approach is to be able to explain the essence of experiences lived by the participants. According to Creswell the narrative research approach explores the life of an individual. Yet some studies conducted with the narrative research approach explore multiple people with shared experiences. The specific purpose of the associational approach includes finding associations, relating variables, and also making predictions from the independent/predictor variables to scores on the dependent/criterion variables.
