Key points at a glance
- Describe how groups were formed.
- Measure baseline differences.
- Limit causal conclusions.
Understand the missing random assignment
In a quasi-experiment, existing classes or time periods may determine the condition. Researchers do not randomly allocate participants. Groups may therefore differ before the intervention. State exactly who encountered which condition and when.
Build a fair comparison
Example: Two existing seminar groups receive different feedback. Measure prior experience and baseline performance and keep teaching time and assessment as similar as possible. Pre/post measures help but do not create random assignment.
Address competing explanations
List possible differences in motivation, instructor and timetable. Measure or adjust for what you can. Statistical adjustment can address observed differences; it cannot remove unknown confounders.
Match claims to the design
Report observed change and plausible alternatives. Avoid saying the intervention certainly caused an effect when selection or external events remain possible. Check ethics, consent and university rules before collecting data.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Group formation described.
- Baseline recorded.
- Confounders considered.
- Causal language restrained.
Common mistakes
- Calling existing groups randomized.
- Comparing only final scores.
- Treating adjustment as proof of causality.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a control group?
A comparison helps interpretation; the form depends on the question and feasibility.
Is pre/post measurement enough?
It can be part of the design, but without a suitable comparison many explanations remain.
Can I make causal claims?
Only cautiously, with clear assumptions and limitations.