Experimental Research Methods

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OK. This is more complex. Make sure you grasp the matched groups design idea, since it is fairly complex. Just consider the fact that one independent variable might explain our dependent variable and hence, the city's fortunes itself do not affect attitudes and crime.

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Experimental Research Methods - Discussion part 1
With your hypothetical research questions in mind, select one of the between-subjects methods from the text (randomized two-group design, randomized multigroup design, matched-groups design, matched pairs design, or the matched-multigroup design), and discuss why you believe this method would be best to use. Provide a detailed description of how you would use this method in your study, and include a brief discussion of how you would handle the problem of error- variance. If a between-subjects design would not be adaptable to your study, explain why it would not. Could the study be altered to make it work?

While the use of most of these is questionable, all have advantages and disadvantages. I see the matched-group as the main model that can enhance our design. The essential concept is fairly complex, as is its rationale. The matched group uses randomization and control to minimize bias in the design. Matched group designs isolate the independent variable (that is, the causal variable) at issue relative to the environment of the respondent. The point is to control for differences in overall urban attitudes caused by high growth or steep decline (in our specific experiment).
We have a dependent variable, that which is explained by the independent ones: it is the presence of alienation, or anomie, among residents of inner city Detroit now that the city has been humiliated on the global stage due to its bankruptcy and corruption. The variable here that best captures anomie is rates of crime. Hence, this is not a merely subjective measure.
It is uncontroversial that anomie is tightly bound with crime, so this itself is not an issue. This will be compared to two American cities that are doing extremely well in nearly all areas, Irvine CA and Charlotte, NC. Of course, we argue that anomie is prevalent in Detroit far more so than in the other two cities, but also that this anomie is connected with family breakdown, and hence is actually a cause of poverty, rather than the result.

Our independent variables are: Rates of divorce, school dropout rates, and unemployment.
Control variables: Irvine, Detroit and Charlotte are very different. Control variables are needed, and the marched group ...