Experimental research

Definition

Experimental research is a scientific method that involves manipulating one variable to determine if it causes a change in another variable. This approach allows researchers to establish cause-and-effect relationships by controlling conditions and systematically testing hypotheses. It often involves the use of control and experimental groups to isolate the effect of the independent variable, ensuring the validity and reliability of results.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Experimental research typically requires random assignment of participants to control and experimental groups to reduce bias and ensure equivalency.
2. This type of research can be conducted in various settings, including laboratories, field experiments, or even online platforms, depending on the nature of the study.
3. Researchers often use statistical analysis to interpret data from experimental research, which helps to confirm or reject hypotheses based on observed outcomes.
4. Experimental research can provide strong evidence for causality, unlike correlational studies, which only identify relationships between variables without proving one causes the other.
5. Ethical considerations are crucial in experimental research, especially when involving human subjects; researchers must obtain informed consent and ensure participant safety.

Review Questions

• How does experimental research differ from observational studies in establishing cause-and-effect relationships?
  • Experimental research differs from observational studies primarily in its ability to manipulate variables and control conditions. While observational studies simply observe and record behaviors or outcomes without interference, experimental research actively tests hypotheses by changing one variable to see its effect on another. This manipulation allows researchers to draw stronger conclusions about causality because they can isolate factors and account for external influences.
• Discuss the importance of random assignment in experimental research and how it contributes to the validity of study results.
  • Random assignment is vital in experimental research as it ensures that participants are allocated to different groups purely by chance, which helps minimize selection bias. This process increases the likelihood that groups will be equivalent at the start of the experiment concerning other variables. As a result, any differences observed between groups after treatment can be attributed more confidently to the manipulation of the independent variable rather than pre-existing differences among participants.
• Evaluate the ethical implications associated with conducting experimental research involving human subjects and propose strategies to address these concerns.
  • Conducting experimental research with human subjects raises several ethical implications, such as ensuring informed consent, protecting participant confidentiality, and minimizing harm. Researchers must prioritize participant safety and welfare throughout their studies. Strategies to address these concerns include obtaining ethical approval from institutional review boards (IRBs), providing clear information about the study's purpose and procedures, and offering participants the right to withdraw at any time without penalty. Additionally, debriefing participants after the study can help alleviate any potential distress caused by participation.

Related terms

Independent Variable: The variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effects on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable: The variable that is measured in an experiment, which is expected to change as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable.

Control Group: A group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment and is used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested subjects do.