What is Experimental Research?

Experimental research is a method that is scientific and systematic and is used for the investigation that aims to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between variables. Experimental research is used to manipulate one variable, which is an independent variable, and observe its effect on another variable, which is the dependent variable. The majority use this type of research in fields like psychology, social science, natural science, and medicine. There is a reason behind this, which is that in these fields that have been aforementioned, researchers can test hypotheses and theses in controlled settings. This is important, as this makes it possible to draw conclusions that are more reliable and valid. The research also takes into account that the conclusion they are providing is not something that is aligned with the research.

Characteristics of Experimental Research

Here are some characteristics that distinguish experimental research from other kinds of research:

It manipulates the variables:

The manipulation of research is the core of experimental research. Manipulation of research is one of the things that can be done in experimental research; rather, it is the most important thing, or you can say, a foundation or pillar of experimental research. It is like the heart of the body of experimental research. It works like this: First, the researcher manipulates a variable in accordance with the research question and then observes the effect of that manipulated independent variable on the dependent variable. In brief, the independent variable is the one that is manipulated, and the dependent variable is the one that is measured. The best way to understand something is to take an example and here is the example: If a researcher takes the topic to study the effectiveness of a new drug, the independent variable could be the drug dosage while the dependent variable might be the response of the patient that has been used to test this experiment.

The control group and experimental group:

There are two groups that are employed in experimental research: the control group and the experimental group. The difference between the control group and experimental group is that both are the same, but the experimental group is the one that has been manipulated for the research, while the control group is the one that gets no manipulation but is treated in the same way throughout the research. The reason behind having these two groups is to compare the difference between the manipulated variable and the non-manipulated variable.

Randomisation in experimental research:

Randomisation is also an important and striking feature of experimental research. This is a good way to mitigate the chances of bias by assigning the participants to different groups with much consideration. Random distribution of participants ensures that the groups are comparable before the experiment starts. There are many factors that can increase the internal validity of the study, so randomisation is very helpful in controlling the extraneous variables. As in randomisation, a researcher does not distribute the participants with a strict checklist because, by doing so, the participants will be of the same type, and many other types can be omitted in the study, which is a big risk of bias.

The replication of experiments in experimental research:

The replication of the research is given value in the experimental research. The replication of experiments is not something preposterous; in fact, it possesses a good value. The researchers replication the experiments due to the fact that if they do so, it ensures that the results they have derived are not due to chance. Experimental research values the replication of experiments to ensure that results are not due to chance. It also assists in verifying the consistency as well as reliability of the results, and it also contributes to the generalisability of the findings.

Control of Extraneous Variables:

Experimental research tries to control or sometimes eliminate extraneous (outside) variables to set off the relationship of cause and effect. Extraneous variables are those other than the independent variables that may influence the dependent variable. If the extraneous variables are controlled effectively by the research, the internal validity of the experiment can be enriched. For the best control, a researcher can make use of holding certain variables constant, matching, and randomisation.

It’s important to note that experimental research is a form of primary research, as it involves collecting original data directly from experiments. A researcher perambulates by making use of these special features and characteristics of experimental research. It ensures the research that the manipulative group and controlled group have differences by clearly showing the differences that can be easily understood by a researcher. After this, by the replication of experiments, a researcher can ensure that the research is valid and not due to chance or any mistake during the research process.

Types of Experimental Research

There is a plethora of sorts of experimental research, and each possesses its own significant, distinctive features. Secondary research, which relies on existing sources like literature reviews, meta-analyses, or previously published findings. A researcher needs to be sapient to choose the perfect design based on the research question you have selected, the resources available for the research, and the degree of control the researcher can exercise over the variables.

Laboratory Experiment:

A laboratory experiment, as depicted by the name, is a kind of experiment that is done in a lab. Laboratory research is something that is conducted in a controlled environment where variables cannot be affected by outside variables. In a laboratory experiment, the experiment is conducted in an indoor environment where the researcher can easily manipulate the independent variable and control other factors. There is a precise control of the researcher over outside variables, which is a good thing, but it also has the drawback that it may lack ecological validity. It is considered a drawback because there is a peril that artificial settings may inaccurately reflect real-world conditions.

Field Experiment:

A field experiment is the opposite of a laboratory experiment. Where a laboratory experiment is conducted in an indoor environment, the field experiment takes place in a neutral setting. The purpose of the field study is for participants to study in their real-life environment. In this type of research, the researcher manipulates the independent variable, but the difference is that there is less control over extraneous (outside) variables than laboratory variables because there is no boundary around the natural or real-life setting. The quality of a field experiment is that it has higher external validity, which means that the results you get from a field experiment are more likely to generalise to real-world situations.

Natural Experiment:

When a researcher takes advantage of naturally occurring events or situations and the ways they affect the population around them, a natural experiment occurs. In this type of experiment, the researcher does not manipulate the independent variables; in fact, the researcher observes the effects of an external factor. There is a drawback of natural experiments that they have lower internal validity. It has the quality that it can provide important insights when experimentation is not feasible.

Quasi-Experiment:

Quasi-experiment can be understood as a mix of controlled experiments and natural experiments. This sort of experiment is where the researcher can manipulate the independent variables, but it lacks control over the assignments to participants to groups. One thing that is different in a quasi-experiment is that it is similar to an experimental design, but participants are not assigned randomly. When a situation occurs where experiment designs are valuable enough to draw causal inferences, they are not ethical or feasible.

The Steps in conducting the experimental research

There have been mentioned some quintessential steps when it comes to experimental research:

Framing a Hypothesis:

The very first step that a sapient researcher should take is identifying a research question to answer in the research dissertation or thesis. A hypothesis is basically a testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables. A hypothesis is a point in which an answer to a logical relationship between two or more variables is explained with evidence. The best way to understand something is by taking an example. A researcher might hypothesise that increased sleep improves cognitive performance.

Designing the Experiment:

The next step to conducting experimental research after formulating a hypothesis is designing the experiment. In this step, a sagacious researcher decides on the independent variable and dependent variable, selects the participants, and at last chooses a type under which the experiment is going to be conducted; it can be a laboratory experiment, a field experiment, a natural experiment, or a quasi-experiment, by taking into account which type of experiment would be the better.

The Selection of the Participants:

To ensure the validity of the study, it is important to select representative participants from the sample. Random sampling is better and more important in the fact that the participants who have been selected randomly are representative of a larger population. It should also be a part of consideration while selecting the participants randomly that the sample size is large enough so that it can easily detect the meaningful differences between groups.

Conducting the Experiment:

In the above three steps, a researcher with the acumen of research has covered all bases. Now this is the step of rolling up your sleeves to conduct the research. The researcher manipulates the independent variables and then observes their effects on the dependent variables. However, the research needs to be sapient here by following ethical guidelines that ensure that the rights and well-being of participants are not affected but are fully protected.

Analysis of the Data:

once the experiment is done, it is very important that the researcher analyse the collected data; otherwise, the entire research may have to go up in flames. It is to determine if the manipulation of the independent variables had a significant effect on the dependent variable. To evaluate the validity and reliability of the findings and ascertain whether the observed effects are statistically significant, statistical methods are used.

Drawing the Conclusions:

After conducting the research and then analysing the data, now is the time to draw a conclusion between the independent and dependent variables of the cause-and-effect relationship. In addition to that, the possible drawbacks are taken into account, as well as it recommends topics for further study.

The Replication:

To confirm the reliability of the findings of the research, researchers should replicate the study by other researchers to ensure that the conclusion is not drawn by mistake. If the conclusion is examined across different contexts and populations, it ensures that the conclusion is likely valid and generalisable.

Advantages of Experimental Research

After discussing the characteristics, types, and steps of conducting experimental research, Experimental research has many advantages; some of which are going to be discussed here.

Establishing the Causality:

A cause-and-effect relationship is the primary strength of experimental research. In a cause-and-effect relationship, the researcher manipulates an independent variable and observes its effects on dependent variables.

Control Over Variables:

In lieu of other research methods, experimental research has good control over variables. The control over variables lessens the influence of confounding variables, which may filter out the findings in studies that are not experimental.

Replicability:

One of the main benefits of experimental research is its quality of replicability. The replicability simply means that other researchers can repeat the study in their study to verify their findings and check if they have not been made by mistakes. Because if there is any mistake in the finding, it can take a toll on the reputation of the researcher. In addition to that, this contributes to the scientific rigour and reliability of experimental research.

Accuracy and Precision:

By experimental research, the exact measurements of variables are made possible. If there is an exact measurement of variables, the findings that are can be produced in regard to connections between them.

Disadvantages of Experimental Research

Experimental is a big field as fields have fences; this field is also circumscribed with some boundaries that a sapient researcher must take into account so that a crop of valid findings can be cultivated.

The Ethical Concerns:

It is important that while doing human research, variables cannot be manipulated, and if a researcher tries to do so, it is unethical. For example, if a researcher does a study on a particular person, group, or kind of animal, in this case, a researcher cannot manipulate life-threatening conditions; it would be inhuman to cause harm to participants for the sake of the study.

Unnatural or Artificial Settings:

When research takes place in an indoor setting instead of a natural setting, there would be an absence of ecological validity, and an unnatural or artificial setting can never reflect real-life situations. This kind of research setting can circumscribe the generalisability of the finding to the population at large.

Convoluateness:

It is a convoluted task to design an experiment that is well-controlled as well as resource-intensive. Designing such a kind of experiment requires meticulous planning and execution. It is also a point of consideration that not every question, the experimental method of research is suitable.

Confined Scope:

It can be a constraint and a quality of experimental research, making its focus always on the specific variables. This characteristic of experimental research is that focusing on specific variables only may limit the ability to address broader or more holistic questions. In addition to that, it is impossible to capture the complexity of real-world phenomena with the artificial manipulation of variables.

Sum-up

In this article, you have read about the experimental research. Experimental research is a valuable tool to set off an effective cause-and-effect relationship between variables. In this article, you get acquainted with the characteristics of experimental research, its sorts, the steps to conduct experimental research, the fruits of it, and the boundaries of experimental research. A researcher who has rolled up their sleeves to conduct research in the experimental method should be equipped with the above-mentioned points. But it is not enough; still, there are a number of students who are afraid of writing a research paper because they think their own written assignment cannot earn them high grades. In that case, students can take a research paper writing service. The professionals who work in the team of these services provide you with every help that you require to ace your research paper, they can deliver your research paper on time as well as provide you with tailored assistance.