Experimental research is a method of research in which a researcher manipulates one or more variables and measures the effects of these manipulations on other variables. This type of research is used to determine cause and effect relationships between variables, making it a valuable tool for understanding natural phenomena. The primary goal of experimental research is to test hypotheses and help generate new theories. This article will provide an overview of the different types of experimental research, the advantages and disadvantages of this type of research, and the steps involved in conducting an experiment.
Types of Experimental Research
Experimental research can be divided into three main categories: laboratory experiments, field experiments, and quasi-experiments. Laboratory experiments are conducted in a controlled environment, such as a laboratory, and can be used to test hypotheses about cause and effect relationships between variables. Field experiments are conducted in real-world settings and can be used to measure the effects of changes in the environment on behavior. Quasi-experiments are experiments in which the researcher does not have control over all the variables and must use an outside source to measure the effects of the variables.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Experimental Research
Experimental research has several advantages. It allows researchers to test hypotheses and generate new theories. It also provides a method of measuring the impact of changing variables on other variables. Finally, experimental research enables the researcher to control the environment and eliminate confounding variables.
However, experimental research also has several disadvantages. It can be expensive and time-consuming to conduct experiments. It is also difficult to replicate experimental results, as the same conditions are rarely replicated in different experiments. In addition, experimental research may not be able to capture the complexities of real-world phenomena, as experiments are usually conducted in controlled settings.
Steps Involved in Conducting an Experiment
The steps involved in conducting an experiment are as follows:
1. Formulate a hypothesis: The researcher must first develop a hypothesis about the relationship between two or more variables.
2. Design the experiment: The researcher must then design the experiment to test the hypothesis. This includes selecting the appropriate type of experiment (e.g., laboratory, field, or quasi-experiment), selecting the participants, selecting the variables to be manipulated, and selecting the data-collection methods.
3. Gather data: The researcher must then collect the data needed to test the hypothesis.
4. Analyze the data: The researcher must then analyze the data to determine if the hypothesis has been supported or not.
5. Draw conclusions: Finally, the researcher must draw conclusions about the relationship between the variables and the implications of the results.
Conclusion
Experimental research is a powerful tool for understanding cause and effect relationships between variables. It can be used to generate new theories and test hypotheses. However, it also has several disadvantages, such as the difficulty of replicating results and the inability to capture the complexities of real-world phenomena. Despite these drawbacks, experimental research remains an important tool for scientific inquiry.
References
Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2015). Abnormal psychology: An integrated approach (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Kerlinger, F. N. (1986). Foundations of behavioral research (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
Levine, M. D. (2016). Experimental design and statistics. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.