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What is Experimental Research?

Experimental research that uses two categories of factors and a scientific methodology is called experimental research. You use the first set as a reference point to calculate the variations between the second set. For example, quantitative research techniques include experimentation.

An experimental method of research involves manipulating and applying one or more independent variables to one or more dependent variables to determine the impact of the former on the latter. To help researchers come to a rational conclusion about the link between these two variable types, the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variables is often monitored and documented over some time.

In psychology, education, and the physical and social sciences, the experimental research approach is frequently utilized. It is based on a simple logic analysis across two or more groups, albeit its execution could be challenging.

Experimental research designs often entail gathering quantitative data and doing statistical analyses on it while conducting a study. As a result, it serves as an illustration of a quantitative research approach.

Types of Experimental Research:

The method by which the analyst divides up the individuals into various groups and circumstances determines the many sorts of experimental study designs. Pre-experimental, quasi-experimental, and actual experimental research are the three categories that they fall under.

Pre-experimental Research: In a pre-experimental study design, one or more dependent groups are watched to see what happens when an independent variable that is thought to influence and persuade is applied. It is the most straightforward type of experimental research study that does not use a control group. Despite being immensely useful, experimental research falls short of a few of the true experimental requirements. There are three more categories for pre-experimental research design.
1. One-shot Case Study Research Design
2. One-group Pretest-posttest Research Design
3. Static-group Comparison

Quasi-experimental Research: “Quasi” is short for incomplete, half, or fake. As a result, although the quasi-experimental study resembles actual experimental research, it is not the same. Quasi-experiments are employed in situations when diversity is challenging or impossible since the respondents are not chosen at random. When administrators refuse to permit the random assortment of individuals for experimental samples, it happens frequently in educational research.

True Experimental Research: A hypothesis may only be supported or refuted by data analysis in a true experimental research design. It is the most precise kind of experimental design and can be executed with or without a review course on a minimum of two dependent participants who were randomly allocated to it. The components of a proper experimental study design are a control group, a manipulable parameter, and a random sample.

Characteristics of Experimental Research

The main characteristics of experimental research are listed below:

Parameters: Dependency, random, and auxiliary variables all appear in experimental research. The parameters being handled or altered are known as the dependent variables, also known as the study subject. The experimental treatment being applied to the dependent variables is through the independent variables. On the other hand, extraneous variables are other aspects of the study that may potentially influence the alteration.
Placing: The experiment is conducted in a specific environment. Many experiments are conducted in laboratories, where unwanted factors may be controlled and eliminated. Other studies are conducted in a less predictable environment. The type of experiment being conducted determines the research environment that is employed.

Multivariate: Several independent variables may be used in an experiment conducted.

Procedure of Experimental Research

Experimental research is frequently the last type of study done during the research process and is regarded as a definitive study. The basic steps needed to accomplish experimental research are described here.

Choose your study topic, a central issue, and relevant variables.

Carry out a primary form of research using surveys and secondary research on the topic.
Gather the information you currently have if the issue is related to a research process you have already started, such as an experimental, descriptive, co-relational, or explanatory study.
After your preliminary research, formulate a hypothesis.

Create a well-controlled study.
Assign participants to the groups they were assigned for the experimental treatments.
Use a control group that doesn’t experience any manipulation. This shows the test participants how they would naturally seem or act.

A randomized design and a randomized block design are the two sorts of groups that may be used to allocate your participants. A repeated measurements design as opposed to independent measurements design.
As appropriate, keep testing with other factors, and record your findings with observations.
Make a rational judgment based on your experiments. Probably, it may eventually require verification.