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Experimental Research Design

The document discusses experimental research design. It defines an experiment as a study where the researcher manipulates an independent variable and measures the outcome. Experiments can be conducted in laboratories or real-world settings. They are used to test hypotheses in a deductive approach. Experiments are divided into laboratory and field experiments, with the latter having more external validity but less control. Key aspects of experimental design discussed include identifying the problem, constructing the experiment through sampling, conducting pilot studies, manipulating the independent variable, analyzing results, and drawing conclusions. Examples of experiments in different fields are also provided. Different types of experimental designs are outlined, including pre-experiments, true experiments, and field experiments.

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Siddharth Bhargava
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387 views29 pages

Experimental Research Design

The document discusses experimental research design. It defines an experiment as a study where the researcher manipulates an independent variable and measures the outcome. Experiments can be conducted in laboratories or real-world settings. They are used to test hypotheses in a deductive approach. Experiments are divided into laboratory and field experiments, with the latter having more external validity but less control. Key aspects of experimental design discussed include identifying the problem, constructing the experiment through sampling, conducting pilot studies, manipulating the independent variable, analyzing results, and drawing conclusions. Examples of experiments in different fields are also provided. Different types of experimental designs are outlined, including pre-experiments, true experiments, and field experiments.

Uploaded by

Siddharth Bhargava
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Experimental Research Design

What was it ?
• It was an experiment conducted by Delhi government.

• This experiment inconvenienced just 4 per cent of trips,


while 96 per cent of Delhi travellers benefitted from less congestion, better bus and
Metro service and lower pollution.

• It was a win-win.
Experimental Study
• An experiment is a study in which the researcher manipulates the level of some independent variable
and then measures the outcome

• They are conducted both in the laboratory and in real life situations

• Traditionally, experiments have been used by physical and behavioral researchers to a greater extent
compared to business scientists

• Deductive approach is mainly used for experiments research in order to test hypotheses

• Experiments are usually used in causal studies


Experiments can be divided into two categories:

Laboratory experiments Field experiments

Artificial – low realism Natural – high realism

Few extraneous variables Many extraneous variables

High control Low control

Low cost High cost

Short duration Long duration

Subjects aware of participation Subjects unaware of participation


The Experimental Method
Aims of Experimental Research
Experiments are conducted to be able to predict phenomenon

Identifying the Research Problem


After deciding the topic of interest, the researcher tries to define the research problem. This
helps the researcher to focus on a more narrow research area to be able to study it
appropriately

Constructing the Experiment


Sampling groups correctly is especially important when we have more than one condition in the
experiment. One sample group often serves as a control group, whilst others are tested under
the experimental conditions.
Sampling techniques:
1) Probability sampling
2) Non-probability sampling
Pilot Study
It may be wise to first conduct a pilot-study or two before you do the real experiment. This
ensures that the experiment measures what it should, and that everything is set up right.

Conducting the Experiment


An experiment is typically carried out by manipulating a variable, called the independent
variable, affecting the experimental group. The effect that the researcher is interested in,
the dependent variable(s), is measured.

Analysis and Conclusions


The aim of an analysis is to draw a conclusion, together with other observations.
The researcher might generalize the results to a wider phenomenon, if there is no indication
of confounding variables.
Examples of Experiments
Social Psychology

• Stanford Prison Experiment - How do people react to roles? Will you behave differently?
• Good Samaritan Experiment - Would You Help a Stranger? - Explaining Helping Behavior

Genetics

• Law Of Segregation - The Mendel Pea Plant Experiment

Physics

• Ben Franklin Kite Experiment - Struck by Lightning


Experimental Research Design
The many experimental designs vary widely in their power to control
contamination of the relationship between independent and
dependent variables.

The most widely accepted designs are based on this characteristic of


control:
(1) Pre-experiments
(2) True experiments
(3) Field experiments
Pre-experimental Designs
Pre-experiments are the simplest form of research design. They are so named
because they follow basic experimental steps but fail to include a control group.
In a pre experiment either a single group or multiple groups are observed
subsequent to treatment presumed to cause change. It does not make use of any
randomization process to control the extraneous variable.

Types of Pre-Experimental Design


• One-shot case study design
• One-group pretest-posttest design
• Static-group comparison
One-shot case study/ after only study design
A single group is studied at a single point in time after some treatment that is presumed to
have caused change.
One-group pretest-posttest design
Static-group comparison
True Experiments

True experiments, in which all the important factors that might affect
the phenomena of interest are completely controlled, are the preferred
design.
Pretest–Posttest Control Group Design
Posttest-Only Control Group Design
Field Experiments: Quasi- or Semi-Experiments
Non equivalent Control Group Design
It differs from the pretest–posttest control group design, because the test and control
groups are not randomly assigned.
Group Time series Design

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