Course: Research Methods
Experimental research is a method of investigation that tests the impact of a factor by manipulating it and observing the outcomes.
Exploring the Idea of Experimental Research
Experimental research is like a science project. You might remember those from earlier grades. You might have manipulated a variable, like the amount of sunlight a plant gets, and then observed what happened. It’s the same in social research. Researchers tweak something and then watch closely for the changes.
The Core of Experimental Research
At the heart of experimental research, we find something called a “variable”. A variable is anything that can change or be changed. In an experimental study, researchers manipulate what’s known as the “independent variable”. They then look to see if this causes any changes in the “dependent variable”.
For instance, if you wanted to see if studying more resulted in better grades, ‘study time’ would be the independent variable, and ‘grades’ would be the dependent variable.
An Example in Criminal Justice
Imagine you’re a researcher in criminal justice. You want to find out if longer prison sentences reduce the likelihood of re-offending. In this scenario, the length of prison sentences is the independent variable, and the re-offending rate is the dependent variable.
Illustration from Social Work
Or let’s say you’re a social worker studying if providing more in-home support services can improve children’s school performance. The amount of support services is the independent variable, and the children’s school performance is the dependent variable.
Scenario from Political Science
As a political scientist, you might wonder if negative political ads affect voter turnout. The type of political ad (negative or positive) is the independent variable, and voter turnout is the dependent variable.
Experimental Designs for Causal Statements
Experimental designs are a powerful tool for making causal statements. They give researchers the ability to control and manipulate variables in a study. This allows researchers to draw conclusions about how changing one variable, called the independent variable, might cause changes in another, known as the dependent variable.
Making Causal Statements: The Role of Control
The strength of experimental research lies in its ability to establish control. This control reduces the influence of other variables that might interfere with the results. Researchers do this through several techniques. One is the use of a control group. This group does not receive the treatment or manipulation that the experimental group does, allowing researchers to compare outcomes.
Random Assignment: An Essential Ingredient
Another crucial aspect of experimental design is random assignment. This means that participants in the study have an equal chance of being in either the experimental or the control group. Random assignment helps ensure that the two groups are similar at the start of the study. Any differences in outcomes can then be attributed to the treatment rather than to pre-existing differences.
Cause and Effect: The Goal of Experimental Research
Above all, experimental research is designed to identify cause-and-effect relationships. It aims to show that changing the independent variable will lead to changes in the dependent variable. Because of the control and manipulation involved, experimental research can suggest that one thing causes another, not just that two things are related.
Illustrating with Examples
For instance, if you were studying the effect of a new teaching method on students’ test scores, an experimental design would allow you to compare the scores of students who experienced the new method (the experimental group) with those who did not (the control group). If the students who were taught using the new method scored higher, you could make a causal statement that the teaching method led to improved scores.
Experimental designs are the most suitable method for making causal statements in research. They allow for the control and manipulation of variables, random assignment of participants, and the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships. All in all, they provide a powerful tool for understanding the world around us.
To Wrap It Up
In short, experimental research is all about trying to find out “what happens if…”. By manipulating one factor and observing what happens, researchers can gain a better understanding of the relationships between different factors. Whether it’s in criminal justice, social work, or political science, experimental research helps uncover the “cause and effect” in different scenarios.