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Experimental Research Design-types & process

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Experimental Research
Design- types & process

Author
Ahsanul Mahbub Zubair
Department of Peace and Conflict Studies
University of Dhaka

Email: [email protected]

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

 Contents

 Abstract
 Introduction
 Definition of experimental research
 Types of experimental design
 Characteristics and features of Experimental Research
 Process of experimental design
 Purpose and fields of experimental research
 Conclusion

Abstract

Experimental research is a type of research that sometimes costs more than the potential benefits
or profits that are achievable when a favorable outcome is eventually reached. It follows the
strict controls of the researcher. This type of research design is popular in scientific experiments,
social sciences, medical science, etc. This is more likely field research rather than theoretical. It
has several steps. The researcher must develop a research question, state a testable hypothesis,
decide how to control variability during the experimental process, choose or develop intervention
conditions, a sample from a population to assign them to experimental conditions, and decide
what empirical measures will be taken (and how data will be recorded). There is frequently a
close and crucial link between the experimental design, the type of data gathered, and the
statistical method that will be utilized to evaluate the data.
Introduction
Research is the methodical and organized accumulation, arrangement, and analysis of data with
the ultimate purpose of supporting decision-making through the research's findings. It is a
methodical approach to solving a research problem, finding a solution, or gaining new facts.
Depending on the circumstance, issue, or inquiry type, there are several types of research. Such
as creating a new weapon for tactical advantage on the battlefield or determining the secret
reason for an area's rising crime rate is also research. These two examples of research are wholly
unlike one another. The research design involves several difficult and important choices.
Researchers must choose which research questions to address, which theoretical framework will
direct the study, how to measure important constructs with reliability and accuracy, who or what
to sample and observe, how many subjects/locations/things must be sampled to achieve
sufficient statistical power, and which data analytic techniques will be used. These challenges are
pertinent to all sorts of research (exploratory, experimental, descriptive, and evaluation research).

The purpose of this paper is to define the term "Experimental Research," "Design-Types," and
"Process."

Definition of Experimental Research

Experimental design is the process of carrying out research in an objective and controlled fashion
so that precision is maximized and specific conclusions can be drawn regarding a hypothesis
statement. (Bell, 2009)

It is a scientific method of conducting research in which one or more independent variables are
altered and applied to one or more dependent variables in order to determine their influence on
the latter. It is an attempt by the researcher to maintain control over all factors that may affect the
result of an experiment. In doing this, the researcher attempts to determine or predict what may
occur. The experimental design is described in statistics as the design of an information-
gathering experiment in which a variation is present or not, and it should be executed under the
researcher's complete control. This word is commonly used to describe controlled experiments.
To maximize the dependability of the results, these tests minimize the impacts of the variable. In
this design, an experimental unit's process may comprise a group of people, plants, animals, and
so on. An experimental design consists of two groups of subjects

 Experimental Group- It undergoes treatment, program, or intervention of interest.

 Control Group- A predetermined set of diverse circumstances is placed on the individuals
chosen for the experiment during the manipulation procedure. The collection of different
circumstances is known as the independent variable, experimental variable, or treatment
variable.

Types of Experimental design

A method design that allows the researcher to test his hypothesis by drawing reliable conclusions
regarding the links between independent and dependent variables. It refers to the theoretical
framework within which the experiment is carried out. The primary goal of experimental
research is to develop research with strong causal (internal) validity. The highest levels of causal
validity are offered by randomized experimental designs.

There are three main types of experimental research design. As follows:

 Pre-Experimental
The pre-experimental research design is the most basic type of experimental research
design in statistics. In this approach, after identifying specific elements as the cause and
effect, a group or groups are maintained under surveillance. This approach is typically
used to determine whether more research is necessary for the target population. Because
of this, this procedure is seen as being efficient. In a pre-experimental research design,
one or more dependent groups are examined for the effect of an independent variable that
is assumed to cause change. It is the most basic type of experimental study design and
has no control group.

 True-Experimental
This is the most accurate form of experimental research design as it relies on the statistical
hypothesis to prove or disprove the hypothesis. This is the most commonly used method
implemented in Physical Science. True experimental research design is the only method that
establishes the cause-and-effect relationship within the groups. The factors which need to be
satisfied in this method are:

 Random variable
 Variable can be manipulated by the researcher
  Control Groups (A group of participants is familiar with the experimental group, but
the experimental rules do not apply to them)
 Experimental Group (Research participants where experimental rules are applied)
 It may be performed on at least two randomly assigned dependent subjects with or
without a pretest. A true experimental research design must have a control group, a
variable that can be modified by the researcher, and a random distribution.

 Quasi-Experimental
"Quasi" indicates "partial," "half," or "pseudo." As a result, quasi-experimental research
resembles but is not the same as actual experimental research. In a true experiment design,
the participants of the group are randomly assigned. So, every unit has an equal chance of
getting into the experimental group. In a quasi-experimental design, the participants of the
groups are not randomly assigned. So, the researcher cannot make a cause-or-effect
conclusion. Thus, it is not possible to assign the participants to the group. Because
participants in quasi-experiments are not assigned at random, they are applied in cases
where randomization is difficult or impossible. This is prevalent in educational research,
as administrators are hesitant to allow students to be chosen at random for experimental
samples. Time series, no corresponding control group, and counterbalanced designs are
all instances of quasi-experimental research designs.
There are some other types that are less used. Such as:

 Between-Group Design
A study design in which two or more groups subject to different experiences or
treatments are compared. The purpose is to make statistical comparisons between two or
more groups and demonstrate a causal relationship between the independent variable and
the outcome of interest.

 Individual/Within Group Design

A study design in which each participant is studied at all levels of the independent
variable that researchers can manipulate. Different conditions and outcomes are then
compared within each subject to determine the effect of the manipulated variable

 Completely randomized design

Of all the types, the simplest type of experimental design is the completely randomized
design, in which the participants are randomly assigned to treatment groups. The main
advantage of using this method is that it avoids bias and controls the role of chance. This
 method provides a solid foundation for Statistical analysis as it allows the use of
probability theory.

Characteristics and features of Experimental Research

The active manipulation of an independent variable is the primary distinguishing feature of
experimental research. Experimental research is distinguished by the researcher's objective
observation of a phenomenon that is produced to occur in a highly controlled context in which
one or more variables are systematically modified via manipulation. Some of the characteristics
are:

 Variables
Dependent, independent, and extraneous variables are all present in experimental
research. The dependent variables are the variables that are being treated or altered and
are frequently referred to as the study subject. The experimental treatment being applied
to the dependent variables is represented by the independent variables. Extraneous
variables, on the other hand, are outside influences on the experiment that may
potentially contribute to the change. Experimental research may include multiple
independent variables, e.g. time, skills, test scores, etc.

 Setting
The setting is the location of the experiment. Many experiments are conducted in the
laboratory, where extraneous factors may be controlled and therefore eliminated. Other
tests are conducted in a less controlled environment. The type of environment utilized in
research is determined by the nature of the experiment.

 Control
Except for the independent variable, the researcher must control all relevant variables.
Control is extremely crucial in experimental research. Without control, it is impossible to
deduce the effects of an independent variable. To comprehend the idea of control in
experimentation, one must first comprehend the two fundamental laws that underlie
experimental research.
  Manipulation
A predetermined set of various situations is placed on the individuals chosen for the
experiment during the manipulation procedure. The collection of circumstances is known
as the independent variable, the experimental variable, or the treatment variable.

 Observation
The experimenter is liable for observing changes in a dependent variable as a result of
manipulating an independent variable.

Process of experimental design

Creating a set of methods to test a hypothesis systematically is referred to as experimental
design. The design of an experiment involves multiple phases. The steps of experimental
research design are:

 Defining Research Problem

Identifying the problem is the first step in any type of research. Experimental research is
basically conducted to solve practical problems rather than theoretical problems or gaps.

 Determining variables
A research question must be transformed into an experimental hypothesis by defining the
key variables and predicting their relationships.

 Formulating Hypothesis
Conducting the research requires creating a precise, testable hypothesis that corresponds
to the research topic.

 Designing a controlled experiment

Creating an experimental plan that addresses all the constituent elements, conditions, and
connections between the outputs.
Designing a controlled experiment requires:
1. manipulating the independent variable(s) systematically and
precisely
2. Measuring the dependent variable(s) with precision
 3. Controlling any factors that can cause confusion

 Designing experimental treatments to manipulate the independent variable

Manipulation of the independent variable can have an impact on the experiment's external
validity or the extent to which the results can be extended and applied to the broader
world.
The first step is, to consider how widely the independent variable should be varied.
The second step is, to decide how finely to alter the independent variable. This decision is
sometimes made by the experimental system, but it is often required to make one, and
this will affect how much the researcher may deduce from the data. If the subjects are
exposed to more than one treatment then the findings could only be generalized to
individuals exposed to the same treatments in the same order of presentation

 Measuring dependent variables

Finally, determining the collection method of data on the dependent variable outcomes.
The aim should be to achieve accurate and valid measures that reduce research bias or
inaccuracy. Some factors can be best measured using scientific tools. Others may need to
be operationalized prior to being measured.

Purpose and fields of experimental research

The purpose of research design is to determine the explanations for the causes and effects of a
precisely defined problem. An explanation of the link between variables is the main goal of this
kind of research. The statistical method used to understand the link between the study's many
characteristics is known as correlational research. Experimental research is the most common
type of research design for people working in the sciences and a variety of other fields.
Experimental design is an efficient method of optimizing the experimental conditions for SPE to
maximize the amount of useful information obtained with the minimum number of experiments.
It provides a more efficient and complete optimization compared with the ‘vary one factor at a
time approach with other factors assigned fixed values. Unlike ‘vary one factor at a time
approaches, suitable experimental designs are able to accommodate factor interactions. (Pole,
2012)
Experimental research fields vary based on the sort of experimental research design being
considered. The most fundamental type of experimental research in laboratory experiments.
which can vary in nature depending on the subject of study. It is used to create predictions and
form conclusions about a topic.

Some major uses of experimental research design are included below.

 Medicine
Experimental research is utilized to develop effective treatments for diseases.
Rather than directly employing patients as study subjects, researchers typically
collect a sample of bacteria from the patient's body and treat it with the created
antibiotic.
 Education
Aside from teaching students how to do experimental research in science areas like
Chemistry and Physics, it may also be utilized to improve the level of an academic
institution. This involves measuring students' understanding of various topics, developing
better teaching techniques, and adopting additional initiatives to help pupils learn.

 Human Behavior
Experimental research is mostly used by social scientists to evaluate human behavior.
Consider two persons who were picked at random to be the subjects of a social
interaction study, one of whom was confined in a room with no human interaction for a
year.

Other known uses of experimental research are the Evaluation of physical structures, materials,
and components, Chemical formulations, Computer programs, Opinion polls, Natural
experiments, Statistical surveys, etc. This method of research allows for the replication of certain
environmental situations inside the confines of a laboratory setting. This framework allows the
studies to repeat factors that would otherwise need a large time commitment. It is a procedure
that allows the researchers engaged to exert great control over the extraneous factors that may
arise, hence limiting the unpredictability of unknown or unexpected aspects when pushing
toward the outcome.
 Conclusion
Experimental design methods allow the experimenter to understand better and evaluate the
factors that influence a particular system by means of statistical approaches. Such approaches
combine theoretical knowledge of experimental designs and a working knowledge of the
particular factors to be studied (G. HanrahanJ.ZhuS.GibaniD.G.Patil et al., 2005).

The outcomes of this approach are often relevant and particular. Because of the data points
obtained from their job, researchers can assess failure, success, or any other precise outcome.
That is why, with the knowledge made accessible through this procedure, it is easier to take any
concept to the next level. To acquire the needed data, it is always necessary to bring a result to its
natural conclusion during variable manipulation. .

One of the major disadvantages of experimental research is that it does not account for any
ethical or moral breaches that particular variables may cause. Some factors cannot be changed in
a way that is safe for individuals, the environment, or even society as a whole. When this occurs,
researchers must either shift their data points to another technique, continue to provide partial
findings, falsify results, or set aside their own convictions to work on the variable regardless

References
C.F. Poole, S.K. Poole, in Comprehensive Sampling and Sample Preparation, 2012

G.Hanrahan, J.Zhu, S.Gibani, & D.G.Patil. (2005, May 28). Chemometrics and statistics:
Experimental design. Encyclopedia of Analytical Science (Second Edition). Retrieved
November 30, 2022, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0123693977000790

S. Bell, in International Encyclopedia of Human Geography, 2009

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