There are different types of research- the two major types of the research that need to be identified for getting the basic understanding of the experimental method are the exploratory research and the conclusive research.
Experiment is actually the study consisting of the intervention by the researchers beyond that requires for the measurements.
Generally these types of the interventions are very helpful in carrying out the manipulation of the various variables that ultimately help in setting up and observing the effects caused to the subjects that are being studied.
The explanatory variable is manipulated by the researcher and then the researcher observes whether the hypothesized dependent variable is affected by the intervention or not.
The experiment possesses a statement of the problem that is to be solved. One basic point to be kept in mind is that during the designing of the experiment, the design should be such that all the points of view to establish what the experiment is intended to do must be brought out.
By experimentation one is able to get very accurate information and experiments are carried out at basically at the two following scales:
1. Laboratory Scale:
a) Experiments are carried out in an artificial environment.
b) Unwanted effects of the extraneous variables can be minimized.
c) Natural nature of the responses of the subjects cannot be estimated.
d) High level of the internal validity is also available.
e) But sometimes these experiments can become invalid in nature.
2. Field scale:
a) Carried out in the real – world environment.
b) Offers very high level of the external validity.
c) But the internal validity suffers.
d) Are very costly compared to the experiments that are carried out in the laboratory.
e) Are very time – consuming.
f) Very complicated in the working nature.
Objectives of Experiment
1. Measurement of the outcome or the dependent variable.
2. Determining the functional form that is responsible for the linkage of some of the criterion variable to a set of the input variables.
3. Identifying the relevant variables.
4. Establishing the causal relationships.
5. Formulating the hypothesis.
6. Defining the various variables.
Constituents of an Experiment
1. Experiment:
(a) Making a statement that is very clear and also is easy to understand.
(b) Selecting the dependent variable or the response factor.
(c) Deciding or selecting those factors in which the variation is to be made.
(d) Selecting the different levels of these factors.
2. Designs:
(a) The number of the observations to be taken is to be decided.
(b) The order in which the experimental procedure is to be followed is to be decided.
(c) Use of the randomization method must be made.
(d) Selecting the mathematical model which helps in describing the experiment.
3. Analysis:
(a) Collecting the data and then processing this data.
(b) Computation of the test statistics.
(c) Interpreting the results for the experiment.
Advantages of Experiment
1. Helps in carrying out the manipulation of the independent variable.
2. Provides better effective control for the contamination from the extraneous variables.
3. Helps in better adjustment of the variables.
4. The convenience and the cost of the experimentation are superior to the other methods.
5. Experiments can be repeated.
Disadvantages of Experiment
1. The artificial nature of this type of method is the main drawback.
2. Although experimentation method is a comparatively cheap method but in some cases it can really affect the budget planning.
3. Generalization from the non – probability samples can pose problems.
4. Predicting is not possible and if it is done – it can be risky in some cases.
Steps to carry out experiment:
Steps involved in carrying out an experiment are:
1. Choice of variable:
a) Investigative questions can be prepared by the researcher depending on the nature of the problem.
b) Hypothesis should be operationalised.
c) Variables are to be selected by the researcher.
d) Number of the variables to be tested is to be decided.
2. Levels of treatment:
a) Refer to the differences or the distinctions made by the researcher between the different aspects of the treatment conditions.
b) Levels assigned to an independent variable should be based on the simplicity.
3. Experimental environment:
a) Environmental control constantly holds the physical environment of the experiment.
b) The researcher must have the complete knowledge about the various extraneous variables.
c) These extraneous variables can exist in the factors like age, gender, race etc.
d) Their presence can have a great affect on the dependent variables.
4. Choice of the Experimental Design:
a) Are very unique in nature compared to the other research designs.
b) Provide positional as well as the statistical plans.
c) Helps in designating the relationship between the experimental treatments and the experimenter’s observations.
d) Helps in providing the strength to the generalization of the results beyond the experimental settings.
5. Subjects allocation:
a) The selected subjects should represent the population to which the researcher has to generalize.
b) Firstly a sample frame is made and then the subjects for the experiment to the groups are assigned – Randomization method is used for this purpose.
c) Experimental subjects act as a self – selecting sample as mostly the size of the sampling frame is small.
6. Tests, Pilot tests:
a) Pilot testing reveals the errors in the design.
b) Pre – testing helps in carrying out the refinement before the final test.
c) Scripts can be revised during this step.
7. Analysis:
a) By carrying proper and accurate planning and the pre – testing, the data needed for the experiment can be given an order and structure.
b) These structures are usually very uncommon to the surveys.
c) The various options used by the researchers to measure and instrument are observational techniques, coding schemes, paper and pencil teats, self – report instruments with the open or the closed questions etc.