RESEARCH METHODS IN EDUCATION

UNIT # 04
EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH
PRESENTATION CONTENT
1. What is experimental research?
2. Variables to experimental research.
3. Types of experimental research design.
4. Sources of data collection in experimental research
5. Scope and Characteristics of Experimental Research
6. Difference between Experimental and non-Experimental
Research
WHAT IS EXPERIMENT?
 Scientific device for obtaining answers of the question.
 Cause and effect relationship is determined
 A test under controlled conditions that is made to demonstrate a
known truth.
 To examine the validity of a hypothesis, or to determine the
efficacy of something previously untried.
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF EXPERIMENT

 Independent and dependent variables

 Pretest posttest Experimenting
 Experimental Control Group
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

 It is a systematic and scientific approach to research in

which the researcher manipulate one or more variables and
control and measures any change in other variables.
 Experimental Research study the cause and effect
relationship.
 Experimental research is a scientific approach to research,
where one or more independent variables are manipulated
and applied to one or more dependent variables to measure
their effect on the latter.
 Examples of Experimental Research
 Experimental research examples are different, depending on
the type of experimental research design that is being
considered. The most basic example of experimental research
is laboratory experiments, which may differ in nature
depending on the subject of research.
 Administering Exams After The End of Semester
 During the semester, students in a class are lectured on
particular courses and an exam is administered at the end of
the semester. In this case, the students are the subjects or
dependent variables while the lectures are the independent
variables treated on the subjects.
 Employee Skill Evaluation
 Before employing a job seeker, organizations conduct tests
that are used to screen out less qualified candidates from the
pool of qualified applicants. This way, organizations can
determine an employee's skill set at the point of employment.
 Evaluation of Teaching Method
 Letus consider an academic institution that wants to evaluate
the teaching method of 2 teachers to determine which is best.
Imagine a case whereby the students assigned to each teacher
is carefully selected probably due to personal request by
parents or due to stubbornness and smartness.
SCOPE OF EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH
 The experimental research method is widely used in
physical and social sciences, psychology, and education.
It is based on the comparison between two or more
groups with a straightforward logic, which may,
however, be difficult to execute.
 Mostly related to a laboratory test procedure,
experimental research designs involve collecting
quantitative data and performing statistical analysis on
them during research.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH
 Variables
 Experimental research contains dependent,
independent and extraneous variables.
 Setting
 The setting is where the experiment is carried out.
Many experiments are carried out in the laboratory,
where control can be exerted on the extraneous
variables, thereby eliminating them.
 Multivariable
 Experimental research may include multiple independent
variables, e.g. time, skills, test scores, etc.
Types of Experimental Research
Design
 Pre-experimental Research Design
 In pre-experimental research design, either a
group or various dependent groups are observed
for the effect of the application of an
independent variable which is presumed to cause
change. It is the simplest form of experimental
research design and is treated with no control
group.
 TYPES OF PRE-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 One-shot Case Study Research Design
 In this type of experimental study, only one dependent group or
variable is considered. The study is carried out after some
treatment which was presumed to cause change, making it a
posttest study.
 One-group Pretest-posttest Research Design:
 This research design combines both posttest and pretest study by
carrying out a test on a single group before the treatment is
administered and after the treatment is administered. With the former
being administered at the beginning of treatment and later at the end.
 Static-group Comparison:
 In a static-group comparison study, 2 or more groups are placed
under observation, where only one of the groups is subjected to some
treatment while the other groups are held static. All the groups are
post-tested, and the observed differences between the groups are
assumed to be a result of the treatment.
 Quasi-experimental Research Design
 The word "quasi" means partial, half, or pseudo. Therefore, the
quasi-experimental research bearing a resemblance to the true
experimental research, but not the same. In quasi-experiments, the
participants are not randomly assigned, and as such, they are used in
settings where randomization is difficult or impossible.
 True Experimental Research Design
 Thetrue experimental research design relies on statistical
analysis to approve or disprove a hypothesis. It is the most
accurate type of experimental design and may be carried out
with or without a pretest on at least 2 randomly assigned
dependent subjects.
Disadvantages of Experimental
Research
 It is highly prone to human error due to its dependency on
variable control which may not be properly implemented.
 Exerting control of extraneous variables may create
unrealistic situations. Eliminating real-life variables will
result in inaccurate conclusions.
 It is very risky and may have ethical complications that
cannot be ignored. This is common in medical research,
where failed trials may lead to a patient's death or a
deteriorating health condition.
CON…
 Experimental research results are not descriptive.
 Response bias can also be supplied by the subject of the
conversation.
 Human responses in experimental research can be difficult to
measure.
 Itis a time-consuming process. So much time is spent on
testing dependent variables and waiting for the effect of the
manipulation of dependent variables to manifest.
DATA COLLECTION METHODS IN EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH

 Observational Study: This type of study is carried out

over a long period. It measures and observes the
variables of interest without changing existing
conditions.
 Simulations: This procedure uses a mathematical,
physical, or computer models to replicate a real-life
process or situation. It is frequently used when the actual
situation is too expensive, dangerous, or impractical to
replicate in real life.
CON…
 Surveys: A survey is a tool used to gather relevant data
about the characteristics of a population, and is one of the
most common data collection tools. A survey consists of a
group of questions prepared by the researcher, to be
answered by the research subject.
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EXPERIMENTAL AND NON-
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
 In experimental research, the researcher can control and
manipulate the environment of the research, including the
predictor variable which can be changed.
 The relationship between cause and effect cannot be established
in non-experimental research, while it can be established in
experimental research.
 Independent variables are not introduced, withdrawn or
manipulated in non-experimental designs, but the same may not
be said about experimental research.