Experimental Methods - Essay Example

Experimental Methods Experimental Methods The Experimental Methods are often taken to be scientific in nature and are the most know methods of choice. These Methods involve manipulation of a variable to determine changes in another variable. Therefore, for a method to be considered an experimental method, then it must contain a variable that causes changes in another variable or fixed parameter of analysis (Blom and Unsworth, 2010). Additionally, the Experimental Methods rely on other random assignments and controlled methods that manipulate variables towards testing hypothesis. The main unsuitability of the non-experimental methods is that they lack a controlled situation (“Applied physical sciences ...” 2009). Notably, the Experimental Methods aim at overcoming this problem. Experiments form the center stage of entire psychological work. The main reason why experiments are considered the cornerstone of psychology is that they play significant roles in numerous physical sciences and the history of psychology views considers itself as a science (List, 2008). Numerous psychological researches employ Experimental Methods in solving their problems. Every academic, social, economic among other fields often use different designs of research methods. An experiment can be defined as a methodical trial and error mechanism or procedure for goal establishment, verification, and falsification towards validating hypothesis. Experiments are platforms for demonstrating cause and effect by manipulating certain factors (Blom and Unsworth, 2010). Experiments often vary immensely depending of a particular experiment’s set goals, scales, and objects; however, all experiments must allow repeatable data collection procedures and logical analysis of findings towards providing informed conclusion (Wells, 2008). Primarily, goals and objects of experiments often vary; however, experiments of same goals and objects may sometimes produce different results leading to different conclusions. The subject area of the experiment and methods of analyses applied on the data collected usually govern this variation (Georgescu, Apostu, Gavrilescu, and Seba, 2012). It is worth noting that experiments often vary considerably betwixt social and natural sciences; therefore, experimental methods can be broadly categorized into scientific, experimental methods and social sciences experimental research methods. The scientific, experimental methods are empirical methods that arbitrate between competing hypotheses or models. The scientific experimentations may also purpose to test existing theories or set new hypotheses to support or disprove such theories. Hypotheses form the basis of any experimental research work (Blom and Unsworth, 2010). They are speculative ideas or concerns about how a particular phenomenon or process works. However, some scientific hypotheses may intend to answer certain questions. Such hypotheses do not speculate how the experiment will be carried out to arrive at those answers. A well-conducted experiment often disproves or supports the experiment hypothesis (Stephen, 2008). However, according to some scientific philosophies, experiments will never prove hypothesis but they will only support the hypothesis. Nonetheless, any experiment whose results provide counterexample can disprove the set hypothesis or theory. Despite testing hypotheses, experimental methods must also control all the confounding factors (“Applied physical sciences ...” 2009). The confounding factors are those factors that may interfere with the accuracy of the data, repeatability of the experimental method, and the ability of interpreting the results (Lancsar, and Louviere, 2008). In most cases, these confounding factors commonly emerge through scientific control factors, random assignments, and or in randomized experiments (John, David, and Richard, 2011). Engineering among other physical science fields often employ the scientific research methods in verifying their hypotheses. The scientific, experimental methods are used in physical studies since they focus on the replication of similar procedures towards producing identical results in each replication. They are always achieved through random assignment (Blom and Unsworth, 2010). The most common type of scientific, experimental method is the laboratory experiments. In psychological experiments, all the experimental aspects are often kept constant especially the variable under investigation. For instance, if one intends to investigate the type of teaching techniques is effective in teaching children on how to read, he or she must have independent and dependent variables (“Applied physical sciences ...” 2009). The dependent variables are variables that are governed by other variables. The change on such variables will lead to their changes. On the other hand, independent variables are not affected other variable under investigation, and their states will ever remain constant. In the laboratory, the independent variables’ effects are known; therefore, they are used in the experiment to define or explore the cause they have on dependent variables (John, 2008). Medical and other social sciences often use different experimental methods in proving their hypotheses. The social science experimental research methods are used in different disciplines. Experiments following this method are highly defined by clinical trial methods that randomly assign experimental units (Blom and Unsworth, 2010). In some cases, the units are controlled or treated to one or more outcomes that will be later assessed. The social, experimental methods focus on the average treatment effects of the variables particularly the difference in the outcome betwixt controlled conditions or treatment of the result (“Computational methods…” 2012). These studies never peg much emphasis on the explicability when conducting their experiments. However, some social studies often concentrate on the aggregate of the experiment the factor they evaluate through systematic review, for example, the use of Meta-analysis. There are differences experimental methods applied in different experimental practices. For instance, the agriculture research experiment frequently applies randomized experiments especially in measuring the effectiveness of different fertilizers (“Applied physical sciences ...” 2009). Additionally, the experimental economics usually involves the use of experimental tests that authorize the human behavior (Appiah, 2007). They never rely on random assignment that would otherwise subjects an individual control and treatment conditions. Types of experiment Experiment can be classified according to their dimension numbers, the fields of application, and the professional norm of the experiment. In some fields including political science or psychology, a ‘true experiment’ is a social research method with two types of variables. The depended variable manipulates the independent variable (Cindy, 2011). The main characteristic of such experiment is that it allocates subjects randomly so that it can neutralize any biasness in the experiment and the experimenter. The most common types of experiments include controlled experiments, natural experiments, and field experiments (“Applied physical sciences ...” 2009). A controlled experiment often compares experimental results against a control sample. The control samples are practically identical to samples of the experiment except that they do affect the samples being tested (Petryna, 2009). Results of this experiment are often averaged and the result compared with the controlled sample. Result is considered positive control if the sample results are highly coherent or similar to the research results. However, negative control is obtained when the research experiment leads to a negative result or results that are note coherent with the expectation. Additionally, a positive control is an indication that the basic conditions of the experiment were met thereby leading to a positive results (“Applied physical sciences ...” 2009). Sometimes conducting controlled experiments may be difficult or practically impossible. In such cases, researchers often opt to use the quasi-experiments or natural experiments. Natural experiments largely depend on the observation of variables or parameters under investigation. This experimental method does not allow sample manipulation; thus, experimental procedures in guiding this experiment cannot be controlled hence this experiment takes place naturally (Blom and Unsworth, 2010). The accuracy of this experiment often depends on the accuracy of the natural factors governing the experiment that include the accuracy of the observer. Moreover, the possibility of natural experiment often depends on the observable correlation betwixt explanatory variable within the observable data (Benz, and Meier, 2008). Thus, luck of such correlation may lead the natural experiment to lean towards controlled experiment. Field experiments are experiments conducted in the fields as opposed into the laboratory. Both social and scientific experiment can be conducted in the field. Testing hypothesis through field experiment can follow either control or natural experiment (“Applied physical sciences ...” 2009). However, this experimental method is used heavily in social sciences especially in the analyses of economics, health, and education interventions. The main advantage of the field experiments is that they are real time experiments; therefore, they are usually regarded to have higher external validity compared to laboratory experiments. However, there are also possibilities of contaminating the field experiment results since experimental conditions can be controlled towards precision and certainty. Regardless of the availability of different types of the experimental method, a research can only deploy a single experimental research method at a time (“Applied physical sciences ...” 2009). Moreover, the goals, objectives, and field of research also dictate the experimental method to be use. Application Experimental methods are often applied in all spheres of life. Certain, different experimental methods have been use in the business field in investigating the human behaviors in relation to certain business activities (Rubin and Babbie, 2010). For instance, different experimental methods have been used to study the trend of supply of certain commodities in relation the human or customer demands. Some of these experimental procedures in this field involve the direct link or contact between the researcher and the customer. In this case, questionnaires are usually used, and discussions may be involved (Sengane, and Cur, 2009). Experimental methods of this manner are purely psychological, and they may include panel survey, cohort, in-depth survey, and focused discussion among others. Moreover, some experimental methods that are used in determining market trend, but the researcher is delinked or never meets a customer, parameter, or variable under investigation. Example of experimental methods under this category includes observation research methods (Tacq, 2011). Notably, the type of research question or hypothesis or the nature of the research will determine the method applied for a given study. Conclusion Experiment methodical trial and error mechanism or procedure for goal establishment, verification, and falsification towards validating hypothesis. Experiments are platforms for demonstrating cause and effect by manipulating certain factors. Numerous experimental methods can be applied in any research project. However, the choice or any experimental method often immensely depending of a particular experiment has set goals, scales, and objects. The identified experiment must usually allow repeatable data collection procedures and logical analysis of findings towards providing informed conclusion. Primarily, goals and objects of experiments often vary; however, experiments of same goals and objects may sometimes produce different results leading to different conclusions. The subject area of the experiment and methods of analyses applied on the data collected usually govern this variation. The variation of the experimental methods also depends on the research field are. Social and natural sciences field often apply different experimental methods; therefore, before researchers settle on a particular research method they must consider all these factors. References Appiah, A. (2007). Experiments in ethics. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Applied physical sciences awarded contract for experimental methods. (2009, Dec 23). Info - Prod Research (Middle East). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/457273622?accountid=45049 Benz, M., & Meier, S. (2008). Do people behave in experiments as in the field?--evidence from donations. Experimental Economics, 11(3), 268-281. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10683-007-9192-y Blom, E., & Unsworth, S. (2010). Experimental methods in language acquisition research. Amsterdam [etc.: Benjamins. Cindy, L. P. (2011). Creating and applying thought experiments in public administration. Administrative Theory & Praxis,33(4), 549-565. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/913146442?accountid=45049 Computational methods and experimental measurements xv. (2012). Mechanical Engineering, 134(1), 49-49. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/963684842?accountid=45049 Georgescu, D., Apostu, A., Gavrilescu, R., & Seba, T. (2012). 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Special issue on experimental methods in environmental, natural resource, and agricultural economics. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 39(2), 4-III,IV,V,VI. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/754966589?accountid=45049 Lancsar, E., & Louviere, J. (2008). Conducting discrete choice experiments to inform healthcare decision making: A users guide. PharmacoEconomics, 26(8), 661-77. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/222348455?accountid=45049 List, J. A. (2008). Using Experimental Methods in Environmental and Resource Economics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub. MARIAH, D. E., & JASON, F. S. (2009). Experimental methods for environment and development economics. Environment and Development Economics, 14(4), 419-456. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1355770X08004592 Petryna, A. (2009). When experiments travel: Clinical trials and the global search for human subjects. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. R. (2010). Essential research methods for social work. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. Sengane, M. L., & Cur, D. (2009). The experience of black fathers concerning support for their wives/partners during labour. Curationis, 32(1), 67-93. Stephen, L. C. (2008). Using mobile phone messaging as a response medium in classroom experiments. Journal of Economic Education, 39(1), 51-67. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/235267253?accountid=45049 Tacq, J. (2011). Causality in qualitative and quantitative research. Quality and Quantity, 45(2), 263-291. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11135-009-9293- Wells, G. L. (2008). Field experiments on eyewitness identification: Towards a better understanding of pitfalls and prospects. Law and Human Behavior, 32(1), 6-10. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10979-007-9098-4 Read More