Characteristics of Experimental Research Design

Question 1

Who manipulates the IV?

Answer 1

The Researcher

Question 2

What groups are involved? What is the purpose of this?

Answer 2

An experimental (have IV) group and a control (no IV) group.

To allow for a comparison to be made, as well as random allocation/ assignment of participants.

Question 3

What happens to environmental extraneous variables?

Answer 3

Able to control most environmental extraneous variables. Therefore, able to reduce impact on results.

Question 4

Where is this research design mostly conducted at?

Answer 4

In a laboratory setting, which is not in real-world scenario, therefore cannot be applied to real-world.

Question 5

What will researchers do when selecting participants from population?

Answer 5

The researchers will pick a sample of participants with similar characteristics, in order to support how the IV influences the DV.

eg. age, sex, intelligence, etc…

Question 6

Why do researcher conduct a pre-test and post-test?

Answer 6

To see if there are any changes, whether the IV works or not.

eg.

Random allocation -> Experimental Group -> Pre-Test -> Experimental Treatment -> Post-Test

Random allocation -> Control Group -> Pre-Test -> Post-Test

Question 7

What are the pros of an Experimental Research Design?

Answer 7

• A larger control over extraneous variables
• Random allocation of participants
• A clear identification of a cause and effect relationship (or “casual relationship”) between the IV and DV
• Easy to replicate, thus able to further improve the validity of results

Question 8

What are the cons of an Experimental Research Design?

Answer 8

• No complete elimination of extraneous variables
• Does not reflect real-world for it is set in an artificial lab (laboratory setting)
• Possibly unethical