Experimental Research

EXPERIMENTA
L RESEARCH
Understanding Experimental Research
Experimental Research is the best way to establish
cause and effect relationship among variables . It is the
only type of research that directly attempts to influence a
particular variable , and when properly applied, it is the
best type for testing hypothesis about cause-effect
relationships. The independent variable in experimental
research is also frequently referred to as the experimental
or treatment variable. The dependent variable, also known
as the criterion or outcome variable, refers to the result or
outcome of the study. (Fraenkel, 2003 p.268)
At its simplest, an experiment involves making a
change in the value of one variable—called the
independent variable—and observing the effect
of that change on another variable—called the
dependent variable.(Cohen, 2000 p.211)
Conclusion:
The basic idea underlying all experimental research is
really quite simple: try something and systematically
observe what happens.
Terminologies Related to
Experimental Research
Hypothesis
A hypothesis, is simply put, a prediction of some sort regarding the
possible outcomes of a study.
For example:
Qs;
Will students who are taught history by a teacher of the same gender
like the subject more than students taught by a teacher of a different
gender?
Hypothesis;
Students taught history by a teacher of the same gender will like the
subject more than students taught by a teacher of a different gender
Independent Variables and Dependent Variables
The independent variable is called “independent” because it is
independent of the outcome being measured. More specifically,
the independent variable is what causes or influences the
outcome. The dependent variable is called “dependent” because
it is influenced by the independent variable. For example, in our
hypothetical study examining the effects of medication on
symptoms of depression, the measure of depression is the
dependent variable because it is influenced by (i.e., is dependent
on) the independent variable (i.e., the medication). (Marczyik,
2005 p 46).
Validity
Validity is defined as referring to the
appropriateness, correctness, meaningfulness, and
usefulness of the specific inferences researchers
make based on the data they collect.
Internal Validity
The internal validity of a research study is the extend

to which the outcome is a function of the factor you
have selected rather than other factors you haven’t
controlled. In our example of our reading
improvement, this would be the extend to which the
special new method can account for.
Threats to Internal Validity
There are many factors which can influence the
internal validity of a research study; test effect,
subject selection, and the hystory factor
Test effect is the factor which can influence the
internal validity of research. Suppose in the
experiment on reading, you administered a pretest
and a posttest. One could argue that your students
learned something from the pretest so that the
results of the research were not exclusively due to
the instruction.
History factor
The perception of a thing toward something may
change along with the events or things that
happened in the past
Subject Selection
Subject selection may influence the result of
the research. Suppose the two groups you
selected when investigating the effectiveness of
two teaching methods were not equal at the
beginning of the study. That is, one group had
already received instruction in that particular
teaching method. The difference between the
group might be due not to the instruction but to
preexisting differences.
Validity
Validation is the process of collecting and analyzing
evidence to support such inferences.
There are 3 types of evidence which a researcher might
collect:
1.Content-related evidence of validity
It refers to the content and format of the instrument. How
appropriate is the content? How comprehensive? Does it
logically get at the intended variable? How adequately do
the sample of items or questions represent the content to be
assessed? Is the format appropriate? The content and
format must be consistent with the definition of the
variable and the sample of the subjects to be measured.
2. Criterion-related evidence of validity.
It refers to the relationship between scores obtained
using the instruments and scores obtained using one
or more other instruments or measures. How strong
is this relationship? How well do such scores
estimate present or predict future performance of a
certain type?
3. Construct-related evidence of validity
It refers to nature of the psychological construct or
characteristics being measured by the instrument.
How well does a measure of the construct explain
differences in the behavior of individuals or their
performance on certain tasks?
Reliability
Population and Sample
A sample in a research study refers to any group on

which information is obtained. The larger group to
which one hopes to apply the result is called the
population.
Random selection:
Choosing study participants from the population of interest in such a way that each member
of the population has an equal probability of being selected to participate in the study.
1. Random Sampling methods;
 Simple random sampling
 Stratified Random Sampling
 Cluster Random Sampling
 Two-stage Random sampling
2. Nonrandom Sampling Methods;

 Systematic Sampling
 Convenience Sampling
 Purposive Sampling
Random assignment:
Assigning study participants to groups within the
study in such a way that each participant has an equal
probability of being assigned to any of the groups
within the study (experiment and control group). This
refers to the research designs that the researcher
intends to carry out.
There are two broad categories of research with which researchers must be familiar.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Quantitative Research involves studies that make use of statistical analyses to
obtain their findings. Key features include formal and systematic measurement and
the use of statistics. Quantitative methods involve the processes of collecting,
analyzing, interpreting, and writing the results of a study .
Qualitative Research involves studies that do not attempt to quantify their results
through statistical summary or analysis. Qualitative studies typically involve
interviews and observations without formal measurement. A case study, which is an
in-depth examination of one person, is a form of qualitative research. Qualitative
research is often used as a source of hypotheses for later testing in quantitative
research.
The outcome of the research might be
caused by another factor. For example; you want to investigate the
effectiveness of two different methods of teaching. After three
months of instruction, students in one group outperformed on those
in the other group on an oral English examination. One
interpretation was the superiority of one group over the other was
because of the method of instruction. However, one could argue that
the better performance of one group was due to the fact that some of
the students in the group used english at home with their parents
while none in the other group did. When something else was
happening at the same time of the research study was bing
conducted, it is called the hystory factor.
Group Designs in Experimental Research
Good designs control many of these threats while

poor ones control only a few. The quality of an
experiment depends on how well the various threats
to internal validity are controlled.
A. Weak Experimental Design
The designs are referred to as “weak” because they
do not have built-in controls for threats to internal
validity. In addition to the independent variable, there
are a number of other plausible explanations for any
outcomes that occur. As a result, any researchers who
uses one of these designs has difficulty assessing the
effectiveness of the independent variable.
1. The One-shot Case Study Design
2. The One Group Pretest- Posttest Design
3. The Static Group Comparison Design
4. The Static-Group Pretest-Posttest Design
B. True Experimental Design
The essential ingredient of a true experimental design
is that subjects are randomly assigned to treatment
group. Random assignment is a powerful technique
for controlling the subject characteristics threat to
internal validity, a major consideration in educational
research.
1. The randomized Posttest-only control group
design
2. The Randomized Pretest Posttest Control Group
Design
3. The Randomized Solomon four Group Design
C. Quasi Experimental Designs
Quasi Experimental Designs do not include the use of
random assignment. Researchers who employ these
designs rely instead on other techniques to control
threats to internal validity.
1. The Matching only Design
2. Counter Balanced Designs
3. Time-series Designs
4. Factorial Designs

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EXPERIMENTA

The internal validity of a research study is the extend

A sample in a research study refers to any group on

2. Nonrandom Sampling Methods;

Good designs control many of these threats while

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