During school years, students conduct scientific experiments that provide results that define and prove the laws and theorems of science. These tests are based on experimental research designs.
An experimental research design helps researchers to implement their research objectives with greater clarity and transparency. In this article, in addition to discussing the key aspects of experimental research, we discuss the issues to avoid and problems to solve while designing the research study.
What Is Experimental Research Design?
Experimental research design is a framework of protocols and procedures that are created to conduct experimental research with a scientific approach using two sets of variables. Here, the first set of variables serves as a constant that is used to measure the differences of the second set. The best example of experimental research methods is quantitative research.
Experimental research helps the researcher to collect the necessary data to make better research decisions and to determine the facts of a research study.
When Can a Researcher Conduct Experimental Research?
A researcher can conduct experimental research under the following situations:
-When time is an important factor in creating a relationship between cause and effect.
-When there is an invariable or never-changing behavior between cause and effect.
-Finally, when the researcher wants to understand the importance of cause and effect.
Importance of Experimental Research Design
To publish significant results, choosing a quality research design forms the foundation to build the research study. In addition, an effective research design helps establish quality decision-making procedures, structures the research to facilitate data analysis, and addresses the main research question. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention and time to create an experimental research design before beginning the practical experiment.
By creating a research design, a researcher is also giving oneself time to organize the research, set up relevant boundaries for the study, and increase the reliability of the results. Through all these efforts, one could also avoid inconclusive results. If any part of the research design is flawed, it will reflect on the quality of the derived results.
Types of Experimental Research Designs
Based on the methods used to collect data in experimental studies, the experimental research designs are categorized into three primary types:
1. Pre-experimental Research Design
A research study can be carried out based on a pre-experimental research design when a group or many groups are observed after implementing the factors of cause and effect of the research. The pre-experimental design helps researchers understand whether further investigation is necessary for the groups under observation.
There are three types of pre-experimental research:
One-shot Case Study Research Design
One-group Pretest-posttest Research Design
Static-group Comparison
2. True Experimental Research Design
A true experimental research design relies on statistical analysis to prove or disprove the researcher’s hypothesis. It is one of the most rigorous forms of research because it provides specific scientific evidence. In addition, among the types of experimental designs, only a true experimental design can establish a cause-and-effect relationship in a group. However, in a real experiment, a researcher must satisfy these three factors:
There is a control group that is not subjected to the changes and an experimental group that will experience the changed variables.
A variable that the researcher can manipulate.
Random distribution of variables
This type of experimental research is commonly observed in physical sciences.
3. Quasi-experimental Research Design
The word “Quasi” means similarity. A quasi-experimental design is similar to a true experimental design. However, the difference between the two is the assignment of the control group. In this research design, an independent variable is manipulated, but the participants of a group are not randomly assigned. This type of research design is used in field settings where random assignment is either irrelevant or not required.
The classification of the research subjects, conditions, or groups determines the type of research design to be used.
Advantages of Experimental Research
Experimental research allows you to test your idea in a controlled environment before taking the research to clinical trials. Moreover, it provides the best method to test your theory because of the following advantages:
- Researchers have firm control over variables to obtain results.
- Subjects do not affect the effectiveness of experimental research. Anyone can implement it for research purposes.
- The results are specific and clear.
- Post-results analysis of the same dataset can be repurposed for similar research ideas.
- Researchers can identify the cause-and-effect hypothesis and analyze this relationship to determine more profound ideas.
- Experimental research makes an ideal starting point. The collected data can be used as a basis for generating new research ideas for further studies.
6 Mistakes to Avoid While Designing Your Research
There is no order to this list, and any one of these issues can seriously compromise the quality of your research. You could refer to the list as a checklist of what to avoid while designing your research.
1. Invalid Theoretical Framework
Usually, researchers neglect to check the reasonableness of hypotheses for testing. If your research design lacks basic assumptions, it is fundamentally flawed and you need to rework your research framework.
2. Inadequate Literature Study
Without a comprehensive review of the research literature, it is difficult to identify and fill gaps in knowledge and information. In addition, you must clearly state how your research contributes to the research field. You can do this by adding value to the relevant literature or by challenging previous findings and assumptions.
3. Insufficient or Incorrect Statistical Analysis
Statistical results are one of the most reliable scientific pieces of evidence. The ultimate goal of a research experiment is to obtain reliable and consistent evidence. Therefore, incorrect statistical analysis can affect the quality of any quantitative research.
4. Undefined Research Problem
This is one of the most basic aspects of research design. The research problem statement must be clear and to do that, you must set the framework for the development of research questions that address core problems.
5. Research Limitations
Every study has some kind of limitation. You should anticipate these limitations and include them in your conclusion as well as the basic research design. Include a statement in your manuscript about perceived limitations and how they were taken into account during experimental design and conclusions.
6. Ethical Implications
The most important issue that is less talked about is the ethical issue. Your research design should include ways to minimize any risk to participants while addressing the research problem or question as well. If you fail to manage the ethical norms along with your research study, the objectives and validity of your research may be questioned.
Experimental Research Design Example
In an experimental design, a researcher gathers plant samples and then randomly assigns half of the samples to photosynthesize in sunlight and the other half to be kept in a dark box without sunlight while controlling all the other variables (nutrients, water, soil, etc.)
By comparing their outcomes in biochemical tests, the researcher can confirm that the changes in the plants were due to the sunlight and not the other variables.
Experimental research is often the final form of study that is conducted in the research process and provides definitive and specific results. But it is not intended for any research. These researches involve a lot of resources, time, and money and are not easy to do unless the foundation of research is built. However, it is widely used in research institutes and commercial industries due to obtaining the most definitive results in a scientific approach.
Have you ever worked on research designs? How was your experience in creating an experimental design? What difficulties did you face? Do write to us or comment below and share your insights on experimental research designs!