Experimental research is a type of research that focuses on the process of discovering reality, principles, theories, knowledge, and new technologies by focusing on the study of changes in variables involved under controlled conditions through the research process to study whether the behavior or situation is the cause of that change. It is comparing the differences of the changed variables with the resulting behaviors in a controlled environment, the discovered facts are summarized and used to explain various behaviors logically.
Therefore, it is research that starts from the cause and moves toward the effect. Whether the related variables are the cause of the observed effects. It is acknowledged as the most reliable type of research. Especially when applied to research in science and technology, it can greatly contribute to the development of new knowledge.
Objectives of experimental research
- To discover the factual causes that lead to the behavior.
- To study the relationship between causes and effects of variables.
- To apply the research findings in practice
- To analyze system flaws and use the findings to improve and enhance its efficiency.
- To be used in experimentation.
Components of Experimental Research
Experimental group, the sample groups that underwent the experiment were divided into two defined control groups, means a group that shares similar characteristics with the experimental group in terms of attributes and size, but is left under normal, unchanged conditions in order to compare various behaviors with those of the experimental group.
There are four types of variables used in experimental research
- Independent Variable: The variable that is expected to be the cause of change, also known as the experimental variable, is referred to as X.
- Dependent Variable: The variable that is expected to be the result of the independent variable, influenced by the actions of the independent variable, and is represented by the symbol Y.
- Intervening variable: An intervening variable is a variable that arises from any behavior occurring during the course of the experiment.
- Confounding variable (Control Variable): A variable that arises during the experimental process and may influence the experiment.
Benefits of experimental research
- It provides a clear understanding of the true causes of various phenomena or behaviors.
- It is a suitable research method for scientific and technological studies.
- It can be used to improve education significantly, allowing for a clear understanding of strengths and weaknesses.
- It aims to develop and create new theories and knowledge in technology, such as nanotechnology.
Procedures for conducting experimental research
- To demonstrate that the independent variable occurs before the dependent variable.
- The independent variable and the dependent variable have a fundamental relationship.
- There is a change in the dependent variable as a result of changes in the independent variable.
Disadvantages of conducting experimental research
- The sample group can cause research bias if the sample group has significantly different characteristics such as Traditions and Culture.
- The research process, if lacking strict control of confounding variables, may result in experimental outcomes that do not truly stem from the actual experiment.
- If there is a lack of a good experimental design, errors may occur.
- Not all hypotheses can be tested.
- If inappropriate statistics are chosen for the experiment.
- Incorrect conclusions will lead to a lack of confidence.
Controlling confounding variables in experimental research
- Experimental research often encounters confounding variables. Researchers must identify various groups of variables. so that they do not influence changes in the dependent variable, the study of the independent variable is being studied to determine that the dependent variable is truly influenced by the independent variable. Therefore, controlling confounding variables requires the control principle known as the max-min-con principle to maximize the systematic variance as much as possible.
- To minimize the variance of errors.
- To control confounding variables that have a systematic effect.
- To use statistics, as statistical techniques can effectively control confounding variables.
- Elimination involves removing variables believed to be involved in the experiment. This allows selecting a sample group with similar characteristics.
Experimental research design
- Basic experimental design: The foundation of experimental research uses for planning experiments by Focusing on studying the changes in the dependent variable due to the influence of the independent variable.
- Actual experimental design: It is focusing on full-scale experimental research. Random sampling is conducted to ensure the distribution of the experimental and control groups covers the entire population. This includes controlling the independent variables and creating groups to compare the experimental results.
- Quasi-experimental design: It is an experimental design that focuses on controlling the independent variable, and controlling for comparing experimental results without random assignment to the experimental groups.
- Other experimental designs: Other experimental designs used in experimental research such as One shot repeated measured design, Latin square design etc.
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