What is an experimental design?

What is an experimental design?

• A. A design that uses surveys only.
• B. A controlled comparison where individuals are randomly assigned to different groups exposed to varying conditions.
• C. A design that observes individuals without intervention.
• D. A design that compares two variables without manipulation.

Answer: (B)

An experimental design is a study where the researcher actively manipulates one variable (the independent variable) and randomly assigns participants to different conditions that receive different levels of that manipulation. This random assignment helps ensure the groups are equivalent before the manipulation, so differences in outcomes after the manipulation can be attributed to the manipulated condition rather than preexisting differences. This setup allows for stronger statements about causality because you can show that changes in the outcome follow the intervention and are not due to other factors. Non-experimental designs, like surveys, simply collect data without altering conditions; observational designs watch behavior without intervention; and correlational designs examine relationships between variables without manipulating anything.

An experimental design is a study where the researcher actively manipulates one variable (the independent variable) and randomly assigns participants to different conditions that receive different levels of that manipulation. This random assignment helps ensure the groups are equivalent before the manipulation, so differences in outcomes after the manipulation can be attributed to the manipulated condition rather than preexisting differences. This setup allows for stronger statements about causality because you can show that changes in the outcome follow the intervention and are not due to other factors.

Non-experimental designs, like surveys, simply collect data without altering conditions; observational designs watch behavior without intervention; and correlational designs examine relationships between variables without manipulating anything.