KINDS OF EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH :

Within the realm of experimental research, there are three major types of design:

A. TRUE-EXPERIMENTAL
True experimental research designs are those where researchers have complete control
over the extraneous variables & can predict confidently that the observed effect on the
dependable variable is only due to the manipulation of the independent variable.1

TRUE-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN must employ the following2:

Random selection of subjects

Use of control groups
Random assignments to control and experimental groups
Random assignment of groups to control and experimental conditions

In order for an experiment to follow a true-experimental design, it must meet the

preceding criteria. There is some variation in true-experimental designs, but that variation
comes in the time(s) that the treatment is given to the experimental group, or in the
observation or measurement (pre-test, post-test, mid-test) area.

Advantages of the true-experimental design include:

Experimental research designs are considered the most powerful designs to establish
the causal relationship between independent & dependent variables.
Where the purpose of research is explanation, causal relationship may be established
among the variables by experimentation, especially in studies involving physical
objects, where the variables are more easily controlled than in human studies.

1
Campbell, D. T. & Stanley, J. C. (1963). Experimental and Quasi- Experimental Designs for
Research.. Chicago: Rand McNally, P.84-86
2
https://www.simplypsychology.org Experimental Method, accessed on November 12th,
2017.
 In this studies, the controlled environment in which the study is conducted can yield a
greater degree of purity in observation.
Conditions not found in a natural setting can be created in an experimental setting,
where the independent variable is manipulated by investigator.
In the experimental approach, we can often create conditions in a short period of time
that may take years to occur naturally. For example, in genetic studies we can breed
strains in very small time, which would take a long time in nature to occur.
When the experiment is conducted in a laboratory, experimental unit, or other
specialized research setting, it is removed from the pressure & problems of real-life
situations & the researcher can pursue his or her studies in a more leisurely, careful, &
concentrated way.

Disadvantages of the true-experimental design include:

Most of the times, the results of experimental research designs cannot be replicated in
studies conducted on human beings due to ethical problems.
For certain research problems, because of the danger to physical & psychological
health of the human subjects, it is not possible to conduct experiments on human
beings.
Many of the human variables neither have valid measurable criteria nor instruments to
measure them. For example, patient welfare or level of wellness cannot be measured
on any scale or by any instrument. In these situations, if a refined experimental design
is used, there may be a mismatch of research design & the variable measuring
instruments.
In experimental studies conducted in natural settings like hospitals or community, it is
not possible to impose control over extraneous variables.
Another disadvantage of the experimental research design is that it is very difficult to
get cooperation from the study participants, because it may involve medical or
surgical treatment or intervention, which may make the prospective subjects reluctant
to participate in research study.
B. QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL

QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS are usually constructions that already exist in the

real world. Those designs that fall into the quasi-experimental category fall short in some
way of the criteria for the true experimental group. A quasi-experimental design will have
some sort of control and experimental group, but these groups probably weren't randomly
selected. Random selection is usally where true-experimental and quasi-experimental designs
differ.

TYPES OF QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

1. Nonrandomized control group design
It is also known as the nonequivalent control group design. This design is identical
to the pretest-posttest control group design, except there is no random assignment of
subjects in experimental & control groups.
In this design, experimental & control groups are selected without randomization, &
dependent variables are observed in experimental as well as control groups
before the intervention.
Later, the experimental group receives treatment & after that posttest observation of
dependant variables is carried out for both the groups to assess the effect of treatment
on experiment group.
For example, this method was used to study the effects of integrated care on quality
of work in nursing homes: a quasi-experiment.
The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of integrated care in the
nursing home sector, & its effect on the quality of work of the caregivers.
A nonequivalent pretest-posttest control group design was used in this study.
Data was collected by through a questionnaire. The result showed that the
intervention appeared to be one successful on the somatic wards.
The caregivers of these wards were more successful in creating a home-like
environment for their residents.
Regarding the effects of the intervention on the quality of work factors, the result
included an increase of social support by supervision. The intervention on the
psychosomatic wards was unsuccessful, through the introduction of integrated care on
the somatic wards was fairly successful.
 2. Time-series design

This design is useful when the experimenter wants to measure the effects of a
treatment over a long period of time.
The experimenter would continue to administer the treatment & measure the effects a
number of times during the course of the experiment.
Generally it is a single-subject research, in which the researcher carries out an
experiment on an individual or on a small number of individuals, by alternating
between administering & then withdrawing the treatment to determine the
effectiveness of the intervention.
A researcher might assess pain levels of a group of patients with low-back pain. After
3 weeks of pain assessment, subjects are taught special exercises to reduce that pain.
During the next 3 weeks, pain levels would again be measured.
Measuring a childs school performance on a weekly basis, & then introducing a new
teaching technique. Then again measuring on a weekly basis.

Some advantages of the quasi-experimental design include:

Quasi-experimental designs are more frequently used because they are more practical
& feasible to conduct research studies in nursing, where in the absence of a large
sample size, randomization &/ or availability of control groups are not always
possible.
This design is more suitable for real-world natural setting than true experimental
research designs.
It allows researchers to evaluate the impact of quasi-independent variables under
naturally occurring conditions.
It may be able to establishing casual relationship. Wherein some of the hypotheses are
practically answered through this design only.

Some Disadvantages of the quasi-experimental design include:

There is no control over extraneous variables influencing the dependant variables.

The absence of a control group or lack of control over the research setting makes the
results of this design less reliable & weak for the establishment of casual relationship
between independent & dependent variables.
C. PRE-EXPERIMENTAL

PRE-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS are lacking in several areas of the true-experimental

criteria. Not only do they lack random selection in most cases, but they usually just employ a
single group. This group receives the "treatment," there is no control group. Pilot studies,
one-shot case studies, and most research using only one group, fall into this category.

Symbols used :
In discussing experimental designs a few symbols are used.
E Experimental group
C Control group
X Independent variable
Y Dependent variable
R Random assignment of subjects to groups
Yb Dependent variable measures taken before experiment /
treatment (pre-test)
Ya Dependent variable measures taken after experiment/ treatment
(Post-test)
Mr Matching subjects and then random assignment to groups.

TYPES OF PRE-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN3:

1. The one group pre-test post-test design :

This is a simple experimental research design without involvement of a control group.

In this design the experimenter takes dependent variable measures (Yb) before the
independent variable (X) is manipulated and again takes its measures (Ya) afterwards: The
difference if any, between the two measurements (Yb and Ya) is computed and is ascribed to
the manipulation of X.

3
http://results.mu.ac.in/myweb_test/Research%20Methadology-Paper-3/Chapter7.pdf#page=2&zoom=auto,-
99,416, accessed on November 12th,2017
Pre-test Independent variable Post-test
Yb X Ya

The experimenter, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of computer-based instruction

(CBI) in teaching of science to grade V students, administers an achievement test to the
whole class (Yb) before teaching through CBI. The test is administered over the same class
again to measure Ya. The means of Yb and Ya are compared and the difference if any is
ascribed to effect of X, i.e. teaching through CBI. The design has the inherent limitation
of using one group only. The design also lacks scope of controlling extraneous
variables like history, maturation, pre-test sensitization, and statistical regression etc.

2. The two groups static design :

This design provides some improvement over the previous by adding a control
group which is not exposed to the experimental treatment. The experimenter may take
two sections of grade-V of one school or grade-V of one school or grade-V students of
two different schools (intact classes) as experimental and control groups respectively
and assume the two groups to be equivalent. No pre-test is taken to ascertain it.
Group Independent Variable Post-test
E X Ya
C - Ya

This design compares the post-test scores of experimental group (Ya E) that has
received experimental treatment (X) with that of control group (Ya C) that has not
received X.
The major limitation of the design is that there is no provision for establishing
the equivalence of the experimental (E) and control (C) groups. However, since no
pretest is used, this design controls for the effects of extraneous variables such history,
maturation, and pre-testing.
ADVANTAGES OF PRE-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
Very simple & convenient to conduct these studies in natural settings, especially in
nursing.
Most suitable design for the beginners in the field of experimental research.
DISADVANTAGES OF PRE-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
Considered a very weak experimental design to establish casual relationship between
independent & dependant variables, because it controls no threat to internal validity.
It has very little control over the research.
It has a higher threat to internal validity of research, & may have a selection bias,
which can be very serious threats for in using this particular design.

If you choose to conduct experimental research, one of your most important tasks will
be to choose the design that gives your research the best combination of internal and external
validity. At the same time, it must be practical enough so that you can actually do the
research in your own circumstances.

Remember, no particular type is right for all situations. Real-world constraints will
often dictate what is practical or possible. In any case you need to be careful to recognize the
weaknesses of the design you choose. Do not attempt to prove things or make claims in your
findings that are beyond the capabilities of your design.

Reference :

Campbell, D. T. & Stanley, J. C. (1963). Experimental and Quasi- Experimental

Designs for Research.. Chicago: Rand McNally
Koul, L. (1984): Methodology of Educational Research (2nd Ed.),Vikash Publishing

House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

https://www.simplypsychology.org Experimental Method, accessed on November

12th, 2017.

http://results.mu.ac.in/myweb_test/Research%20Methadology-Paper-
3/Chapter7.pdf#page=2&zoom=auto,-99,416, accessed on November 12th,2017