Experimental research: characteristics, definition, examples

The experimental research is the alteration of an experimental variable or several at the same time, in an environment strictly monitored by the person who performs the experiment.

In this way, the researcher can evaluate in what way or for what reason something particular happens. East kind of investigation it is provoked, which allows variables to be modified in intensity, being able to evaluate the causes and consequences of the results.

The objective of the manipulation of variables is to see the changes in the dependent variable in an environment or context strictly controlled by the researcher.

On the contrary, in a non-experimental investigation the person validates the characteristics and factors, and observes the results without modifying or manipulating these characteristics.

In contrast, in experimental research the researcher manipulates the characteristics, intensity and frequency to vary the results.

Experimental research differs from other types of research because the objective of the study and its method depend on the researcher and the decisions he establishes to carry out the experiment.

In the experiment, the variables are manipulated voluntarily and the results are observed in a controlled environment.

Repeats of the experiments are performed to verify certain hypotheses made by the researcher. This can be done in a laboratory or in the field.

Definition according to different authors

Santa Palella and Feliberto Martins

Santa Palella and Feliberto Martins (2010), authors of the book Methodology of quantitative research , define the experimental design as the experiment in which the researcher manipulates an experimental variable not proven.

According to these researchers, the conditions must be strictly controlled, in order to describe in what way and for what cause a phenomenon is produced or can occur.

Phidias Arias

On the other hand, according to Fidias Arias, author of the book The Research Project, "Experimental research is a process that involves subjecting an object or group of individuals under certain conditions, stimuli or treatment (independent variable), to observe the effects or reactions that occur (dependent variable)".

Douglas Montgomery

Douglas Montgomery, specialist in designs of experiments and professor of the University of Arizona in the United States, defines the experiment as an experiment in which one or more variables are deliberately manipulated.

Characteristics of experimental research

The variables or experimental factors are manipulated

The researcher intervenes by modifying variables or factors that affect the experiment and observes the reactions that are generated.

Several factors can be altered simultaneously. However, the ideal is to alter one by one and then alter several, in order to observe the results independently and see how each variation affects the results.

Control groups are established

There must be two groups. One in which the factors and variables are not modified and another in which the manipulation is carried out.

In this way it will be possible to observe the results in both groups and be able to identify the differences. This allows to quantify the change induced by the experimental treatment and guarantees the possibility of verifying the variations in the groups of the variables

It is assigned randomly

With two equivalent groups, the application of the experiment is established in a random way, in order to be able to make the valid relationships from the experimental data. This must be done in two moments:

Since the groups are initially equal in their variables, the differences found after each treatment will be due to the treatment.

Examples of experimental investigations

Study on improving the social climate in the classroom

In a public institute of the community of Valencia called Castellar-Oliveral, an investigation was carried out whose general objective was to improve the social climate of the classroom.

This was intended to be achieved through the application of an education program for coexistence, in which participation and cooperation, conflict resolution and learning standards were promoted.

The fundamental idea of ​​this research was to improve the perception that each student had about the classroom.

In this research, two groups of students were selected. One of the groups was the experimental one; that is, the one who was exposed to the influence of the pedagogical program.

The other group was the control group, which was the one that remained free from the influence of the experiment.

The study is field because it is performed under normal conditions of daily life. In this case, it is in a classroom at school.

Both groups were quite homogeneous, because they studied in the same course (in different sections) and their classrooms were similar, since they had the same conditions.

After the experiment it was found that there was indeed a noticeable improvement in the social climate of the classroom.

These results allowed to consider the application of said education program for coexistence in a generalized manner in both classrooms.

Possible cure for breast and prostate cancer

Julio César Cárdenas, principal scientist of the Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Bioenergetics of the University of Chile, carried out an experiment through which he discovered a possible cure for breast and prostate cancer.

The results of this research were generated after 7 years of studies. During that time, Cardenas was investigating with cells of human beings ( in vitro ) and with mice.

The data that his study showed reflect that there was a 50% decrease in the reproduction of the tumor in prostate and breast cancers.

Although these results are quite encouraging, the researcher states that it is not yet possible to do tests in humans. He estimates that this will happen in about 10 years.

Sleeping badly can cause problems in the couple

According to a study by the University of California, Berkeley, it has been estimated that poor sleep can generate selfish attitudes in people and produce problems in couples .

The research is led by the psychologist Amie Gordon, who states that, in addition to selfish attitudes, it is possible that a bad dream produces a rather negative vision towards life.

The study was based on data collected from 60 couples, who were between 18 and 56 years of age. The aspects that they took into account were the way in which they solved their daily problems and the feelings that they said they had towards their partners.

People who said they had problems with sleep effectively showed much less appreciation towards their partners and were more inconsiderate, showing very little recognition towards their partners.

Discoveries about the regeneration of cancer cells

Scientists at the National Center for Scientific Research in France announced a revolutionary discovery.

It deals with the possibility of regeneration of cells affected by UVA rays used in chemotherapy and radiotherapy procedures.

The method to carry out this discovery was nanotechnology. What these scientists achieved, after many experiments, was to record in real time the enzymes while they were repairing the cancer cells.

The scope of this research is that it may be possible to inhibit the performance of these enzymes when they are preparing to repair cells affected by ultraviolet rays.

Prevention of volcanic action in Mexico

Donald Bruce Dingwell is a scientist at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany.

He carried out an experimental investigation through which he studied the natural processes that are generated when eruptions occur explosively in volcanoes.

What this scientist did was to recreate in a laboratory conditions similar to those experienced before eruptions of volcanoes. Dingwell's intention is to identify possible risks and elements that can be predicted.

The advantage of this research is that it will allow people living near volcanoes to have a normal life.

This will be so because it will be possible to identify elements that can predict the proximity of a volcanic activity, and allow the inhabitants of these areas to have the possibility to act in time.

One of the main beneficiaries of this will be Mexico. The Institute of Geophysics of the National Autonomous University of Mexico hosted a conference given by Dingwell, in which he spoke about his findings.

Among the specific elements explored by this researcher, the texture of magma, the quality of volcanic ash and the concentration of gases stand out. All these are primordial elements to predict volcanic activity.

References

1. Types of research. Retrieved Eumed: eumed.net
2. Scientists discover new repair mechanism of cancer cells. Recovered from Excelsior: excelsior.com.mx
3. Chilean scientist tests possible cure for cancer in the United States after years of research. Recovered from El Dinamo: eldinamo.cl
4. German research would help to make maps of volcano risks. Recovered 20 minutes: 20minutos.com.mx
5. Research methods of experimental approach. Recovered from the Graduate School of the National University of Education Enrique Guzman y Valle: postgradoune.edu.ve