Experimental Research

The Controlled Experiment

Prepared by Dr. Florencia Carlino

The Controlled Experiment

✓Cause and effect experiments

✓A priori hypothesis
✓Experimental group and controlled group
✓Independent vs. dependent variables
✓Types of correlation between variables: direct vs. indirect
✓Strengths and limitations
 What is a controlled experiment?
It is a quantitative research method for testing an a priori hypothesis in a
controlled environment (lab).

(A priori hypothesis: a statement that predicts/anticipates the research results

that is formulated before the experiment starts (a priori in Latin means before)

In controlled experiments, there are 2 groups:

• one is directly exposed to the independent variable: the experimental group.
• the other one is not: the controlled group.

The research goal is to find out what causes the variable under study.

The researcher compares the results obtained in the above 2 groups.

 Cause and effect experiments
• Experiments are usually designed to find the correlation between two
variables:
➢one is called the independent variable: IV (the cause)
➢another one is called the dependent variable: DV (the effect).

• These experiments are called cause and effect.

• If it is determined that one variable causes a particular phenomenon,

then it is called causal research.
 Independent vs. dependent variables
• The hypothesis of the experiment is a statement or proposition that connects the
2 variables:
• the IV (independent variable)
• the DV (dependent variable or the outcome or effect).

• The independent variable is manipulated and controlled in the experimental

group to see what effect/s it produces on the dependent variable

• These 2 variables can be connected in either:

• a direct relationship; or
• an indirect relationship.
 Correlation bt. variables
IV: independent variable
DV: dependent variable
Examples of direct relationship

a. Eating junk food daily (IV) – Gaining weight (DV)

b. Exercising daily (IV) –Forming muscle mass (DV)

Examples of a priori hypothesis

a. People who eat junk food every day (+), gain weight (+).
b. The more people exercise daily (+), the more they form muscles (-).
 Indirect correlation bt. variables
IV: independent variable
DV: dependent variable

Examples of indirect correlation

a. Vaccination(IV) – COVID-19 infection (DV)

b. Eating healthy (IV) –Cholesterol level (DV)

Examples of a priori hypothesis:

a. If people get massively vaccinated (+), COVID-19 infection will diminish (-)
b. The more health food we eat (+), the lower our cholesterol will be (-)
 Strengths and limitations of controlled experiments

• Strengths
• Can test causality/cause and effect (IV causes DV)
• Can isolate/manipulate variables.

• Limitations:
• Artificiality and low generalizability of results to real life. Their results are only
valid for controlled lab environment.
Other examples of experimental research:
• To determine the impact of multi-tasking on retention of information.

• To analyze the impact of class attendance on final grades.

• To find the influence of college education on professional job search.

Let’s put your minds to work…

Practice Activity 4-
The simple experiment

JoVE, Cambridge, MA, (2022). The Simple

Experiment: Two-group Design. JoVE
Science Education Database.
https://www.jove.com/t/10056