Experimental Research

Experimental research is by definition an attempt by the researcher to maintain control over all factors that may affect the result of an experiment. In doing this, the researcher attempts to determine or predict what may occur.  In reference to this definition, experimental research therefore can be applied to a number of situations.  If done correctly, research such as this can play a huge role in determining the outcome of any given situation.

            A good way to look at experimental research is by examining two random groups of people. This can be done when looking at the approval of the President.  By randomly selecting a group of people, they are all given a pretest.  This pretest is the same for everybody and can come in many forms.  A common pretest form is a survey.  These questions can range from anything; however, for this example the questions will question the participant’s overall approval and feelings toward the President.  As long as the results of these surveys seem to vary and are random for each group, the experiment can move on.  Without them knowing, one group will be titled the control group and the other the experimental group.  Each group will be exposed to all the same information and environment.  However, unknowing, the experimental group will be given one extra detail or changed variable.  For this example, both groups will be given an article on President Obama and his achievements thus far throughout his presidency.  The experimental group, however, will be given a list of all the negative backlash and bad media Obama has received thus far.  Both groups will then take a posttest that will contain the exact same questions as seen on the pretest. 

            The overall point of this experiment is to see whether people’s opinions will change depending on the information they receive.  Another development could also be on how effective the media is on participant’s opinion of the President.  Was their original opinion of him the same or different?  Were they aware of the negative attention he has received?  Experimental research does just this. 

            In the article, The Growth and Development of Experimental Research in Political Science, the author states, “We document how thinking about experimentation has evolved over the century, and demonstrate the growing influence of laboratory, survey, and field experiments.  A number of experiments have transformed how political scientists think about casual relationships in specific substantive areas.  There are limits to the kinds of questions that experiments can address, but experiments have made important contributions in an array of political science subfields.” With this in mind, we can see how the results of the above example can play a role in a real world situation.  Depending on the results, experimental research can hurt the approval of the President. 

            As a whole, experimental research can be very helpful and truth telling.  When done correctly, a lot can be learned that other research methods fail to do.