Experiment

In scientific research, an experiment is a method of investigating causal relationships among variables, or to test a hypothesis. An experiment is a cornerstone of the empirical approach to acquiring data about the world and is used in both w:natural sciences and social sciences. An experiment can be used to help solve practical problems and to support or negate theoretical assumptions. An important aspect of experiments is random assignment.

By type

Psychology

• Single case experiments (N = 1):
  • Focus on behaviour of a single person rather than average behaviour of a group.
  • Record baseline observations, compare with behaviour after treatment.
  • Manipulate IV – therefore more control than a case study
  • Often used in applied behaviour analysis
• Quasi-experiment (Wikipedia)
• Posttest design
• Pretest-posttest design
• Solomon four-group design (Wikipedia)
• Repeated measures

Biology

• In vitro
• In silico, and In papyro
• In vivo
• Ex vivo

Scientific method

• Hypothesis
• Random assignment
• Research questions

Readings

Search for Experiment on Wikipedia.

Wikipedia

• Design of experiments
• Experimental design (Template)
• List of experiments
• Scientific model
• Scientific method
• Statistics (Template)