4. Experimental and Non-Experimental

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH (TRUE EXPERIMENT)

-aims to manipulate an independent variable, examining its effect on a dependent variable.

-has the advantage of enabling a researcher to identify a cause and effect between variables.

four elements of true experiment

Manipulation - means that something is purposefully changed by the researcher in the environment

Random Selection - this means that no matter who the participant is, he/she has an equal chance of getting into all of the groups or treatments in an experiment.

Control - is used to prevent outside factors from influencing the study outcome.

Random Assignment - means that if there are groups or treatments in the experiment, participants are assigned to these groups or treatments randomly (like the flip of coin)

NON-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

-does not manipulate the independent variable

-it is not impossible to do but will either be impractical or unethical because this research involves observing and measuring things as they are.