Presentation on Experimental Research Design

Prepared by : Binal.v.Rathwa
F.Y.M.sc Nursing
CONTENT:
Introduction
Definition
Types
Advantages
Disadvantages
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
DESIGN:
INTRODUCTION:
Experimental research is a scientific approach to research, where one or more
independent variables are manipulated and applied to one or more dependent variables to
measure their effect.
Experimental research involves a direct assessment of how one variable influences other.
According to Riley, experimental research design is a power-full design for testing
hypothesis of causal relationship among variables.
DEFINITION
“It is defined as "observation under controlled condition“. It is most scientifically sophisticated
research method.”
Experimental research is a powerful research method to establish cause and effect relationship
(Borg. W.R., Gall, M.D. 1989:639)
An Experimental is a scientific in which the researcher one or more independent variables,
controls any other relevant variables, and observes the effect of the manipulations on the
dependent variable (Ary, Jacob L.C., Sorensen., C:2019-265)
Types of experimental research
design:
1)TRUE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:
INTODUCTION:
True experimental research design are also known as Randomized controlled Trial(RCT).
True experimental research designs are those where researchers have complete control over
the extraneous variables & can predict confidently that the observed effect on the dependable
variable is only due to the manipulation of the independent variable.
 Characteristics:
Manipulation:
It refers to conscious control of the independent variable by the researcher through treatment or
interventions to observe it’s effect on dependent variable.

Control:
It refers to the use of control group and controlling the effects of extraneous variables on the
dependent variable in which researcher is interested.
Randomization:
It means that every subject has an equal chance of being assigned to experimental or control
group this is also known as random assignments of subjects which involves the placement of
study subjects on the random basis.
 Crossover

Randomized Post-test only

Types of True
Experimental
Design

Pretest
Factorial
Post-test
only

Solomon
group
 (i) POST-TEST-ONLY CONTROL
DESIGN:
It Composed of two randomly assigned group, i.e. experimental & control, but neither of which
is pretested before the implementation of treatment on the experimental group.
 In addition, while treatment is implement on the experimental group only, post-test
observation is carried out on both the group to assess the effect of manipulation.
This design can be helpful in situations where it is not possible to pretest the subjects.
For example, to study the effect of an educational intervention related to urinary incontinence
on the subsequent help-seeking behavior of older adults.
(ii)PRE-TEST-POST-TEST-ONLY
DESIGN:
 In this research design, subjects are randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control
group.

 Effect of the dependent variable on both the groups is seen before the treatment (pre- test).

 Later, the treatment is implemented in experimental group only, and after- treatment observation of
dependent variable is made on both the groups to examine the effect of the manipulation of
independent variable on the dependent
(iii)SOLOMON FOUR-GROUP
DESIGN:
It is a combination of pretest post-test control design & post-test only experimental design.
There are two experimental groups (experimental group 1 and experimental group 2) and two
control groups (control group 1 and control group 2). Initially, the investigator randomly assigns
subjects to the four groups. Out of the four groups, only experimental group 1 and control group
1 receive the pre-test, followed by the treatment to the experimental groups 1 and 2
 Finally, all the four groups receive post-test, where the effects of the dependent variables of
the study are observed and comparison is made between the four groups to assess the effect of
independent variable (experimental treatment) on the dependent variable.
(iv)FACTORIAL DESIGN:
In factorial design, a researcher manipulates two or more independent variables simultaneously to
observe their effects on the dependent variables.
This design is useful when there are more than two independent variables called factors to be
tested.
For example, a researcher wants to observe the effects of two different protocols of mouth care on
prevention of VAP when performed at different frequencies in a day
(v)Radomized Block Design:
 Control of inherent differences between experimental subjects & differences in experimental
conditions is one of the difficult problems faced by researcher in biological sciences.
 When there are a large number of experimental comparison groups, the randomized block
design is used to bring homogeneity among selected different groups.
 This is simple method to reduce the variability among the treatment groups by a more
homogeneous combination of the subjects through randomized block design.
For example, a researcher wants to examine the effects of three different antihypertensive drugs on patients
with hypertension.

In this example, to ensure the homogeneity among the subjects under treatment, researcher randomly
places the subjects in homogeneous groups (blocks) like patients with primary hypertension, diabetic patients
with hypertension, & renal patients with hypertension.
(vi)Crossover Research Design:
In this design, subjects are exposed to more than one treatment, where subjects are randomly
assigned to different orders of treatment .
It is also known as repeat measures design.
This design is more efficient in establishing the highest possible similarity among subjects
exposed to different conditions, where groups compared obviously have equal distribution of
characteristics.
Though crossover design is considered as an extremely powerful research design.
 For example, when we compare the effectiveness of the chlorhexidine and saline mouth care protocol,
first we administer the chlorhexidine mouth care protocol on group I and saline mouth care protocol
on the subjects of group II.
 Later, the treatment is swapped, where group I receives the saline mouth care and group II receives
chlorhexidine. In such studies subjects serve as their own control.
Advantages of True
experimental research design:
In this studies, the controlled environment in which the study is conducted can yield a greater
degree of purity in observation.
To establish casual relationship between independent and dependent variables.The controlled
environment in which the study is conducted can yield a greater degree of purity in observation.
When experiment is conducted in laboratory, the pressure and problems of real life situations
are removed and the researcher can pursue the studies in a more leisurely careful and
concentrated way.
Disadvantages of true
experimental research design:
 The results of experimental designs cannot be replicated in studies conducted on human beings
due to ethical problems.
 Many of the human variables neither have valid measurable criteria nor instruments to
measure them.
 If experimental studies conducted in natural settings like hospitals or community, it is not
possible to impose control over extraneous variables.
It is difficult to get cooperation from the study participants because it may involve medical or
surgical treatment or intervention which may make the prospective subjects reluctant to
participate in research study
(2)Quasi Experimental Research
Design:
INTRODUCTION:
 It is a weak experimental design where researcher manipulates independent variables to
observe the effect on dependent variables without presence of randomization and even
sometimes control group for comparison.
 Quasi-experimental research design also called as often non randomized controlled trials
(NRCT).
CHARACTERISTICS:
 Manipulation of the independent variables to observe the effects on the dependent variables.
Lacks randomization of participants to experimental groups, which is one of the essential
characteristics of the RCT and sometimes even control group for comparison.
TYPES OF QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL
DESIGN:
(i)Non Randomized Control
Group Design:
It is also known as the 'nonequivalent control group design’.
This design is identical to the pretest-posttest control group design, except there is no random
assignment of subjects in experimental & control groups.
In this design, experimental & control groups are selected without randomization, & dependent
variables are observed in experimental as well as control groups before the intervention.
 Later, the experimental group receives treatment & after that posttest observation of
dependant variables is carried out for both the groups to assess the effect of treatment on
experiment group.
(ii)Time Series Design:
This design is useful when the experimenter wants to measure the effects of a treatment over
a long period of time.
The experimenter would continue to administer the treatment & measure the effects a
number of times during the course of the experiment.
Generally it is a single-subject research, in which the researcher carries out an experiment on
an individual or on a small number of individuals, by alternating between administering & then
withdrawing the treatment to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
ADVANTAGES OF QUASI-
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
 Quasi-experimental designs are more frequently used because they are more practical &
feasible to conduct research studies in nursing, where in the absence of a large sample size,
randomization &/ or availability of control groups are not always possible.
 This design is more suitable for real-world natural setting than true experimental research
designs.
It allows researchers to evaluate the impact of quasi- independent variables under naturally
occurring conditions.
DISADVANTAGES OF QUASI-
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
There is no control over extraneous variables influencing the dependant variables.
 The absence of a control group or lack of control over the research setting makes the results of
this design less reliable & weak for the establishment of casual relationship between
independent & dependant variables.
(3)PRE-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN:
INTRODUCTION:
 It is a weak form of experimental research, and not commonly used in medical and health
research. Here researcher will not have any control over extraneous variables.
 The pre-experimental research designs are commonly used for pilot study/testing.
TYPES OF PRE-EXPERIMENTAL
DESIGN:
(i)ONE-SHOT CASE DESIGN:
 In this research design, a single experimental group is exposed to a treatment & observations
are made after the implementation of that treatment.
There is no random assignment of subjects to the experimental group & no control group at all.
(ii)ONE-GROUP PRETEST-
POSTTEST DESIGN
 It is a simplest type of pre-experimental research. Non randomized selection of participants is
given pretest followed by treatment/intervention is administered and finally a post-test is
carried out, here there is no control group for comparison and usually carried out with an intact
group.
Static group comparison
One group which has experienced a intervention is compared to another group that did not
have the intervention. The group's participants are chosen nonrandomized method and are
generally pre-existing groups. There is on pretest.
Advantages of pre-
experimental design:
 Very simple & convenient to conduct these studies in nature settings, especially in nursing.
Most suitable design for the beginners in the field of experimental research.
 Disadvantages of pre-experimental
design:

 It is a very weak experimental research where there is always a possibility of threat to internal
and external validity.
Lack credibility to generalize the findings to the general population
SUMMARY:
Introduction of experimental research design.
Definition of experimental research design.
Characteristics experimental research design.
Types of experimental research design.