Experimental Research Design

Experimental research design utilizes a controlled testing environment to establish cause-and-effect relations. To accomplish this, a professional statistician manipulates variables in order to establish how they affect dependent variables. In so doing, experimental research design can be applied to the fields of market research, economics, and finance.

Proper Procedure in Experimental Research Design

While such procedures are indeed also used by sociology and psychology, popular applications generally occur in the monetary world. Perhaps some of the most frequently used applications of experimental research design include test markets and purchase laboratories. Typically, experimental design takes two random groups from the same universe, specifically a treatment group and control group.

Once these two groups have been established, the experiment is designed. First, a pretest will measure dependent variables throughout all respective groups, garnering what is known as a "statistical baseline." Next, the experiment itself is conducted, and during this phase, a single independent variable is altered. In the post-test phase, finally, the dependent variable is measured, after experiment completion.

The difference, or lack thereof, between the pretest and post-test readings of the dependent variable constitute findings. A professional statistician ensures that there is such a significant statistical difference in existence. He or she can also ensure proper data collection and analysis.