EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH • Time Series Design

Experimental Research Defined: A quantitative research • Single-subject quasi-experimental design

that treats or deals with the object or subject of the • PRE-EXPERIMENTAL
research in a definite or exact manner and determines the • One shot Case study
extent of the effects or influence of the treatment on the • One-Group Pre-test Post-test Design
object/subject, then discovers the causes of such effects.
 Conducted in the field or in a laboratory A. Pre-Experimental Designs
 Involves two groups whose members are chosen 1. Post-test only Design
randomly: a. A.k.a. After -only Survey/one-shot survey
 1. Experimental group – the group upon b. Data are collected only once
which the treatment/ influence c. Used when the aim is to describe a situation
/intervention is applied or condition of a study population as it
 2. Control group – the group which does exists.
not receive any treatment d. There is no baseline data
e. Cheap and easy to conduct, but results
STANDARDS TRUE QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL cannot be conclusive as to causality or
EXPERIMEN effect of an intervention.
TAL
Groups Experime  Experimental group
ntal  Control group may be
group absent
Control
group
Manner of Random  If there is a control group,  2. One-Group Pre-test Post-test Design
selection of selection then it adopts a  Used when the study wants to know the
samples for comparative technique in change in characteristics of the study
the control choosing the subjects (the population
and experimental group on  A survey/observation/testing is conducted
experimenta which the treatment or before an intervention is introduced (O1).
l groups condition is applied is not After a period of time, the observation/
chosen randomly but testing is repeated (O1) and the results of
matched with another the pretest (before) and the post-test
group possessing the same (after) are compared to determine
characteristics as the change(s)
experimental group under
treatment)

Research Design of an Experimental Research

• Specify the problem or topic of the research
• Formulate the research problem or hypothesis
• Determine the dependent and independent
variables
• Select the participants or subjects
• Decide on the specific type of experimental
research; meaning whether it will be a true
experimental or quasi-experimental research
• Conduct the experiment
• Collect, analyze and interpret the results
General Steps in conducting Experimental Research
Steps in conducting an Ideal Experimental Research
1. Administer a pre-test to examine the initial
condition of both groups
2. Apply to the experimental group a new condition
3. Give the latter group a post-test to determine the
effects or influence of the treatment or condition
applied to them
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGNS
• TRUE EXPERIMENTAL
• Pre-test Post-test Design
• Post-test only/Control Group Design
• Solomon Four- Group Design
• QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL
• Non-equivalent Control Group
B. Types of Quasi-Experimental Designs
 1. Matched comparison /non-equivalent control
group design
 done in field studies
 An experimental group is compared with a
similar, but not necessarily equivalent,
group
 The two groups only need to have
“collective similarity” (they should have
more or less the same characteristics in
terms of aspects which are relevant to the
study.
 The pretest can be used to determine
whether the two groups have truly
“collective similarity” at the start of the
experiment
 The results of the posttests (O3 and O4) will
also be compared
 The intervention is effective if the change in
the impact/effect indicators in the
experimental group (O3 minus O1) is
significantly higher/better than the change
 on the impact/effect indicators in the
control group (O4 minus O3)
 If not, then the intervention cannot be
considered effective.
 Ex.: If a teacher wants to determine the impact of
an educational campaign on school attendance of
children, the experimental and control groups/areas
should have more or less the same socioeconomic
characteristics, because these factors may also
affect school attendance.
• Steps: 1. the intervention/treatment (X) is
introduced to the experimental group, but withheld
from the control group
• 2. Before the introduction of the intervention, a
survey/observation/testing is conducted in both the
experimental group (O1) and the control group (O2).
• 3. After the introduction of the intervention to the
experimental group, another observation/testing
(posttest) is conducted in both groups (O3 and O4)
 2. Time Series Design
 similar to the pre-test-posttest design except that it
has repeated observation/measurements before
and after the intervention (X)
Steps:
• 1. Before the introduction of the intervention of the
intervention or treatment, a
measurement/observation with respect to the
impact/effect indicators will be conducted several
times at a regular interval, say every 30 days (O1,
O2, O3)
• 2. The intervention is introduced / administered
• 3. Another series of measurement will be
conducted, also at the same time interval as the
first (O4, O5, O6). The same measuring
instruments/device should be used at all times
• The result or pattern of the observations or testing
in the first series of measurements will be
compared with that of the series of measurements
after the intervention.
• If the post-intervention result or pattern is better
than that of the pre-intervention series, then the
intervention can be considered effective.
• However, if the pre-intervention and post-
intervention results are the same, or the post-
intervention result is not significantly better than
that of the pre-intervention, then the intervention
cannot be considered effective.
 Example: A nutritionist wants to evaluate the effect
of a feeding program which is intended to improve
the nutritional status of pre-school children in a
barangay. Before the introduction of the feeding
program, the children (program beneficiaries) will
be weighed (measured) several times at regular
intervals say every 30 days (O1, O2, O3) and then
after the feeding program, another series of
weighing (measurement) will be conducted (O4, O5,
O6), also at the same time interval as the first series
(every 30 days).
C. True Experimental Designs
1. Pre-Test Posttest Control Group Design
Steps: a. Before an intervention/treatment is given to
the experimental group, a survey/observation/testing is
conducted for broth the experimental group (O1) and
the control group (O2). This serves as the pre-test and
the data collected serves as baseline data.
b. The experimental group is exposed to or covered by
an intervention or treatment (X), while the control
group is left alone or given another kind of treatment.
c. After the introduction of the intervention in the
experimental group or area, an evaluation
survey/observation/testing is conducted in both
experimental group (O3) and the control group (O4),
using the same instrument used in both during the
pretest. The results serve as posttest/endline data
d. The baseline (pre-test) and endline (posttest) data
are compared. If the change in the “impact/effect
indicator/s” or dependent variable/s is significantly
better than the change in the control group, then the
intervention is considered effective. If not, then the
intervention is said to have had no effect
 2. Posttest Only Control Group Design
 At least two groups or areas with virtually the same
characteristics are chosen and randomly assigned
(RA) to the control and experimental group. Both
groups are assumed to have similar characteristics
at the start of the study.
 Steps: 1. No pre-test/pre-intervention study is
conducted.
 2. The experimental group is exposed to or covered
by an intervention/treatment, while the control
group is left alone
• 3. After the introduction of an intervention in the
experimental group, an evaluation
survey/observation/testing is conducted in both
experimental and the control groups or areas, using
the same “fair” instrument
• The data gathered from both groups are compared:
if the experimental group shows significantly better
results than the control group with respect to the
impact/effect indicators” or dependent variable/s,
the intervention or treatment is considered
effective. If not, then the intervention is not
effective.

4. Solomon Four Group Design

Major advantage: it can tell the researcher whether
changes in the dependent variable are due to some
interaction effect between the pre-test and the
treatment

Disadvantage: it requires twice as many groups,

doubling time and cost of conducting the experiment.
Upon CBA, many say that the costs and complexity
outweigh the benefits (Graziano and Raulin, 1996)

Example: : Effects of Genetic Counseling and Pre-natal

Supervision on the Incidence of Maternal Complications
in High Risk Women

GROUPS Before After

With Genetic X X
Counseling (EG1)
with pretest

Without genetic X
counseling (CG1)

With prenatal X X
supervision (EG2)
with pretest

Without prenatal X
supervision (CG2)