Conducting Experiments

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Discovering causal relationships is the key to experimental research. In abstract terms, this means the relationship between a certain action, X, which alone creates the effect Y. For example, turning the volume knob on your stereo clockwise causes the sound to get louder. In addition, you could observe that turning the knob clockwise alone, and nothing else, caused the sound level to increase. You could further conclude that a causal relationship exists between turning the knob clockwise and an increase in volume; not simply because one caused the other, but because you are certain that nothing else caused the effect.

To read about basic concepts of experimental and quasi-experimental research, click on the items below:

• Independent and Dependent Variables
• Treatment and Hypothesis
• Causality
• Matching and Randomization
• Differences between Quasi-Experimental and Experimental Research