Why Experimental Method in is the Most Valuable? Essay

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Abstract

Research method involves the application of human knowledge on physical matter or psychological processes so as to increase the understanding for more discoveries. Among all the research methods that have been used in past, experimental research has been found to be the most reliable because of its ability to be controlled. It makes use of independent and dependent variable where the independent variable is manipulated while all the dependent variables are kept as constant. A standard procedure is used and the experiment can be repeated several times so as to give concordant results and this guarantees reliability of the method because it minimizes chances of human bias.

Introduction

Research method based on experiment involves applied human activity on matter which uses human knowledge with an aim of making discoveries so as to advance his/her knowledge of both the world and the universe. In nursing all the research are scientific and therefore they require practical applications which are done in form of experiments. Experimental method is the most scientific compared to all other research methods because it is the only method the researcher can have control over the procedure. (Donald, 2004 pp 23-25).

Why experimental method is the most valuable

Experimental method unlike all the other methods has control over any situation both in physical science and psychology. Research indicates that almost all psychological researches conducted in past have been based on experiments. A researcher studies on the cause and effects by making a deliberate variation of a particular variable while maintaining the rest variables at a constant. The manipulated variable is the one the researcher is looking at and acts as the cause while the constant/dependent variables are the effect. The importance of the control is to allow the researcher isolate the selected variable so as to study its effect on the dependent variables. This is important to allow conclusion that nothing else other than the independent variable influences the dependent variables. Experimental method gives a chance for replication of results which means repeating the same procedure to find out if the results are concordant. The more agreeing the results are after several repetitions, the more accurate they are taken to be. This gives the researcher confidence on the validity of the theory under test. Repetition is possible because the procedure being used is always standard. (Fischer, 2005 pp 41-44).

The observations made during the experiments can be summarized into a quantitative data that is inform of numerical amounts therefore simplifying analysis of the results through the use of statistical inferential test. Such tests allow the researcher to make statements on the likelihood of the occurrence of the results through chance. Experimentation allows the researcher to have insight into instructional methods and the results of the experiment give a starting point to further the research. The research method allows intuition to shape the practice and even though the researcher may experience intrusion of his/her bias, that does not limit him/her from being reflective on the results. This means that if the researcher is ethical, he/she is critical on the results and can only give them out after reflecting on them carefully. (Fischer, 2005 pp 45-47).

Experiments allow the researcher to make observations on mechanisms that are by nature cumbersome to observe and measure. It is also possible to experimentally model processes that are difficult to model using numerical methods because of the similarity between physical model and prototype that does not exists with numerical models. (Donald, 2004 pp 26-27).

Conclusion

Experimental research is the best of all the research methods because it provides a hands-on control of the variables which make the researcher develop an insight of the content being investigated. High level of reliability on specific influence of particular variables on others that are kept constant is guaranteed. The standard procedure used can give similar result even when different researchers perform the same experiments at different locations and at different times. The standard procedure also makes the research less costly as it can be repeated without necessarily adjusting the location and any trained researcher can pickup the procedure at any point and proceed to make independent results.

References

Donald N. (2004): qualitative methods for health research: Sage publications pp 23-27.

Fischer C. (2005): Research methods and statistics: Elsevier Academic press pp 41-47.

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