INTRODUCTION

Datas are observable and measurable facts that provide information about the phenomenon under study.The
task of data collection begins after a research problem has been defined and research design or plan is
checked out. While deciding about the method of data collection to be used for the study, the researcher
should keep in mind two types of data i.e. primary and secondary. The researcher would have to decide
which sort of data he would be collecting and accordingly he would have to select one or the other method
of data collection. We collect primary data during the course of doing experiments in an experimental
research and can obtain primary data either through observation or direct communication with the
respondents. In case of a descriptive type we would perform a survey; either simple survey or census survey
and data can be collected through personnel interviews.

DEFINITION
An experiment refers to an investigation in which a factor or variable under test is isolated and its effect is
measured. In an experiment the investigator measures the effect of an experiment which he conducts
intentionally.
C.R.KOTARI
An experiment is a research process in which, one or more variables are manipulated under conditions that
permit the collection of data that show the effects, if any, of such variables in an unconfused fashion.
BOYD, WESTFALL & STANCH
Experimentation is a research process used to study the casual relationship between variables. It aims at
studying the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable, by keeping the other independent
variable constant through some type of control.

CHARACTERSTICS OF EXPERIMENTATION METHOD

Primary data can be collected.
Experimentation needs special effort.
It is often extremely difficult to design, and it is also a time consuming process.
In experimentation, the researcher can manipulate the independent variable and measure its effect on
the dependent variable. E.g. the effect of various type of promotional strategies on the sale of a given
product can be studied by using different advertising media such as TV, radio and newspaper
Experiments provide the opportunity to vary the treatment in a systematic manner, thus allowing for
the isolation and precise specification of important differences.

PLANNING AND CONDECTING EXPERIMENTS

It is easy to conceive ideas, But difficult to translate the ideas into workable, credible, meaningful set of
experimental operations. This to a great extend depends upon the researchers knowledge, imagination and
intelligence. Yet the general procedure in experimentation may be outlined
1. Determine the hypothesis to be tested and the dependent and independent variable involved in it.
Operationalize the variable by identifying their measurable dimension

2. Select the type of experiment plan. The types of experimental design are based on type of control
group. It may be classified into
One group plan - using the same group as experimental and control group and measuring it before
and after experimental treatment
Matched group plan - Consisting of two identical groups, one to be used as control group and the
other as
experimental group, with( A) post test only measurement or (B) pre post test measurement.
3. Choose the setting. The setting may be field or laboratory
4. Make the experimental condition as nearly the same as the expected real life conditions. This is
essential in order to make the findings reliable
5. Make a record of pre experimental condition
6. Introduce appropriate method for controlling extraneous variables that are not manipulated in the
experiment. These method are
Removing the variable - an extraneous variable may be eliminated completely. For example,
observer distraction may be eliminated by selecting cases with uniform characteristics e.g. using only
male subjects removing sex as a variable
Matching cases selecting - control and experimental group with identical ckaracterstics. By this all
variables are kept constant
Balancing cases - this means assigning subjects to experimental and control group in such a way that
the means and variances of the group are as nearly equal as possible
Randomization this involve pure chance selection and assignment of subject to experimental and
control group. This method eliminates systemic bias and minimizes the effect of extraneous variable.
Analysis of covariance - this is a statistical method of eliminating initial differences on several
variables between the experimental and control groups. Pretest means scores are used as covariance
7. Apply the experimental treatment and record observations and measurements using appropriate
measurement devices. If feasible, repeat the tests several times in order to ensure the accuracy of
results
8. Analyze the result, using appropriate statistical devices.
9. Interpret the result giving consideration in all possible extraneous conditions. No possible cause
should overload as unforeseen condition might influence the result.

ADVANTAGES OF EXPERIMENTATION
Its power to determine casual relationships variable is more effective that of all other methods. The
influence of extraneous variable can be more effectively controlled in this method.
The element of human errors is reduced to the minimum.
In this method better conditions for conducting experiments may be created, than is possible in other
methods.
Experimentation yields generally exact measurements and can be repeated for verifying results.

DISADVANTAGES OF EXPERIMENTATION

The scope for experimentation with human beings is extremely limited

Experiment is often difficult to design, tends to be expensive and time consuming
It is artificial to some extend and may lack realism
Experimentation can be used only in studies of the present but not in studies relating to past or future
The result observed can become artificial i.e., effect of some extraneous variables. For instance, an
experimenter may unwillingly influence his subject to behave in ways that confirm the hypothesis,
particularly if the subject wants to please the experimenter. Laboratory experiment is especially
vulnerable to such artifificialities when subjects know they are being studied and want to create an
impression

TYPES OF EXPERIMENTS
There are two types of experiments

Laboratory experiments
Field experiments

Laboratory experiments
Laboratory experiments are those in which the independent variables is manipulated and
measures of the dependent variable are taken in contrived, artificial setting for the purpose of controlling the
many possible extraneous variables that may affect the dependent variables. Here the investigator creates a
situation in the laboratory very much alike to natural setting.
Purpose of laboratory experiments
To discover casual relationship under controlled conditions.
To test the prediction derived from theory and other researches.
To refine the theories.
Advantages of laboratory method
The experimenter has complete control over the extraneous factors.
The experimenter can manipulate one or more variable and study its or their impact on a dependent
variable.
An experiment yields precise result.
Laboratory experiments have high internal validity. When some cause and effect relation is
discovered between two variables in a well executed laboratory experiments one can have
considerable confidence about the result because one knows that no other outside variable which
were held under check can account for this relationship.
Laboratory experiment can be replicated i.e., results of one study can be reproduced in later study.
Disadvantages of laboratory experiments
The greatest weakness of this method is probably the lack of strength of independent variables. As
laboratory situations are artificial the effect of experimental manipulations are usually weak.
This method is highly structured, thus limiting flexibility
The result cannot be simply generalized to real life situations, because in the latter, various
extraneous forces operate. Thus an experimental method lacks external validity
Some phenomena cannot be studied in a laboratory for example natural disaster and the behavior that
accompanies them
A number of variables such as age, race, intelligence etc cannot be manipulated by the experimenter.
In any cases, it is difficult to successfully manipulate more than three or four independent variables
in any given experiment.
Performing laboratory experiment successfully requires high skill on the part of the experimenter.
Laboratory settings are contrived situations. They lack realism and hence their result may not be
generalized to real life situations.
They lack external validity. An independent variable that is shown to influence a dependent variable
under laboratory conditions may have little or no impact on the same variable in the real life situation
There are ethical and moral objections to the manipulations associated with some experiments where
subjects may experience some psychological or physical harm.

Field experiments
Field experiments are those in which the independent variables are manipulated and
measurements of dependent variables are made on test units in their natural settings. This is an experiment
conducted in real life situation Compared with laboratory experiment a field experiment in corporate less
control. As it is difficult to foresee and control extraneous factors in a field experiment, its result is subject to
large uncontrolled variations.
Purposes of field experiments

 To study complex social influences, processes and their influences. E.g. family planning
programmes.
To uncover possible relationship among variables.
This method is well suited to both testing theory and finding solutions to practical social problems.
It has been used for studying a variety of social action like the learning process in educational
institutions and training centers, changing group productivity, changing organizational cultures,
changing superior-subordinate relationship in organization, changing attitude towards health care,
changing food habits, improving the effectiveness of mass education, determining best procedure and
so on.
Advantages of field experiment
Since field experiments involve studying phenomena in natural setting the generalizability of result
of such studies is greater than that of data from laboratory experiments.
Field experiments are well suited both to the testing of theory and to the solution to the practical
problems.
Studies seeking to determine which teaching method gets the best result are field experiments
The variables in a field experiment usually have a stronger effect than those of a laboratory
experiment, as the field situation is real.
This method is particularly appropriate for studying methods of social influence, social processes and
social changes in real life setting.
As a field experiment deals with the total life situation, it is well suited for studying complex
syndromes and social processes where the interrelationships among many analytical variables are
involved.
Disadvantages of field experiments
The major limitation of this method is the practical difficulty involved in the manipulation of
independent variable and randomization in many field situations
One cannot get the same degree of precision and control in this method as is obtainable in laboratory
experiments
Much more expensive than the laboratory method, also require lot of imagination, patience and
courtesy on the part of the researcher to obtain the consent and cooperation of the people in the
organization where research is to be done.
This method is lack of precision. Precise measurement in realistic situation is not as possible as in
laboratory setting.
A field experiment is a very difficult process, as it calls for social skills and good contacts on the part
of the experimenter and also it is time consuming process. Unless the organization where it has to be
conducted and the subjects cooperate, it is not possible to conduct it

VALIDITY OF EXPERIMENTATION
An experiment should achieve two types of validity internal and external validity. When the effects of
extraneous variables are eliminated and the observed effect on dependent variable can be ascribed solely to
the effect of experimented dependent variable, then the experiment has internal validity. This is generally
achieved in laboratory experiments, because in it extraneous variable is controlled.
The extent to which the result of an experiment can be generalized other setting is known as external
variable. The contribution of an experiment to the body of knowledge depends upon is external validity.
THREATS TO VALIDIDTY IN EXPERIMENTATION
It is difficult to achieve cent percent validity in an experiment, because there are various threats to validity.
Campell and Stanley list twelve threats to validity
Maturation
This means the effect of time. Between the pretest and post test the subject undergo various changes such as
fatigue, boredom, growth or intellectual maturation which may influence their performance and so the

difference between the pre test and post test measurements of their performance cannot be ascribed to the
effect of experimental variables only. This source of invalidity is eliminated/ minimized by before after
design with control group.
History
Other extraneous events may occur during experimentation and thus influence the result. These may be
events that occur in the political, economical or cultural life of the people under study or other minor events
such as illness of a subject, disruption in the experiment of an interruption from any unwanted sources. The
influence of this source of invalidity is greater in a field experiment than in laboratory experiment
Testing
it is impossible that the experience gained in the pretest may result in an increase in the post test
performance. His testing effect is confounded with the effect of experimental variables. The before after
design with control group guards against this sources of invalidity also.
Instrumentation
If the test of instrument used for measurement is not accurate or consistent, or if observer becomes more
experienced or careless, the result will be vitiated
Statistical regression
Those who scored highest in the pretest are likely to score relatively lower in the re test, whereas subject
who score lowest in the pretest are likely to score higher on the re test. Thus, their average score in re test
may be closer to the overall population average. This is merely a statistical illusion. Failure to recognize this
effect may lead the researcher to arrive at erroneous conclusion on the results.
Differential selection
Selection bias arises when the experimental and control groups are not as identical as possible. Techniques
like random selection of subjects and matching may minimize the selection bias.
Experimental mortality
This refers to loss of subject due to dropout, migration etc. this is more likely in long term experiments, and
effect the comparability of retest and post test results. The remedy is to omit the pretest scores of subject
who did not take the post test.
Selection maturation, selection history or selection testing interaction
These interactions between selection and other factors arises when the effect of the other factors differ
between selection and other factors arise when the effect of other factors differ between the groups selected.
Contamination
This is a type of bias which arises when the researcher has some previous knowledge about the subject
involved in an experiment. This may affect the objectivity of his judgment.

CONCLUSION
Experimental designs are the basis of statistical significance and it is the most systematic and fruitful form
of data collection in the social sciences. It allows for maximum control over extraneous variables. An
experiment is a controlled study in which the researcher attempts to understand cause-and-effect
relationships. It can be used as an effective tool for data collection in the research studies.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Textbooks
1. C.R.Kotari. Research methodology methods and techniques. 2nd edition. New age international
publishers. Page no 95.
2. Denis F Polit. Nursing research principles and methods. 7th edition. Lippincott. Page no 168.
3. B T Basvanthappa. Nursing Research. 1st edition. Jaypee Publishers. Page no 290.
4. Houser. Nursing research using and creating evidence. Jones and Barrlet India. Page no 121
Internet
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www.wikipedia.com
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A
SEMINAR ON
EXPERIMENTATION
AS THE METHOD OF
DATA COLLECTION

SUBMITTED TO
SUBMITTED BY
MR.SAM ABRAHAM
MRS.LEKSHMI P

LECTURER
YEAR MSC NURSING
JOSCO COLLEGE OF NURSING
COLLEGE OF NURSING
SUBMITTED ON 23/12/2013

1 ST
JOSCO