What differentiates an experimental study?

An experimental study is characterized by the inclusion of a control group, which is essential for determining the effect of an intervention or treatment. In experimental designs, participants are typically randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which receives the treatment, or the control group, which does not. This allows researchers to compare outcomes between the two groups and isolate the effect of the treatment from other variables. The use of a control group helps to reduce bias and increase the validity of the study’s findings, enabling clearer inferences about causality.

While qualitative data, surveys, and clinical settings can all play roles in research, they are not definitive characteristics that differentiate experimental studies from other types of research. Qualitative data may be present in observational or descriptive studies, surveys are more common in correlational studies, and research conducted in clinical settings does not inherently qualify as experimental unless it includes the necessary manipulations and control groups. Thus, the essence of an experimental study lies in its structure, particularly the incorporation of a control group, which is vital for inferring cause and effect relationships.