Comparing and Contrasting Experimental and Non-Experimental Methods

Experimental methods

Laboratory expirements

Lab experiments are conducted in special environment
where the variables (IV,DV) can easily be controlled.

Field expirements

A field experiment takes place in a natural environment,
but researchers still manipulate the variables. Participants
don't often know that they are in an experiment.

Natural experiments

A natural experiment is where researchers
no control over the variables. Everything is
occuring and they are already there to be
studied.

Non-experimental methods

Qualitative research

Interviews

Types of Interviews: Unstructured Interviews and semi-structured interviews. An unstructured interview is where there are no questions planned out before the interview is conducted. A semi-structured interview sounds like and informal conversation where the set of questions allows people to answer freely.

Observation

Participant

In a participant observation, the researcher is
involved in the group being observed.

Case study

non-participant

Non-participant observations is where the researcher is not part of the group that they are observing.

Naturalistic

In a naturalistic observation, they often occur
in natural settings.

Overt

In a covert observation, people are aware
that they are being watched by a researcher.

Covert

In a covert observation, people know they're
being watched by the researcher. Participant
observations can be done covertly or overtly
as well.

The experimental method can be used when trying to determine if you change one variable, if it will affect the other. In other words, a cause-and-effect relationship.

The non-experimental method can be used when trying to create a hypothesis that can be tested further later on.

The strengths of using Experimental methods is that researchers would have control over the many variables they wish to use. Better results will come out since the environment is under strict conditions.
The weaknesses of using experimental methods is that there could be an error in trying to conduct the experiment and will affect the results. Another weakness could be that you can not conduct the experiment due to ethical reasons.

The strengths of using a non-experimental method is that it often does not requier to interfere with the study. The weaknesses of a non-experimental methods is that it could also lead to ethical misconduct.