MIT-WPU | School of Health Sciences & Technology
([Link]. clinical psychology )
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Research Methodology
Dr Shamim Mohammad
Department of Clinical Sciences
Faculty, School of Health Sciences & Technology
Experimental Research
Design
A scientific approach to data collection and measurement.
Used to test hypotheses and investigate cause-and-effect
relationships between variables.
Involves manipulating one or more independent variables
(factors that are believed to influence the outcome) and
measuring the effect on a dependent variable (the outcome of
interest).
Minimizes bias and confounding variables and to increase the
validity of the study
Experimental Research Design
Researcher needs to expose participants to experimental
conditions.
Investigate the effect of the independent variable on the
dependent variable
The independent variable is then manipulated between these
conditions.
Experimental Research Design
Four 4 steps of experimental designs
Step 1: Identify the research purpose and formulate the
hypothesis to be tested
Step2: Design experimental treatments
Step3: Identify the target population and assign
treatments to experimental groups
Step4: Conduct final analysis and derive conclusions
Goal of Experimental Research
Design
Causality-establish cause and effect relationship
Control-Random assignment and controlling
extraneous factors/confounders
Precision- decrease the random errors
(sampling, sample size, tool etc.)
Generalizability- using appropriate sampling
techniques increases external validity
Types-Single Subject Design
Also known as Single Case Experiment
Researchers study the behavior of a single or group of
participant over time, using repeated measurements and
experimental manipulations.
Examine the effects of different interventions on the
participant's behavior. (behavior change or behavior
modification)
This type of design is often used in clinical settings to study
the effectiveness of interventions for individual patients.
Very popular In the field of special education and counselling
A Case of Severe ID
B ehaviour: Grinds teeth
Intervention: Tick plus loud No
There are many variants of this research
design
Between-Subject Design or
Between-Group Design or
Independent Group Design
Participants are randomly assigned to an experimental
group or a control group that receives different
experimental manipulations.
Each participant is assigned to only one condition or
group, and the differences between the groups are then
compared to determine the effect of the independent
variable.
Within Subjects Designs or
Repeated Measures Design
In this design, participants are measured repeatedly
across different conditions or treatments within the
same study, which allows researchers to compare the
effects of different treatments on the same participant
over time.
Mixed Group Design or Mixed Model Design
This design combines elements of both between-subjects and
within-subjects designs. In a mixed design, researchers
manipulate at least two independent variables, with at least
one independent variable being manipulated between groups
and at least one independent variable being manipulated
within groups.
Randomized Group Designs or
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Design
Participants are randomly allocated to either an experimental group
(that receives the intervention) or a control group (that does not
receive the intervention). Researchers then compare the outcomes of
the two groups to determine whether the intervention had an effect
on the dependent variable.
It reduces the potential for selection bias because participants are
randomly assigned to groups. This helps to ensure that any
differences between the groups are due to the intervention, rather
than pre-existing differences between the participants.
Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized Block Design or
Block Randomization or Group
Randomization
• Suppose you are a researcher, and you want to identify whether
a new acid reflux drug is more effective than the one that's
currently available. You gather 500 volunteers with acid reflux,
put the number 1 on 250 cards, and the number 2 on another
250, and place all the cards in a hat. You mix them up and have
people pull out numbers
People who received a “1” receive a new drug, and those who
selected “2” receive the old drug. The image below would be
your original plan, starting with all these volunteers, men and
women, and then you randomly assign them to groups.
The problem is, what if men and women respond differently to
the drug?
Matched Pairs Design
In a matched pair design, participants are paired based on similar
characteristics or traits that could influence the outcome of the
experiment. One participant is assigned to the treatment group and the
other participant is assigned to the control group. This is done to
eliminate the effects of the matched characteristics and to increase the
precision of the experiment.
For example, in a study on the effectiveness of a new medication,
participants might be paired based on age, gender, and severity of the
condition. One participant from each pair is randomly assigned to
receive the medication while the other receives a placebo.
Factorial design
A 2×2 factorial design is a type of experimental design that allows researchers
to understand the effects of two independent variables (each with two levels) on a
single dependent variable.
For example, suppose a botanist wants to understand the effects of sunlight (low
vs. high) and watering frequency (daily vs. weekly) on the growth of a certain
species of plant.
• A 2×2 factorial design because there are two independent variables, each with
two levels:
• Independent variable #1: Sunlight
• Levels: Low, High
• Independent variable #2: Watering Frequency
• Levels: Daily, Weekly
• And there is one dependent variable: Plant growth.
Latin Square Design
Subjects are assigned to treatments in a Latin square pattern such
that each treatment occurs once in each row and column of the
square. It is often used to reduce the effects of confounding variables
and to increase the efficiency of experiments.
A researcher test the effect of four different fertilizers (A, B, C and D)
on the growth of four different plants (1, 2, 3, and 4). We can use a
Latin square design to ensure that each fertilizer is tested on each
plant once and that each plant is tested under each fertilizer once.
Latin Square Design
Four Fertilizer A B C D
Four plants
1 A B C D
2 B C D A
3 C D A B
4 D A B C
Nested Design
A design where experiments have several factors
whose levels are nested within the levels of the
other factors
• Suppose a drinking water supply organization is
interested in studying the chlorine content of water in 3
major districts. 8 villages will be selected at random
within each district and 50 households will be selected at
random within each selected village for measuring the
chlorine content.
• Here, there are 3 factors; districts, villages, and
households.
• The major factor is districts and probably is fixed; the
other 2 factors are nested: villages within districts and
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