Experimental and Nonexperimental Research Design

Discussion
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Discussion
Discussion             The two types of quantitative research designs are experimental research and non-experimental research. Experimental research designs typically involve the manipulation of the independent variables (predictor variables) while allowing the dependent variables (outcome variables) to vary naturally. In an experimental research design, the aim of the investigator is to purposely vary the independent variables (predictor variables) and see if there are any causative effects on the dependent variables (outcome variables) (Thompson & Panacek, 2007). In order to ensure that there are no external variables, other than the independent variables, affecting the dependent variables, the study environment is kept constant. One way this balance is achieved is through randomization, where the researcher randomly consigns test subjects/participants to different groups and then treats each group differently. By assigning each group a different value of the independent variable, the investigator minimizes the possibility of any systematic differences between groups affecting the accuracy of his or her experiment (Dehejia, 2015). An example of an experimental research design is where a pharmaceutical company is testing the effects of its new drug for lung cancer. If a sample of lung cancer patients is randomly divided into four groups, with the first three groups receiving differing dosages of the drug, and the fourth group receiving a placeb...