ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the distinction and purpose of non-experimental and experimental research. It discusses the distinction between independent and dependent variables and the distinction between experimental and control groups. A fundamental distinction within a quantitative study is whether research is non-experimental or experimental. A non-experimental design can be descriptive in nature when little is known about a phenomenon. A non-experimental design can also be a correlational design which is exploratory and explanatory in nature, where there is some knowledge base to build on. The predictive relationship can be tested, where the predictor is related to the outcome. An experimental study is predictive in nature. An experimental study is a design in which treatments are given to see how the participants respond to them. In an experiment, the treatments are called the independent variable, and the responses are called the dependent variable. An appropriate control condition is an essential characteristic of good experiments.
