Question

For each of the following topics, decide whether that topic could be studied using an experimental research design and explain why or why not 

• Effect of parietal lobe damage on people's ability to do basic arithmetic 

• Effect of being clinically depressed on the number of close friendships people have 

• Effect of group training on the social skills of teenagers with Asperger's syndrome 

• Effect of paying people to take an IQ test on their performance on that test 

Answer 1

Experimental research is research conducted with a scientific approach using two sets of variables. The first set acts as a constant, which you use to measure the differences of the second set. Quantitative research methods, for example, are experimental.

We can conduct experimental research in the following situations:

• Time is a vital factor in establishing a relationship between cause and effect.
• Invariable behavior between cause and effect.
• You wish to understand the importance of the cause and effect.

1. Effect of parital lobe damage on peoples ability to do basic arithmatic is a experimental research because it is establishing a relationship between cause and effect. It is seeing that whether there will be any change in the arithmatic abilities if the parital lobe is damaged. Damage in parital lobe and the arithmatic abilities are the two varibles here.

2. Effect of beeing clinically depressed on the number of close friendships is a experimental research because it has two varibles . Number of close friends is a constant variable and the clinical depression is the second varible which changes according to the number of close friends.

3. Effect of group training on the social skills of teenagers with Aspergers syndrome is a experimental design because it has two variables, group training on social skills and Asperger's syndrome. It examine whether group training on social skills can makes changes in the Asperger's symdrome.

4. Effect of paying people to take an IQ test is also an experimental design since it is scientificaly done with two variables. It sees the effect of people taking up the IQ test when they are paid.