Psychology seeks to understand how movements manifest themselves and how they ripple through our lives, whether natural or provoked. To do this, they conduct a kind of study that has as its mode of investigation experimental method .

In this way, it is possible to study the most basic cause and effect relationships between phenomena. Understand more about how this controlled research analyzes and develops our relationships and lives.

Table of Contents

• What is the experimental method?
• The experiences
  • Laboratory experiments
  • Experiences in the field
• Goals
  • Understanding
  • Explanation
  • Anticipation
• Groups
• Examples
  • Spectator Effect
  • Escape

What is the experimental method?

Basically, o The experimental method consists of experiments that investigate the motivations of human behavior in certain everyday situations Thus, the observed occurrences are seen from an atomistic and deterministic perspective.

This means that their behavior and causes are observed with a more specific and clinical perspective.

Researchers observe the method as singular and divisible into more discrete parts. This is because there should be no interferences during its realization, at the risk of changing the desired results. Based on this, they were able to directly associate thought with human action .

In this way, they are able to construct the variables of a situation, formulating hypotheses and referring to other variables when they need new data. Moreover, in order to obtain a more satisfactory result, they are strict about controlling variables. This helps to minimize any impact on a given experiment in the lab .

Sounds hard to understand, doesn't it? However, don't worry, it will become clearer in a moment.

The experiences

The experimental method works to manipulate one variable correctly in order to determine whether these changes in it affect another variable So in order to test a hypothesis and verify the results, researchers are methodical in their research. They rely on random assignment, control and induction methods, and manipulation of variables.

To optimize their work, researchers adapt to various formats of experiments, either completely controlled or more open-ended. The experiment in question will depend on a number of factors, such as the hypothesis being worked on, the participants, and even the resources available to the researchers. In general, they can opt for:

Laboratory experiments

These are the environments with the greatest possible control, getting closest to the desired result Thanks to a laboratory, it is easier for other scholars to replicate the same experiments followed here.

However, it is possible that everything that happened in laboratory A will not be repeated in laboratory B.

Experiences in the field

Given the need, researchers can choose to do the experiments in the open, thanks to this, the researcher gets more realistic and therefore more satisfactory results However, variable control here is greatly compromised.

Therefore, this can directly affect the result when a confounding variable is inserted at the time.

Goals

The experimental method has clear bases for its performance. Through it, it is possible to establish some social parameters, in order to study its nature. It is a thorough work, done on a careful basis. However, any adversity can be the rock that will lead to an avalanche, something quite undesirable. Thanks to this, the research has clear objectives:

Understanding

The experimental method builds a more alternate view on how some processes flourish. Through it, we were able to register the tools we need to elaborate a more complete and complex, but still understandable study .

Explanation

By looking at a minimally controlled situation, we can understand the factors that led to the problem. Based on this, we built an explanation for the problem presented In this way, we can identify the combustion catalysts for each movement studied.

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Anticipation

The experiment goes far beyond the problem at hand. It is able to put together a chart that shows how this or that behavior is happening. Thus, motivations are easily clarified and exposed in the light of a more accessible understanding.

Groups

In almost every situation, researchers cannot evaluate each and every member of a society. In response, they choose a group to represent that majority, that is, a sample The procedures will focus on this group in question, evaluating causes and effects in a controlled manner.

The role of the group is to generalize a large mass, that is, to be the basis for an inference about a certain society. However, it is not possible to disregard the particularities of the analyzed group It is through this that the conclusions necessary to obtain the desired results are established.

Therefore, the choice is made randomly, so that the members can make the same assumptions when being nominated and chosen.

In general, to arrive at the results, two groups are set up: the first is the experimental group, where some variable will be inserted and changed; the second is called the control group, where the individuals are not expected to suffer any influence when exposed to this variable. This separation allows a better observation of the situation .

Examples

To better understand the work above, check out these two examples. In a clear way, they translate more easily how the experimental method can help understand a given situation. Through it, we can understand the reactions and behavior of a certain group when exposed to an unexpected element. Let's go to them:

Spectator Effect

This is classified as a phenomenon aimed at the public in common situations. In short, it means that a person tends to be less willing to help someone when there are more people around .

The idea here is to show that the more people concentrated in one place and one in need of help, the harder it is to find the help you need.

An example: someone faints in a busy center. Almost every individual keeps expecting someone to call for an ambulance. The curious thing is that almost everyone has access to a cell phone. However, why don't any of them call?

Escape

A researcher decided to start a research with the help of a cat. By imprisoning the animal in a box repeatedly, he formulated his analysis data. At each new attempt of the animal to escape, the researcher wrote down how long it had been imprisoned, how long it took to get out... Etc.

This would be a way to evaluate how the variables imposed by the researcher would directly interfere with the cat's escape At each new attempt, he would gather information that would help corroborate his research, so that he could abort the process if the results were not satisfactory, or continue the studies.

The experimental method is a project driven by trial and error Repeatedly, if necessary, researchers will hypothesize to determine the causes of certain behaviors in order to reach a conclusion. The way to do this is to induce the individuals of a sample into the situation at hand, minimally avoiding any external interference.

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Thanks to this, we can establish a consensus among a larger population. This allows a hypothetical vision of how we are dealing with today, exposed to various factors Although its nature is complex, the primary application is simple and perfectly observable.

Have you participated in an experiment with the mentioned method? Did you manage to understand on your own what motivated you to do a certain action in the midst of an unexpected situation? Leave your report below and help us expand this behavioral study.

Remember, in our EAD Clinical Psychoanalysis course you can learn how to conduct a study designed with a experimental method At first it seems like something very difficult to do, but practice helps a lot So be sure to enroll to learn more about it!