Experiment method,its advantages and disadvantages

All sociological exploreers make aim of the data collected to block egress their hypotheses, simply the way and modes use differ from one sociological study to an opposite. There ar four general techniques, the persona study, the audition, the observational study and the survey. An try is a scientific mode in which data be collected to be tried and true to prove a hypothesis using either unaffiliated inconstants in a closed environment or certified variables in an opened environment.

There are two types of essay, the laboratory prove that is as its name suggests conducted in laboratory and the field experiment conducted in a natural environment. The advocates of positivism nourish the use of experiment due to its many advantages. Karl Popper for slip, believed that the data-based method is extremely useful because it allows the sort of precision in the making and restate testing of predictions that he advocates. Due to its accuracy in producing scientific leads, researchers erect be more confident since their theories can be tested scientifically.

In the laboratory experiments, in babelike variables can be controlled and manipulated save they wish. They can isolate variables and jibe variables to measure the tack of the myrmecophilous variables they are studying. This enables them to make predictions and establish correlations, causal connections and supposed laws between the variables. For mannequin, if the researchers want to find the remedy for a disease for example cancer he or she whitethorn isolate the dependent variables and add external elements, the independent variable to see the nub of much(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) action whether or not the independent variable can eliminate the cancer cells.

The result will at that placefore be observed, measured and quantified. This is anformer(a) advantage of the laboratory experiment. The result can be objectively observed and the researchers value fancy will have less or no effect on the result.

The laboratory experiment also facilitates replication so long as the precise nature of the experiment is recorded, other scientist can reproduce identical conditions to see if the same results are obtained. Other researchers are able to falsify or moderate the earlier result obtained. This is crucial to ensure that all scientific results are reliable.

The use of experiment conjectures natural science methodological analysis that advocates accuracy reliability and precision. Clearly by the use of experiments, sociology can be considered as a science.

There are however some(prenominal) limitations and exceptions in the experiment method. The primary weakness is that its results may not apply to extinctside of the experimental setting. By creating an mawkish condition, researchers are actually assuming that the natural setting is similar to the experimental setting. This might render the outcome of the study. The real world may not be as controlled as the experiment since there are other external factors such as gracious conciseness that must be dealt with. hence, the results have confine or unknown validity.

It is also impractical to carry out experiments in laboratories on many offsprings of interest to sociologist. Sociology is the study of society. Every chance of individuals in society must be considered. By selecting a group of people to represent the entire society, the results may be doubted. Researchers may use volunteers that consist of students. This may not reflect the true nature of the phenomenon universe studied. It is not possible to blend in the entire society into the laboratory. The selection of volunteers may not be diverse and personal judgment may enter the research.

Researchers on societies may take quite a considerable sequence. It is not possible to carry out experiments over a sufficiently long quantify span to study social problems such as social change.

All experiments are constraint on a certain amount of physical limitations be it the source of income, time and current state of knowledge. Researchers have to make use of the limited amount of resources. This will render the results. Experimental methods are intent to small scale studies.

Field experiments have the problem of not cosmos able to control variables as closely as in the laboratory experiments. For example, in the Sissons experiment, it was not possible to carry out two or more experiments at the same time and at the same place due to many limitations. Therefore variables such as weather, the time of day and the state of feelings and emotions of the dependent matter have affected the results.

Political pressure drives experimentation and forces undependable results. Sometimes the researchers may have the consent from the government in the lead conducting their experiment. The fact that the government may influence the research do the result not totally reliable. Specific funding and support may drive the outcomes of experimentation and cause the results to be skewed. The subscriber of these results may not be aware of these biases and should approach experimentation with a critical eye.

Researchers biasness, interest may alter or render the results. Often, results that do not suit the researchers paradigm are altered or sometimes variables are added or manipulated to be in line with their interest.

In some field experiments the fact that the experiment is taking place may render the results. This is known as the Hawthorne Effect. The subject matter being tested will not act naturally and this will create a monstrous picture of phenomenon being observed. The Hawthorne Effect was a term used in scientific studies after a famous experiment conducted at the Hawthorne works of the Western Electricity Company in Chicago. The experiment was intended to test and measure workers productivity. The fact that they knew they were being observed made them responded to the test.

Ethical issues may emerge during the put to work of experimentation. To revoke the Hawthorne Effect, researchers will sometimes be forced to carry out the experiment without the consent of the subject matter. The morality of carrying out such experiments can be questioned. Some experiments may defy honest and valet de chambre rights.

Since scientific method is a matter of human construction, it is subject to human error. The researchers Personal bias may flare up upon the experiment, as well. For example, certain preconceptions may dictate the course of the research and affect the style of the subjects. The researcher does bring bias to experimentation, but bias does not limit an ability to be reflective. An honorable researcher thinks critically about results and reports those results after careful reflection. Concerns over bias can be leveled against any research method.

The subject matter of sociology, human being has consciousness, feelings and emotion. To study human behavior with accuracy is not possible. When a human population is involved, experimental research becomes concerned if behavior can be predicted or studied with validity. Rationalizing human behavior through the process of experimentation, when a researcher is conducting the experiment in a laboratory and creating an artificial condition does not account for the process of thought, making outcomes of that process fallible (Eisenberg, 1996).

From my personal view, experiment is still the best method to be considered when conducting sociological study because of its accuracy compare to other methods. To overcome the limitations of experimental method, researchers can think of other ways, for example combining their experimental method with other qualitative methods such as case study, ethnography, observational research and interviews. These methods can be used as preconditions for experimentation or conducted simultaneously to add validity to the study.

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