2. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
• Experimental method is the most scientific method
of studying behaviour.
• Wilhelm Wundt is considered as the father of
experimental psychology.
3. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
• Experimental psychology refers to work done by those
who apply experimental methods to psychological
study and the process that underlies it.
• Here the emphasis is on experimentation.
• Experimentation consists of objective observation of
actions performed under pre-arranged or rigidly
controlled conditions.
4. ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
• Psychological experiments performed in this method
essentially require two persons,the experimenter and
the subject or the person whose behaviour is to be
observed.
• Psychological experiments are always conducted on
living organisms in contrast to experiments in physical
science,which are generally conducted on inorganic or
dead subject.
5. ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
• The key factor in this method is the controlling
of the conditions or variables.By this control
we can eliminate irrelevant conditions or
variables and isolate relevant ones.
• In an experimental method there are various
experimental designs which is used to control
the variables and measure their effect.
6. MAIN TECHNIQUES OF EXPERIMENTAL
METHOD
1. The control-test method (Method of differences)
2. Control-group method
3. Rotation method
7. 1. The control-test method(Method of
differences)
• In this method we try to differentiate by observing the
performance under different conditions.
• First we observe under normal conditions and then
again with one condition changed.
• Only the measures can be taken several times under
different conditions.
8. 2. Control-group method
• Here the two separate groups are taken.They are
equated on various traits like age,intelligence and
other personality characters.
• Then the one group-control group-is given sugar
capsules and tested on some intelligence test.At the
same time the experimental group is given drug
capsules and tested on the same intelligence test.
• Then intelligence scores of the group are calculated.
9. 3. Rotation method
• This method consists in presenting two or more
stimulating situations to the experimental subjects in
as many sequences as necessary to control the serial
effects of fatigue or practice.
10. MERITS OF EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
• Experimental method is the most systematic
procedure of solving problems.The major advantage is
the ability of the experimenter to control the
application and withdrawal of independent variables.
• The findings of experimental method are verifiable by
other investigators under identical conditions in which
the initial experiment was conducted.
11. • It provides objective and precise information about
the problems.
• It provides innovative ideas for further
experimentation.
• The experimenter can apply controlled procedure
more precisely in laboratory experimentation.
• The experimenter can record the dependent variables
more precisely.
MERITS OF EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
12. WEAKNESSES OF EXPERIMENTAL
METHOD
• All problems of educational psychology cannot be
studied by experimental method.
• The experimental method is time consuming and
costly.
• Experimental method in educational psychology stems
from the fact that experiments cannot handle too well
the patterns of covert behaviour of children in
laboratory.
13. • An experiment is an observation of an artificially
determined pattern of behaviour,so it sets its own
limit by setting the experimental situation to study
behaviour.
• It is not possible to construct tools that will make
accurate and sufficiently discriminating measurements
of individual differences.(Inappropriate,imprecise and
faulty apparatus of psychologists.)
WEAKNESSES OF EXPERIMENTAL
METHOD
14. MAIN STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD
• Make an observation.
• Form a question.After making an interesting
observation,a scientific mind itches to find out more
about it.
• Form a hypothesis.
• Conduct an experiment.
• Analyse the data and draw conclusion.
15. CONCLUSION
• In the experimental method, researchers identify and
define variables,formulate a hypothesis,manipulate
the variables and collect data on the results.
• Extraneous variables are carefully controlled to
minimize a potential impact on the outcome of the
experiment.
