ExperimentationThe term, experimentation, refers to the manipulation of an independent variable and the subsequent measurement of a dependent variable. Furthermore, experimenters randomly assign participants to either a treatment group or control group. On the one hand, treatment groups are presented with the actual manipulation of the independent variable or treatment. On the other hand, control groups are given some sort of false manipulation or placebo. The control group serves as a standard by which to compare the treatment group. Since proper random assignment assures that respondents are essentially similar across these groups, experimenters assume that any differences accounted for in the measurement of the dependent variable are the result of the treatment.
The main criticism regarding experimentation concerns the artificiality of the laboratory setting. It is argued that laboratory settings are too artificial; consequently, experiments offer little insight about how people act in more “natural” settings. Experimenters argue that this criticism is invalid because specific findings need not necessarily be replicated in a natural setting. That is, theoretical scope conditions specify the circumstances under which an experiment’s findings may be supported.
The role that experimentation plays in sociological social psychology is a crucial one. Moreover, experimentation offers many advantages pertaining to constructing, empirical testing, and modifying theory. Experimenters maintain that these goals are requisite for any legitimate social science; it is their dedication to these goals that indicates the importance of experimentation.