What is the primary purpose of experimental research?

The primary purpose of experimental research is to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables. This type of research involves manipulating one variable (the independent variable) and observing the effect on another variable (the dependent variable). By controlling extraneous variables and using random assignment, researchers can infer that any changes in the dependent variable are directly attributable to the manipulation of the independent variable.

This capability to draw causal conclusions distinguishes experimental research from other methodologies, such as correlational studies, which can identify relationships but cannot confirm that one variable causes changes in another. In experimental settings, researchers create conditions that isolate the factors of interest, allowing them to make clearer assessments of cause-and-effect dynamics within the studied phenomena.

While gathering qualitative data and developing theoretical frameworks are important aspects of research, they do not reflect the unique strength of experimental research in terms of determining causality.