Final answer:
Experiments differ from other research methods in two primary ways: they have controlled conditions and the manipulation of variables. A control group and an experimental group are used to determine the impact of the independent variable or intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Experiments are distinct from other research methods primarily due to two components: controlled conditions and manipulation of variables. This is evident in the core structure of experimental design, which typically involves a control group and an experimental group. The control group does not receive the experimental manipulation (treatment), while the experimental group does.
In an ideal experimental design, the only difference between the experimental and control groups is whether participants are exposed to the experimental manipulation. Each group goes through all phases of the experiment, but each group will experience a different level of the independent variable: the experimental group is exposed to the experimental manipulation, and the control group is not. The researcher then measures the changes that are produced in the dependent variable in each group. Once data is collected from both, it is analyzed statistically to determine if there are meaningful differences between the groups.
Experiments also come in two overarching types: lab-based experiments and natural or field experiments. Lab experiments allow the researcher to control the environment and conditions tightly, while in a natural or field experiment, the data collection environment is less controllable, but the data might be more reflective of real-world conditions.
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