Experimental observation, also called an intervention study or experimental study, is a prospective analysis, which is characterized by the indirect, superficial manipulation of a study factor by the researcher. This observation is studied and divided by the cases or subjects into two groups called control and experimental. The characteristic of randomization is not essential in the experimental study, thus being called a quasi-experimental study.
The intervention study techniques refer to the population to which the results will be applied through the following steps:
- Selection of the experimental population by random sampling.
- Identification of the participating population.
- Random distribution of the subjects in the groups to be compared, either in the experimental group or the control group.
- Start-up of the study. Administration of the element or factor of study in the experimental group and the control group.
- Observation and measurement of the dependent variables according to the criteria chosen in the study design.
- According to the cooperation or not of the subjects in both groups, four subgroups are created, by subdividing the experimental group and the control group.
- Reading of the results of the study and comparison of the results of the groups. The four subgroups are transformed into eight by subdividing them according to whether they know the result or not.
- The identity of the groups is revealed. The results are analyzed and conclusions are drawn.
a) The observation of facts, consists of selecting facts and trying to explain and understand them through observation.
b) The creation of hypotheses: they are the reasoned assumptions obtained from the observed data. The explanations of the facts are not in sight; it is necessary to imagine them, suppose them, before discovering them.
c) The explanation of mathematical systems to the hypothesis obtained, an approach was applied to give more meaning to the hypothesis obtained. There were two ways to check mathematical systems: Compare that the observed facts are explained by the hypotheses, by introducing logical conclusions in the comparison.
d) Experimentation: when comparing the consequences of the hypotheses with what happens in reality, three possibilities can be proposed:
- The experimentation confirms the hypothesis: the facts obtained are given in reality, therefore the hypotheses are verified (because the facts come out of the hypotheses)
- The experimentation refutes those facts: the facts do not make sense with respect to reality therefore the hypotheses are annulled.
- The consequences of the hypotheses cannot be obtained directly or indirectly, due to the lack of technical means.
