probably all have heard, repeatedly, on television the phrase "sociological experiment" (Very used to refer to programs of Big Brother).
But ... what is really a sociological experiment?
Sociology as any other science is characterized by using an empirical methodology, ie based on some facts observable and testable reality. Therefore the experiment is a research technique also used in sociology.
There are several types of experiments, but here I will discuss the two most used.
The experiment used a more traditional science (both natural and social) is one that takes two groups formed by different members of a randomly selected population. One group served as a control group and a second experimental group.
The main objective of the experiment is to measure to what degree one or a certain independent variables (such as a stimulus of any kind) influence dependent on other variables. To achieve this objective is exposed to the experimental group (and only experimental) to these independent variables that we wish to study. After this step and medullary observe the changes that have occurred after this exposure to the independent variables.
The purpose of the control group as its name indicates variables control the influence of outer factors that may distort the experiment. To do so before the experiment while observing the control group and do it again after watching. Deduce that all those changes that have occurred in the group both experimental and control due to external factors. The control group serves as a summary to keep under control external variables and thus avoid falling into possible correlations false (spurious) caused by external variables.
The experiment must have a number of conditions but the two most important are validity and reliability.
1) Tieneque be valid (measure what it has to be measured),
2) Reliable (consistent repetition of the experiment should give the same results.) Since
ensure random selection of group members who want to study is an arduous task and resource costs involved are very high in the social sciences often make the cuasiexperiento, which is characterized in that participating members on it are not chosen entirely at random but if you try to seek some representatuividad of the population that we studied.
As I mentioned above there are other types of experiments (eg with several experimental groups and one control or vice versa).
An example of this: If we perform an experiment that is representative of all of English society on how it affects the absence of social relations to the individuals in the cuasiexperimento not do a random sampling of the entire English population and would you choose to all lso experiment to rope members but if we would try to ensure some diversity to ensure representation of socio-demographic profiles (Age, gender, ideology, profession ...).
I must say that I have simplified a lot and I tried that first and foremost something as technical as this area is more or less clear. I apologize if I've ever exceding ramblings on technicalities or because my main goal is to make it as clear as possible and anyone can have a full understanding whether or not understood in the subject.
Now that we all pretty much know what is an experiment in future updates I will tell you quite interesting sociological experiments have been conducted over time and debatiremso on topics such as "Big Brother is a sociological experiment?.
And for you to go thinking ... all those that you have had a chance to see Batman: The Dark Knight (recommend) have noticed that it takes a sociological experiment with two groups ... but is truly a scientific sociological experiment ? ...
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