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2.2 Research hypotheses 27

play the game, the researchers can confidently draw the conclusion that playing this
computer game improves the typing skills of teenagers.
As shown in the above example and summarized in Table 2.1, the most notable
difference between experimental research and the other two types of investigation is
that experimental research enables the identification of causal relationships. Simply
put, it can tell how something happens and, in some cases, why it happens. The
ability of experimental research to identify the true cause of a phenomenon allows
researchers to manipulate the way we do research and achieve the desired results.
To give a few examples, experimental studies are widely adopted in the field of
medicine to identify better drugs or treatment methods for diseases. Scientists also
use experimental research to investigate various questions originating from both the
macro-world, such as the impact of acid rain on plants, and the micro-world, such as
how nerves and cells function.

Table 2.1 Relationship Between Descriptive Research, Relational Research,
and Experimental Research
Type of Research Focus General Claims Typical Methods

Descriptive Describe a situation X is happening Observations, field
or a set of events studies, focus
groups, interviews
Relational Identify relations X is related to Y Observations, field
between multiple studies, surveys
variables
Experimental Identify causes of a X is responsible Controlled
situation or a set of for Y experiments
events

The three kinds of research methods are not totally independent but highly inter-
twined. Typical research projects include a combination of two or even three kinds of
investigation. Descriptive investigations are often the first step of a research program,
enabling researchers to identify interesting phenomena or events that establish the
cornerstone of the research and identify future research directions. Relational investi-
gations enable researchers or practitioners to discover connections between multiple
events or variables. Ultimately, experimental research provides the opportunity to
explore the fundamental causal relations. Each of the three kinds of investigation is
of great importance in the process of scientific discovery.

2.2 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
An experiment normally starts with a research hypothesis. A hypothesis is a pre-
cise problem statement that can be directly tested through an empirical investigation.
Compared with a theory, a hypothesis is a smaller, more focused statement that can
be examined by a single experiment (Rosenthal and Rosnow, 2008). In contrast, a