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Scientific experimentation is a systematic process that involves the formulation of hypotheses, the design of controlled tests, and the collection of data to validate or refute those hypotheses. This method is crucial in the study of natural phenomena, as it allows researchers to draw conclusions based on empirical evidence. In the context of 18th-century electricity and magnetism, scientific experimentation played a pivotal role in advancing knowledge and understanding of these fundamental forces.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

During the 18th century, scientists like Benjamin Franklin conducted experiments with electricity, including his famous kite experiment, which helped establish the connection between lightning and electricity.
The use of controlled experiments became more prevalent in the 18th century, allowing scientists to systematically test theories about electricity and magnetism.
Key discoveries during this period, such as Coulomb's law of electrostatics, were made possible through rigorous experimentation and mathematical modeling.
Scientific societies, such as the Royal Society in London, facilitated communication among scientists and promoted collaborative experimentation in fields related to electricity and magnetism.
The outcomes of these experiments not only enhanced scientific knowledge but also laid the groundwork for future technological advancements in electrical engineering and magnetism.

Review Questions

Scientific experimentation was vital in advancing the understanding of electricity during the 18th century as it allowed scientists to test their ideas under controlled conditions. For instance, Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment provided evidence that lightning is an electrical phenomenon. Such experiments led to the establishment of key concepts like positive and negative charges, which were crucial for the development of electrical theory.
The methods of scientific experimentation evolved significantly in the context of electricity and magnetism throughout the 18th century. Researchers began to adopt more systematic approaches by establishing control groups and replicating experiments to verify results. This shift towards a more rigorous methodology allowed for clearer distinctions between theory and observation, fostering a more profound understanding of electromagnetic principles that would influence later scientific advancements.
The long-term impact of 18th-century scientific experimentation on modern practices is profound, laying a foundational framework for how scientific inquiry is conducted today. The emphasis on empirical evidence, systematic testing, and peer review established standards that are still integral to scientific research. Furthermore, breakthroughs in electricity and magnetism during this time spurred technological developments that led to innovations such as electric power generation and telecommunications, transforming everyday life and shaping contemporary society.

Related terms

Hypothesis : A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, serving as the basis for further investigation and testing in scientific research.

Control Group : A group in an experiment that is kept separate and not subjected to the experimental treatment, used as a benchmark to measure how other variables affect the outcome.

Information acquired by observation or experimentation that is used to support or refute a scientific theory or hypothesis.

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Experiment Definition in Science – What Is a Science Experiment?

In science, an experiment is simply a test of a hypothesis in the scientific method . It is a controlled examination of cause and effect. Here is a look at what a science experiment is (and is not), the key factors in an experiment, examples, and types of experiments.

Experiment Definition in Science

By definition, an experiment is a procedure that tests a hypothesis. A hypothesis, in turn, is a prediction of cause and effect or the predicted outcome of changing one factor of a situation. Both the hypothesis and experiment are components of the scientific method. The steps of the scientific method are:

Make observations.
Ask a question or identify a problem.
State a hypothesis.
Perform an experiment that tests the hypothesis.
Based on the results of the experiment, either accept or reject the hypothesis.
Draw conclusions and report the outcome of the experiment.

Key Parts of an Experiment

The two key parts of an experiment are the independent and dependent variables. The independent variable is the one factor that you control or change in an experiment. The dependent variable is the factor that you measure that responds to the independent variable. An experiment often includes other types of variables , but at its heart, it’s all about the relationship between the independent and dependent variable.

Examples of Experiments

Fertilizer and plant size.

For example, you think a certain fertilizer helps plants grow better. You’ve watched your plants grow and they seem to do better when they have the fertilizer compared to when they don’t. But, observations are only the beginning of science. So, you state a hypothesis: Adding fertilizer increases plant size. Note, you could have stated the hypothesis in different ways. Maybe you think the fertilizer increases plant mass or fruit production, for example. However you state the hypothesis, it includes both the independent and dependent variables. In this case, the independent variable is the presence or absence of fertilizer. The dependent variable is the response to the independent variable, which is the size of the plants.

Now that you have a hypothesis, the next step is designing an experiment that tests it. Experimental design is very important because the way you conduct an experiment influences its outcome. For example, if you use too small of an amount of fertilizer you may see no effect from the treatment. Or, if you dump an entire container of fertilizer on a plant you could kill it! So, recording the steps of the experiment help you judge the outcome of the experiment and aid others who come after you and examine your work. Other factors that might influence your results might include the species of plant and duration of the treatment. Record any conditions that might affect the outcome. Ideally, you want the only difference between your two groups of plants to be whether or not they receive fertilizer. Then, measure the height of the plants and see if there is a difference between the two groups.

Salt and Cookies

You don’t need a lab for an experiment. For example, consider a baking experiment. Let’s say you like the flavor of salt in your cookies, but you’re pretty sure the batch you made using extra salt fell a bit flat. If you double the amount of salt in a recipe, will it affect their size? Here, the independent variable is the amount of salt in the recipe and the dependent variable is cookie size.

Test this hypothesis with an experiment. Bake cookies using the normal recipe (your control group ) and bake some using twice the salt (the experimental group). Make sure it’s the exact same recipe. Bake the cookies at the same temperature and for the same time. Only change the amount of salt in the recipe. Then measure the height or diameter of the cookies and decide whether to accept or reject the hypothesis.

Examples of Things That Are Not Experiments

Based on the examples of experiments, you should see what is not an experiment:

Making observations does not constitute an experiment. Initial observations often lead to an experiment, but are not a substitute for one.
Making a model is not an experiment.
Neither is making a poster.
Just trying something to see what happens is not an experiment. You need a hypothesis or prediction about the outcome.
Changing a lot of things at once isn’t an experiment. You only have one independent and one dependent variable. However, in an experiment, you might suspect the independent variable has an effect on a separate. So, you design a new experiment to test this.

Types of Experiments

There are three main types of experiments: controlled experiments, natural experiments, and field experiments,

Controlled experiment : A controlled experiment compares two groups of samples that differ only in independent variable. For example, a drug trial compares the effect of a group taking a placebo (control group) against those getting the drug (the treatment group). Experiments in a lab or home generally are controlled experiments
Natural experiment : Another name for a natural experiment is a quasi-experiment. In this type of experiment, the researcher does not directly control the independent variable, plus there may be other variables at play. Here, the goal is establishing a correlation between the independent and dependent variable. For example, in the formation of new elements a scientist hypothesizes that a certain collision between particles creates a new atom. But, other outcomes may be possible. Or, perhaps only decay products are observed that indicate the element, and not the new atom itself. Many fields of science rely on natural experiments, since controlled experiments aren’t always possible.
Field experiment : While a controlled experiments takes place in a lab or other controlled setting, a field experiment occurs in a natural setting. Some phenomena cannot be readily studied in a lab or else the setting exerts an influence that affects the results. So, a field experiment may have higher validity. However, since the setting is not controlled, it is also subject to external factors and potential contamination. For example, if you study whether a certain plumage color affects bird mate selection, a field experiment in a natural environment eliminates the stressors of an artificial environment. Yet, other factors that could be controlled in a lab may influence results. For example, nutrition and health are controlled in a lab, but not in the field.
Bailey, R.A. (2008). Design of Comparative Experiments . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521683579.
di Francia, G. Toraldo (1981). The Investigation of the Physical World . Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-29925-X.
Hinkelmann, Klaus; Kempthorne, Oscar (2008). Design and Analysis of Experiments. Volume I: Introduction to Experimental Design (2nd ed.). Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-72756-9.
Holland, Paul W. (December 1986). “Statistics and Causal Inference”. Journal of the American Statistical Association . 81 (396): 945–960. doi: 10.2307/2289064
Stohr-Hunt, Patricia (1996). “An Analysis of Frequency of Hands-on Experience and Science Achievement”. Journal of Research in Science Teaching . 33 (1): 101–109. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2736(199601)33:1<101::AID-TEA6>3.0.CO;2-Z

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Definition of experiment

(Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of experiment (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

experimentation

Examples of experiment in a Sentence

Word history.

Middle English, "testing, proof, remedy," borrowed from Anglo-French esperiment, borrowed from Latin experīmentum "testing, experience, proof," from experīrī "to put to the test, attempt, have experience of, undergo" + -mentum -ment — more at experience entry 1

verbal derivative of experiment entry 1

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

1787, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing experiment

control experiment
controlled experiment
experiment station
pre - experiment
thought experiment

Articles Related to experiment

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In scientific reasoning, they're two completely different things

Dictionary Entries Near experiment

experiential time

experimental

Cite this Entry

“Experiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/experiment. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

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Kids definition of experiment.

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Medical Definition

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experiment noun

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What does the noun experiment mean?

There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun experiment , five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun experiment ?

How is the noun experiment pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun experiment come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun experiment is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for experiment is from before 1382, in Bible (Wycliffite, early version) .

experiment is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French . Partly a borrowing from Latin .

Etymons: French experiment ; Latin experīmentum .

Nearby entries

experiencing, adj. 1697–
experiency, n. 1556
experient, adj. & n. ?1440–
experiential, adj. 1658–
experientialism, n. 1865–
experientialist, n. 1866–
experientially, adv. 1647–
experiential philosopher, n. 1866–
experiential philosophy, n. 1848–
experiently, adv. 1473–1849
experiment, n. a1382–
experiment, v. 1481–
experimental, adj. & n. c1449–
experimental archaeology, n. 1961–
experimental farm, n. 1739–
experimentalism, n. 1808–
experimentalist, n. & adj. 1677–
experimentalize, v. 1751–
experimentalizer, n. 1831–
experimentalizing, n. 1809–1929
experimentally, adv. a1460–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for experiment, n..

experiment, n. was revised in March 2024.

experiment, n. was last modified in December 2024.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
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Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into experiment, n. in December 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1894)

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Psychology Definitions

Experiment: Psychology Definition, History & Examples

In the realm of psychology, an experiment is a methodological approach that allows researchers to investigate causal relationships between variables in a controlled environment . This empirical technique underpins the scientific rigor of psychological inquiry, enabling practitioners to systematically manipulate independent variables and observe the resultant effects on dependent variables.

The history of psychological experimentation dates back to the late 19th century, with seminal figures such as Wilhelm Wundt and William James laying the groundwork for experimental psychology. Over the years, notable experiments, like the Milgram obedience study and the Stanford prison experiment , have profoundly shaped our understanding of human behavior . Such examples illustrate the versatility and ethical considerations inherent in experimental design.

This introduction will delve into the foundational aspects of psychological experiments, charting their historical evolution and showcasing pivotal examples that have influenced contemporary psychological thought.

Table of Contents

An experiment in psychology is a research method that allows scientists to manipulate and control variables to study their effects on behavior or mental processes. It involves changing certain factors and observing how they directly impact outcomes.

Experiments can be conducted in controlled environments or natural settings, and they use independent and dependent variables to measure and assess results. The goal is to establish cause-and-effect relationships and ensure the reliability of findings through standardized conditions.

The term ‘psychology’ originated in ancient Greece, with its roots in the Greek words ‘psyche’ (meaning ‘soul’ or ‘mind’) and ‘logos’ (meaning ‘study’ or ‘knowledge’). However, the formal establishment of psychology as a scientific discipline began in the late 19th century.

The late 19th century marked a significant shift in the study of psychology, as it transitioned from philosophical inquiry to empirical science. This period saw the emergence of systematic study of the mind and behavior through controlled experimentation, which became integral to the field of psychology.

One of the key figures associated with the development of psychology is Wilhelm Wundt. In 1879, Wundt established the first experimental psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany. This marked a turning point in psychology, as it emphasized the use of rigorous scientific methods to investigate psychological phenomena. Wundt’s work focused on introspection, which involved the self-observation and reporting of one’s own thoughts and feelings. His emphasis on objective observation and experimental methods laid the foundation for the scientific study of psychology.

Another influential figure in the evolution of psychology is William James. James, an American psychologist and philosopher, emphasized the importance of studying behavior and its practical implications . His work, published in the seminal book ‘The Principles of Psychology’ in 1890, contributed to the development of functionalism , a psychological perspective that focused on the purpose and function of mental processes.

John B. Watson, an American psychologist, further refined the experimental approach in psychology with his emphasis on behaviorism . Watson believed that psychology should focus solely on observable behavior, rejecting the study of mental processes. His famous ‘Little Albert’ experiment, conducted in 1920, demonstrated the principles of classical conditioning and highlighted the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior.

Significant events and studies have contributed to the evolution of psychology. One such event was the establishment of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1892. The APA became a platform for psychologists to share research findings, collaborate, and further develop the field.

In the early 20th century, Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory had a profound impact on psychology. Freud’s emphasis on the unconscious mind and the role of early childhood experiences shaped the field and led to the development of psychodynamic theories.

The mid-20th century saw the rise of cognitive psychology, which focused on the study of mental processes such as perception , memory , and thinking. The advent of computer technology and cognitive science contributed to the development of this field.

The Milgram obedience study, conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s, is considered a landmark in experimental psychology because it provides valuable insights into how people respond to authority and conform in real-life situations. To better understand its application, here are some practical examples:

Workplace Hierarchy: Imagine you are working in a company where your supervisor asks you to complete a task that goes against your ethical principles. Despite your reservations, you comply with their request because you feel obligated to follow their authority.
Peer Pressure: Let’s say you are in a group of friends who want to try a risky activity, like bungee jumping, but you have a fear of heights. Despite your discomfort, you may feel pressured to participate to avoid being seen as weak or different from the group.
Advertising Influence: Consider a situation where you see a celebrity endorsing a particular brand of clothing. Even if you are not necessarily a fan of that brand, you might be more inclined to purchase their products because the influential figure promotes them.
Parental Authority: As a child, you may have experienced instances where your parents instructed you to behave in a certain way, even if you didn’t fully understand the reasons behind their rules. You complied because they were the authority figures in your life.

These examples demonstrate how the Milgram obedience study’s findings are relevant to everyday life. They highlight the power of authority figures and the tendency for individuals to conform to their demands, even if it goes against their own beliefs or values. Understanding this concept can help us navigate situations where we may feel compelled to comply with authority, allowing for more informed decision-making.

Related Terms

Delving into the realm of experimental psychology necessitates an understanding of key terms such as ‘variable,’ ‘control group,’ ‘randomization,’ and ‘independent variable ,’ which are essential for designing and interpreting studies.

Variables are the elements that researchers manipulate (independent) or measure (dependent) to observe effects. The independent variable is the variable that is deliberately manipulated by the researcher to see its impact on the dependent variable.

The control group serves as a baseline , not receiving the experimental treatment, to provide comparative data against the experimental group.

Randomization is the process of assigning participants to different groups in a manner that reduces bias, ensuring each subject has an equal chance of being placed in any group.

These terms establish the foundation for experimental integrity, allowing researchers to attribute observed effects to specific causes with greater confidence. Proper utilization of these concepts enhances the validity and reliability of psychological research.

To further substantiate the concepts discussed, a selection of reputable sources, studies, and publications will be cited, providing a robust foundation for the understanding of the psychology term.

These references are academically credible and have contributed significant knowledge to the field of psychology. They serve as a starting point for further reading and exploration.

The cited sources include seminal studies, reputable journals, authoritative textbooks , and meta-analyses that have shaped the understanding of the psychology term. Each reference has been carefully evaluated for its methodological rigor and impact on advancing psychological science.

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experiment (n.)

mid-14c., "action of observing or testing; an observation, test, or trial;" also "piece of evidence or empirical proof; feat of magic or sorcery," from Old French esperment "practical knowledge, cunning; enchantment, magic spell; trial, proof, example; lesson, sign, indication," from Latin experimentum "a trial, test, proof, experiment," noun of action from experiri "to try, test," from ex "out of" (see ex- ) + peritus "experienced, tested," from PIE *per-yo- , suffixed form of root *per- (3) "to try, risk."

experiment (v.)

"make trial, operate (on something) so as to discover some unknown fact or to establish it when known," late 15c., from experiment (n.). Intransitive sense by 1787. Related: Experimented ; experimenting .

Entries linking to experiment

mid 15c., "having experience," from experiment (n.) + -al (1). Meaning "based on experiment" is from 1560s. Meaning "for the sake of experiment" is from 1792.

"the act or practice of making experiments, the process of experimenting," 1670s, noun of action from experiment (v.).

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Dictionary entries near experiment

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