Experimental Research Comments

In Public Relations Research class we have been discussing Experimental research.  Experimental research is one of the more difficult methods we have discussed in class because of all the sources of invalidity.  But even though there is a lot that can go wrong when conducting an experiment, if you are careful and take your time to thoroughly plan out your experiment you can have great success.  Experiments are used occasionally in the business world, and according to my fellow classmate Alexis Gerleit they are used frequently in the fashion world.  In the fashion industry experimental research is used to determine consumer trends.  When dealing with the fashion industry it is important to be up to date on all the latest trends or your clothes will be considered outdated and not sell.  Alexis talks about how “there are internal and external factors that drive people to shop.” Both intern and external factors are motivators within persons thoughts, the article Alexis talked about highlights all the different experiments conducted to get into the minds of shoppers and figure out what motivates their thought process.  Alexis’s article gave me a greater insight into the world of fashion; I did not realize that so much research went into the fashion industry.

Another one of my classmates Lisa Perez broke down control groups and experimental groups within an experiment.  She talks about the placebo effect by using two groups, A and B as an example.  “Group A would be the experimental group...and they would receive the ‘placebo’.  They would think that the pill is going to make them focus, when in reality it is just sugar.  And group B would be the control group and given the same amount of work to complete without any help.” She then said how if we were researchers we could test the results to see who was more successful at completing their work.  Lisa’s blog provided me with more information regarding control groups and experimental groups.  She was able to break down the two groups into a way in which students could relate to.