How can you use experimental research to identify stakeholder learning needs?

1 What is experimental research?

Experimental research is a type of research that aims to establish a causal relationship between variables by manipulating one or more factors and measuring the effects on another factor. For example, you might want to test whether a new e-learning module improves the performance of your employees compared to a traditional classroom training. To do this, you would randomly assign your employees to either the e-learning group or the classroom group, and then measure their performance before and after the intervention. The difference between the two groups would indicate the impact of the e-learning module.

2 Why use experimental research for learning?

Experimental research can help you answer questions such as what are the learning needs of your stakeholders and what are the best methods or strategies to address those needs. It can also help you understand how effective your learning interventions are in achieving your learning objectives and how you can improve them based on feedback and data. Through experimental research, you can gain insights into the strengths and weaknesses of your current learning solutions, recognize gaps and opportunities for improvement, and show the value and impact of your learning initiatives.

4 How to implement an experimental research for learning?

To implement an experimental research for learning, you need to obtain ethical approval and informed consent to protect the rights and privacy of your participants. You should also conduct a pilot test to check the feasibility and validity of your research procedures and instruments. Additionally, you must administer the pre-test to measure the baseline performance or knowledge of your participants. Furthermore, you must deliver the intervention to provide the different treatments or conditions to your groups. Finally, you need to administer the post-test to measure the change or improvement in your outcomes.

5 How to evaluate an experimental research for learning?

To evaluate an experimental research for learning, you must analyze your data to test your hypothesis and compare your groups statistically. Then, interpret your results to understand how they relate to your research question and literature. After that, draw conclusions and recommendations based on the implications and limitations of your research. Finally, communicate your results by reporting and sharing your research outcomes and insights with stakeholders. Through experimental research, you can identify stakeholder learning needs and evaluate the effectiveness of your learning solutions. By following these steps, you can design, implement, and evaluate your own experimental research for learning.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?