What type of research is particularly focused on determining cause-and-effect relationships?

Experimental research is specifically designed to identify cause-and-effect relationships between variables. This approach utilizes controlled methods, including manipulation of one variable (the independent variable) while observing the effect on another variable (the dependent variable). By randomly assigning participants to different conditions and controlling for external factors, experimental research helps establish a clearer understanding of how changes in one variable can directly result in changes in another.

This is contrasted with other types of research. Descriptive research focuses on providing a detailed account of a population or phenomenon but does not involve manipulation or control, making it limited in establishing causality. Correlational research examines the relationship between two variables without control or manipulation, simply identifying whether an association exists, which does not confirm that one variable causes changes in another. Observational research involves watching and recording behavior in a natural setting but similarly lacks the experimental manipulation required to draw definitive causal conclusions. Thus, while all forms of research contribute valuable insights, only experimental research can rigorously establish cause-and-effect dynamics.