Commonly used in sciences such as sociology, psychology, physics, chemistry, biology and medicine, experimental research is a collection of research designs that use manipulation and controlled testing in order to understand

Experimental research uses manipulation and controlled testing to understand causal processes.

Non-causal processes are the concern of correlational or descriptive work.

Only experimental-group processes ignore the essential control comparison.

Only control-group processes miss the treated group entirely.

Manipulation of the cause reveals its effect on the outcome.

It is common across natural and social sciences alike.