The design of an experimental study involves several key steps:
Formulating a Hypothesis: The first step is to formulate a clear, testable hypothesis. Selecting Participants: Participants are selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure a homogeneous study population. Randomization: Participants are randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group to eliminate selection bias. Blinding: To reduce bias, studies often use blinding (single, double, or triple) where participants, investigators, and/or analysts are unaware of group assignments. Follow-up: Participants are monitored over a specified period to collect data on outcomes. Analysis: Statistical methods are used to analyze the data and determine the significance of the findings.
