Educational psychology focuses on the study of human behavior in which an experimenter can better understand the subject. In order to study the subject, the experimenter uses certain methods to gather data. These methods are Introspection, Observation Method, Case Study Method, Interview Method, Differential Method, and Experimental Method.

In the Experimental Method, a hypothesis is tested with a subject and experimenter, and variables are manipulated, measured, and can be controlled.

For example, a student (the subject) can be carefully observed by the instructor (the experimenter) to measure the hypothesis the instructor is interested in, the student's aptitude (the independent variable), in a controlled environment such as the classroom (the dependent variable). A conclusion is drawn when the instructor observes and gathers how well the student performs in the classroom environment.

So, through the experimental method, a method commonly used in educational psychology to study the learning process and behavior, the subject and the experimenter work together to establish a cause and effect. From there, the independent variable and the dependent variable are observed, a relationship is established, and a conclusion is drawn.