Versuchswege

Versuchswege is a term used in German-language research methodology to denote the various pathways by which experiments are conducted or conceived to test hypotheses. The concept encompasses different experimental designs and settings that researchers can adopt, ranging from tightly controlled laboratory studies to field studies, quasi-experiments, natural experiments, and computer simulations. The choice of Versuchsweg influences how variables are manipulated or observed, and affects considerations of validity, reliability, and practicality.

Etymologically, Versuchswege combines Versuchs- (of experiments) with Wege (paths or routes). In methodological discussions, it serves as a broad umbrella for the strategic options available in experimental research, from ensuring internal control over variables to achieving ecological relevance in real-world contexts.

Common types of Versuchswege include laboratory experiments (high control, randomization), field experiments (greater ecological validity), quasi-experiments (lacking random assignment), natural experiments (exploiting real-world events), and simulation experiments (computational models). Researchers may also distinguish between direct manipulation of independent variables and observational approaches under controlled or natural conditions.

In research planning, describing the Versuchsweg helps articulate the chosen approach to testing a hypothesis and to compare potential trade-offs in validity, reliability, and feasibility. The term is closely related to broader concepts such as Versuchsplanung (experimental design) and Versuchsaufbau (experimental setup), and is considered together with ethical considerations, replication, and preregistration in methodological discourse. See also related terms in Forschungsmethodik and experimental design.