1.2 Laboratory experiments Flashcards
Laboratory experiments take place in controlled environments and are the main method used in the natural sciences such as….
Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Why is the word CONTROL important in experimental methods
1) controlled environment which enables the scientist to measure precisely the effects of independent variables on dependent variables,
2) thus establishing cause and effect relationships.
3) This in turn enables them to make predictions about how the dependent variable will act in the future.
Accuracy and Precision?
Theoretical Advantages of Laboratory Experiments
Laboratory experiments allow the precise effects of independent variables on dependent variables to be measured. This in turn makes it possible to establish cause and effect relationships between variables.
Isolation of Variables?
Theoretical Advantages of Laboratory Experiments
‘tomato experiment’ for example, laboratory conditions would allow the researcher to control precisely variations in temperature, moisture and light, this would not be possible in a field
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS HAVE EXCELLENT RELIABILITY FOR TWO MAJOR REASONS:
Firstly, the controlled environment means it easy to replicate the exact environmental conditions of the original experiment and this also means it is relatively easy for the researcher to clearly outline the exact stages of the experiment, again making exact replication easier. This is not necessarily the case in a field experiment, where extraneous variables may interfere with the research process in different ways with repeat-experiments.
Secondly, there is a high level of detachment between the researcher and the respondent. In an experiment, the researcher typically takes on the role of ‘expert’ and simply manipulates variables, trying to have as little interaction with the respondents as the experiment will allow for. This means there is little room for the researcher’s own values to influence the way the respondent reacts to an experiment.
Laboratory experiments lack external validity?
Theoretical Limitations of Laboratory Experiments
sociologists hardly ever use lab experiments because the artificial environment of the laboratory is so far removed from real-life that most Sociologists agree that the results gained from such experiments tell us very little
name two strenghts (practical factors) laboratory experiments
The practical advantages of lab experiments
- Easy to attract funding = because of the prestige of science
- Take place in one setting so researchers can conduct research like any other day job - no need to find ppl
name two limitations (practical factors) laboratory experiments
- times
Deception and lack of informed consent
The ethical limitations of laboratory experiments
The Hawthorne effect gives rise to the firs ethical disadvantages often found in experiments – it is often necessary to deceive subjects as to the true nature of the experiment so that they do not act differently, meaning that they are not in a position to give full, informed consent. This was the case in the Milgram experiment, where the research subjects thought the (invisible) person receiving the shocks was the actual subject rather than themselves.
harm to respondents
The ethical limitations of laboratory experiments
In the case of the original Milgram experiment, ‘many research participants were observed to sweat, stutter, tremble, bit their lips and dig their nails into their flesh, full-blown, uncontrollable seizures were observed for three subjects
