(3) Experiments Flashcards
Describe 3 Characteristics of LAB EXPERIMENTS
and what type of data is collected
- MOST SCIENTIFIC method researcher can use
- TIGHTLY CONTROLLED
- ARTIFICIAL ENVIRONMENT
QUANTITATIVE data is collected- positivists
Describe 3 Characteristics of the RELIABILITY of LAB EXPERIMENTS
- can be REPLICATED EXACTLY again
- should PRODUCE the SAME RESULTS EVERY TIME
- SCIENTISTS’ personal FEELINGS/opinions have NO IMPACT on the RESULTS or outcomes
What are 3 PRACTICAL ISSUES of LAB EXPERIMENTS
- HAWTHORNE EFFECT - a lab experiment is an ARTIFICIAL ENVIRONMENT , and ANY BEHAVIOUR that occurs in it MAY be ARTIFICIAL. If they know they’re being experimented on they may act differently
- INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPLEX - it’s NOT POSSIBLE to MATCH the MEMBERS of the control, and experimental groups EXACTLY. While we can find the identical samples of chemicals , NO TWO HUMANS are EXACTLY ALIKE
- SMALL SAMPLES - lab experiments can ONLY STUDY SMALL SAMPLES are NOT SUITABLE for LARGE SCALE phenomena
What are 2 ETHICAL ISSUES of LAB EXPERIMENTS
- LACK OF INFORMED CONSENT - informing subjects of ALL the DETAILS of the EXPERIMENT can be SELF-DEFEATING and therefore SUBJECTS MUST BE DECEIVED so they DON’T ACT DIFFERENTLY
HARM - experiments can harm subjects MENTALLY and PHYSICALLY like in MILGRIM obedience experiment
What are 3 THEORETICAL ISSUES of LAB EXPERIMENTS
3 reasons positivists
POSITIVISTS favour LAB Experiments as :
- the ORGINAL EXPERIMENTER can CONTROL the CONDITIONS and SPECIFY the PRECISE STEPS needed to REPEAT It
- it PRODUCES QUALITATIVE DATA that can EASILY be COMPARED to Original
- It’s DETACHED and OBJECTIVE method : the researcher manipulates the variables and records the results. their SUBJECTIVE FEELINGS have NO EFFECT on the OUTCOME of the experiment
What are 5 WAYS LAB Experiments can be used to STUDY ISSUES in EDUCATION
- TEACHER EXPECTATIONS
- CLASSROOM INTERACTION
- LABELLING
- PUPILS’ SELF-CONECPETS
- SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY
Who are 2 RESEARCHERS that have used LAB EXPERIMENTS to investigate TEACHER EXPECTATIONS
- HARVEY and SLATIN
- MASON
Explain HARVEY and SLATIN’S Lab Experiment on TEACHER EXPECTATIONS
examined WHETHER TEACHERS had PRE CONCEIVED ideas ABOUT PUPILS of DIFFERENT SOCIAL CLASS
sample of 96 teachers
SHOWN PHOTOGRAPHS of CHILDREN , were EQUALLY DIVIDED in terms of GENDER and ETHNICITY
teachers had to RATE CHILDREN in terms of their ATTITUDES to education.
RESEARCH SHOWED that LOWER CLASS students were RATED LESS FAVOURABLY
What is an ARTIFICALITY ISSUE and an ETHICAL ISSUE of HARVEY and SLATIN’S Lab Experiments
Artificiality - used PHOTOGRAPHS of Pupils RATHER than REAL PUPILS
Ethical Issue - NO USE of REAL PUPILS
Explain MASON’S LAB EXPERIMENT on TEACHER EXPECTATION
looked at WHETHER NEGATIVE or POSITIVE Expectation had the GREATER EFFECT
- TEACHERS GIVEN Positive, Negative or Neutral reports on a pupil
- OBSERVED Video Recording of PUPILS TAKING a TEST, watching to see If Any Errors were Made
- were ASKED to PREDICT the Pupils End of Year ATTAINMENT
found that NEGATIVE REPORTS had a much GREATER INPACT than the Positive Ones on TEACHER EXPECTATION
What are 2 PRACTICAL ISSUES of Methods in Context - LAB Experiments
For TEACHER EXPECTATION:
- EXPECTATION may be INFLUENCED by OTHER VARIABLES such as Class Size, Streaming, Type of School
- IMPOSSIBLE to IDENTIFY and therefore CONTROL ALL the VARIABLES that might INFLUENCE Teacher Expectation
What are NARROW FOCUS points for Methods in Context - Lab Experiments
For TEACHER EXPECTATION:
- ONLY EXAMINE ONE ASPECT of teacher expectation such as Body Language
- USEFUL - allows RESEARCHER to EXAMINE this SPECIFIC Variable MORE THROUGHLY
- NOT USEFUL - teacher expectations NOT SEEN Within the wider process of labelling and sfp
What are 2 Other LAB EXPERIMENTS that are not Harvey&Slatin and Mason
ZIMBARDO - school into PRISON experiement
MILGRIM - fake electric shock , OBEDIENCE experiement
What do FIELD EXPERIMENTS AIM to OVERCOME of Lab Experiments?
aims to OVERCOME UNNATURALNESS and LACK OF VALIDITY of Lab Experiments
What are 3 Characteristics of FIELD EXPERIMENTS
- takes place in subject’s NATURAL SURROUNDINGS
- those involved DON’T KNOW THEY’RE SUBJECTS of an experiment - AVOIDS HAWTHORNE EFFECT
- RESEARCHER ISOLATES and MANIPULAYES one or more of the VARIABLES to see effect on subjects of the experiment