(4) THE EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Question 1

What are the 4 types of experiments

Answer 1

Laboratory experiments
Field experiments
Naturalistic experiments
Quasi-experiments

Question 2

Define a lab experiment and state its pros and cons

Answer 2

• Laboratory experiments
○ Definition
§ In a controlled, artificial environment
○ PROS
§ Cause and effect can be inferred (we are sure it is the IV causing the DV)
□ High internal validity
§ Easily replicable - results can be checked for reliability
○ CONS
§ Lack eco validity
§ Increase demand characteristics likelihood
□ Behaviour is artificial - threatening validity of results
§ Low mundane realism
□ Does not reflect real-life tasks
§ Ethical issues - consent, use of animals, deception

Question 3

Define a field experiment and give the pros and cons

Answer 3

• Field experiments
○ Definition
§ Performed in natural setting - eg schools, hospitals
§ IV controlled by researcher
○ PROS
§ Better eco validity
□ Higher external validity
§ Reduced demand characteristics
§ Higher mundane realism
□ Environment is more natural
○ CONS
§ Ethical issues - no consent, privacy or debriefing
□ Cannot inform participants they’re part of experiment
§ Less control of extraneous variables
□ Cause and effect hard to establish

Question 4

Define a naturalistic experiment and give the pros and cons

Answer 4

• Naturalistic experiments
○ Definition
§ IV not manipulated by researcher
□ DV recording controlled in lab
§ Happens naturally, studied by researcher
○ PROS
§ High external/ecological validity - people behave naturally
§ Reduced demand characteristics - researcher not intervening in experiment
○ CONS
§ Events may happen rarely - difficult to replicate
§ Cause and effect hard to establish - EV difficult to control

Question 5

Define a quasi-experiment and give the pros and cons

Answer 5

• Quasi-experiments
○ Definition
§ IV not manipulated by researcher
§ Truly naturally occurring - looking at pre-existing actual things
□ Eg being a biological female, being 16 years old
○ PROS (same as lab experiment)
§ Cause and effect can be inferred (we are sure it is the IV causing the DV)
□ High internal validity
§ Easily replicable - results can be checked for reliability
○ CONS
§ Cannot randomly allocate people
□ Could be confounding variables