7.1: Types of experiment

Question 1

Laboratory experiments

Answer 1

Laboratory experiments are experiments conducted in a controlled environment, using standardised procedure, with participants randomly allocated to experimental groups, allowing the establishment of causality

Question 2

An example of a laboratory experiment

Answer 2

An example of a laboratory experiment is Baddeley’s (1966) study of encoding in memory

Question 3

Advantages of laboratory experiments:

1. There is a high degree of what?

Answer 3

An advantage of a laboratory experiment is that there is a high degree of control

Question 4

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control what?

Answer 4

Experimenters control all variables

Question 5

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are what?

Answer 5

Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are:

1. Precisely operationalised (defined)
2. Measured

Question 6

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are precisely operationalised (defined) and measured, leading to what?

Answer 6

Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are precisely operationalised (defined) and measured, leading to greater:

1. Accuracy
2. Objectivity

Question 7

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are precisely operationalised (defined) and measured, leading to greater accuracy and objectivity.
2. R?

Answer 7

An advantage of a laboratory experiment is replication

Question 8

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are precisely operationalised (defined) and measured, leading to greater accuracy and objectivity.
2. Replication.
Other researchers can do what?

Answer 8

Other researchers can repeat the experiment to check results

Question 9

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are precisely operationalised (defined) and measured, leading to greater accuracy and objectivity.
2. Replication.
Other researchers can repeat the experiment to check results.
3. C and what?

Answer 9

An advantage of a laboratory experiment is:

1. Cause
2. Effect

Question 10

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are precisely operationalised (defined) and measured, leading to greater accuracy and objectivity.
2. Replication.
Other researchers can repeat the experiment to check results.
3. Cause and effect.
As all other variables are controlled, the effect (change in the value of the DV) must be what?

Answer 10

As all other variables are controlled, the effect (change in the value of the DV) must be caused solely by the manipulation of the IV

Question 11

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are precisely operationalised (defined) and measured, leading to greater accuracy and objectivity.
2. Replication.
Other researchers can repeat the experiment to check results.
3. Cause and effect.
As all other variables are controlled, the effect (change in the value of the DV) must be caused solely by the manipulation of the IV.
4. I of what?

Answer 11

An advantage of a laboratory experiment is isolation of variables

Question 12

Advantages of laboratory experiments:
1. There is a high degree of control.
Experimenters control all variables and the IV and DV are precisely operationalised (defined) and measured, leading to greater accuracy and objectivity.
2. Replication.
Other researchers can repeat the experiment to check results.
3. Cause and effect.
As all other variables are controlled, the effect (change in the value of the DV) must be caused solely by the manipulation of the IV.
4. Isolation of variables.
In the laboratory, what can happen?

Answer 12

In the laboratory, individual pieces of behaviour can be:

1. Isolated
2. Rigorously tested

Question 13

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:

1. Experimenter what?

Answer 13

A weakness of laboratory experiments is experimenter bias

Question 14

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
What can affect results?

Answer 14

Experimenters’ expectations can affect results

Question 15

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be what?

Answer 15

1. Experimenters’ expectations can affect results

2. Participants may be influenced by these expectations

Question 16

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems doing what?

Answer 16

A weakness of laboratory experiments is problems operationalising the:

1. IV
2. DV

Question 17

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become what and do what?

Answer 17

To gain precise measurements can:

1. Become too specific
2. Not relate to wider behaviour

Question 18

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
Example

Answer 18

For example, defining ‘getting fatter’ as putting on 2 pounds per week

Question 19

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
3. Low what?

Answer 19

A weakness of laboratory experiments is low external (ecological) validity

Question 20

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
3. Low external (ecological) validity.
High degrees of control make experimental situations what?

Answer 20

High degrees of control make experimental situations:

1. Artificial
2. Unlike real life

Question 21

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
3. Low external (ecological) validity.
High degrees of control make experimental situations artificial and unlike real life.
Therefore, it can be difficult to do what?

Answer 21

Therefore, it can be difficult to generalise results to other settings

Question 22

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
3. Low external (ecological) validity.
High degrees of control make experimental situations artificial and unlike real life.
Therefore, it can be difficult to generalise results to other settings.
Laboratory settings can be what?

Answer 22

Laboratory settings can be intimidating places

Question 23

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
3. Low external (ecological) validity.
High degrees of control make experimental situations artificial and unlike real life.
Therefore, it can be difficult to generalise results to other settings.
Laboratory settings can be intimidating places, so people may not do what?

Answer 23

Laboratory settings can be intimidating places, so people may not act normally

Question 24

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
3. Low external (ecological) validity.
High degrees of control make experimental situations artificial and unlike real life.
Therefore, it can be difficult to generalise results to other settings.
Laboratory settings can be intimidating places, so people may not act normally.
4. What characteristics?

Answer 24

A weakness of laboratory experiments is demand characteristics

Question 25

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
3. Low external (ecological) validity.
High degrees of control make experimental situations artificial and unlike real life.
Therefore, it can be difficult to generalise results to other settings.
Laboratory settings can be intimidating places, so people may not act normally.
4. Demand characteristics.
Participants are aware they’re being what?

Answer 25

Participants are aware they’re being tested

Question 26

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments:
1. Experimenter bias.
Experimenters’ expectations can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations.
2. Problems operationalising the IV and the DV.
To gain precise measurements can become too specific and not relate to wider behaviour.
3. Low external (ecological) validity.
High degrees of control make experimental situations artificial and unlike real life.
Therefore, it can be difficult to generalise results to other settings.
Laboratory settings can be intimidating places, so people may not act normally.
4. Demand characteristics.
Participants are aware they’re being tested and so may do what?

Answer 26

Participants:

1. Are aware they’re being tested
2. So may unconsciously alter their behaviour

Question 27

Field experiments

Answer 27

Field experiments are experiments conducted in a naturalistic environment, in ‘real world’ settings rather than the laboratory, where:

1. The researchers manipulate the IV
2. As many other variables as possible are controlled

Question 28

An example of a field experiment

Answer 28

An example of a field experiment is Bickman’s (1974) study of obedience

Question 29

Natural experiments

Answer 29

Natural experiments are experiments where the IV varies naturally

Question 30

Natural experiments are experiments where the IV varies naturally.
The experimenter does not manipulate it, but records what?

Answer 30

The experimenter does not manipulate it, but records the effect on the DV

Question 31

Natural experiments are experiments where the IV varies naturally.
The experimenter does not manipulate it, but records the effect on the DV.
Example

Answer 31

For example, Costello et al. (2003) were studying the mental health of Native Americans on a reservation

Question 32

Natural experiments are experiments where the IV varies naturally.
The experimenter does not manipulate it, but records the effect on the DV.
For example, Costello et al. (2003) were studying the mental health of Native Americans on a reservation.
What happened during the study?

Answer 32

During the study, a casino opened

Question 33

Natural experiments are experiments where the IV varies naturally.
The experimenter does not manipulate it, but records the effect on the DV.
For example, Costello et al. (2003) were studying the mental health of Native Americans on a reservation.
During the study, a casino opened, giving an opportunity to study what?

Answer 33

During the study, a casino opened, giving an opportunity to study the effect of decreasing poverty on mental health

Question 34

Quasi experiments

Answer 34

Quasi experiments are where the researcher is unable to:
1. Freely manipulate the IV, because it occurs naturally
Or,
2. Randomly allocate the participants to the different conditions

Question 35

In quasi experiments, the IV occurs naturally.

Example

Answer 35

For example, in a study of gender, where:
1. Males
2. Females
are compared

Question 36

When are natural and quasi experiments often used?

Answer 36

1. Natural
2. Quasi
   experiments are often used when it is unethical to manipulate an IV

Question 37

Natural and quasi experiments are often used when it is unethical to manipulate an IV.
In such studies, what is not possible?

Answer 37

In such studies, random allocation of participants is not possible

Question 38

Advantages of field and natural experiments:

1. High what?

Answer 38

An advantage of:
1. Field
2. Natural
experiments is high ecological validity

Question 39

Advantages of field and natural experiments:
1. High ecological validity.
Due to the ‘real world’ environment, results what?

Answer 39

Due to the ‘real world’ environment, results:

1. Relate to everyday behaviour
2. Can be generalised to other settings

Question 40

Advantages of field and natural experiments:
1. High ecological validity.
Due to the ‘real world’ environment, results relate to everyday behaviour and can be generalised to other settings.
2. No what?

Answer 40

An advantage of:
1. Field
2. Natural
experiments is no demand characteristics

Question 41

Advantages of field and natural experiments:
1. High ecological validity.
Due to the ‘real world’ environment, results relate to everyday behaviour and can be generalised to other settings.
2. No demand characteristics.
Often participants are what?

Answer 41

Often participants are unaware of the experiment

Question 42

Advantages of field and natural experiments:
1. High ecological validity.
Due to the ‘real world’ environment, results relate to everyday behaviour and can be generalised to other settings.
2. No demand characteristics.
Often participants are unaware of the experiment and so there are no what?

Answer 42

Often participants are unaware of the experiment and so there are no demand characteristics

Question 43

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:

1. Less what?

Answer 43

A weakness of:
1. Field
2. Natural
experiments is less control

Question 44

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control what?

Answer 44

It is more difficult to control extraneous variables

Question 45

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so what?

Answer 45

It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish

Question 46

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. R what?

Answer 46

A weakness of:
1. Field
2. Natural
experiments is replication

Question 47

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. Replication.
It is difficult to do what, since the conditions are what?

Answer 47

It is difficult to exactly repeat:
1. Field
2. Natural
experiments to check the results, since the conditions are never exactly the same again

Question 48

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. Replication.
It is difficult to exactly repeat field and natural experiments to check the results, since the conditions are never exactly the same again.
Field and natural experiments are low in reliability, as you can’t repeat the experiment, because you don’t know what the experimenter has controlled or not controlled.
3. E what?

Answer 48

A weakness of:
1. Field
2. Natural
experiments is ethics

Question 49

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. Replication.
It is difficult to exactly repeat field and natural experiments to check the results, since the conditions are never exactly the same again.
Field and natural experiments are low in reliability, as you can’t repeat the experiment, because you don’t know what the experimenter has controlled or not controlled.
3. Ethics.
When participants are not aware that they are in an experiment, it incurs what?

Answer 49

When participants are not aware that they are in an experiment, it incurs a lack of informed consent

Question 50

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. Replication.
It is difficult to exactly repeat field and natural experiments to check the results, since the conditions are never exactly the same again.
Field and natural experiments are low in reliability, as you can’t repeat the experiment, because you don’t know what the experimenter has controlled or not controlled.
3. Ethics.
When participants are not aware that they are in an experiment, it incurs a lack of informed consent.
This applies more to what?

Answer 50

This applies more to field experiments

Question 51

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. Replication.
It is difficult to exactly repeat field and natural experiments to check the results, since the conditions are never exactly the same again.
Field and natural experiments are low in reliability, as you can’t repeat the experiment, because you don’t know what the experimenter has controlled or not controlled.
3. Ethics.
When participants are not aware that they are in an experiment, it incurs a lack of informed consent.
This applies more to field experiments, since what?

Answer 51

This applies more to field experiments, since in natural/quasi experiments the IV:

1. Occurs naturally
2. Is not manipulated by the experimenter

Question 52

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. Replication.
It is difficult to exactly repeat field and natural experiments to check the results, since the conditions are never exactly the same again.
Field and natural experiments are low in reliability, as you can’t repeat the experiment, because you don’t know what the experimenter has controlled or not controlled.
3. Ethics.
When participants are not aware that they are in an experiment, it incurs a lack of informed consent.
This applies more to field experiments, since in natural/quasi experiments the IV occurs naturally and is not manipulated by the experimenter.
4. S what?

Answer 52

A weakness of:
1. Field
2. Natural
experiments is sample bias

Question 53

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. Replication.
It is difficult to exactly repeat field and natural experiments to check the results, since the conditions are never exactly the same again.
Field and natural experiments are low in reliability, as you can’t repeat the experiment, because you don’t know what the experimenter has controlled or not controlled.
3. Ethics.
When participants are not aware that they are in an experiment, it incurs a lack of informed consent.
This applies more to field experiments, since in natural/quasi experiments the IV occurs naturally and is not manipulated by the experimenter.
4. Sample bias.
Samples may not be what, since what?

Answer 53

Samples may not be comparable to each other, since participants are not randomly allocated to groups

Question 54

If an experiment is high in replication, it is high in what?

Answer 54

If an experiment is high in replication, it is high in reliability

Question 55

Mundane realism

Answer 55

Mundane realism is:

1. The extent to which an experiment reflects the real world
2. How ‘real to life’ it is

Question 56

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments:
1. Less control.
It is more difficult to control extraneous variables, so causality is harder to establish.
2. Replication.
It is difficult to exactly repeat field and natural experiments to check the results, since the conditions are never exactly the same again.
They are low in reliability, as you can’t repeat the experiment, because you don’t know what?

Answer 56

Field and natural experiments are low in reliability, as you can’t repeat the experiment, because you don’t know what the experimenter has:
1. Controlled
Or,
2. Not controlled

Question 57

Advantages of quasi experiments:

1. Reactions of test subjects are more likely to be what?

Answer 57

An advantage of quasi experiments is that reactions of test subjects are more likely to be genuine

Question 58

Advantages of quasi experiments:

1. Reactions of test subjects are more likely to be genuine, because it is what?

Answer 58

Reactions of test subjects are more likely to be genuine, because it is not an artificial research environment

Question 59

Advantages of quasi experiments:

1. Reactions of test subjects are more likely to be genuine, because it is not an artificial research environment.
2. Quasi experiments can be very useful in identifying what?

Answer 59

An advantage of quasi experiments is that quasi experiments can be very useful in identifying general trends from the results

Question 60

Advantages of quasi experiments:

1. Reactions of test subjects are more likely to be genuine, because it is not an artificial research environment.
2. Quasi experiments can be very useful in identifying general trends from the results.
3. Quasi experiments reduce the what that may surround the pre-selection and random assignment of test subjects?

Answer 60

An advantage of quasi experiments is that quasi experiments reduce the:
1. Difficulty
2. Ethical concerns
that may surround the pre-selection and random assignment of test subjects

Question 61

Advantages of quasi experiments:
1. Reactions of test subjects are more likely to be genuine, because it is not an artificial research environment.
2. Quasi experiments can be very useful in identifying general trends from the results.
3. Quasi experiments reduce the difficulty and ethical concerns that may surround the pre-selection and random assignment of test subjects.
Example

Answer 61

For example, if examining the effects of cigarette smoking by pregnant women on the fetus, it would be unethical to randomly assign pregnant women to groups

Question 62

Weaknesses of quasi experiments:

1. Statistical analyses may not be what?

Answer 62

A weakness of quasi experiments is that statistical analyses may not be useful

Question 63

Weaknesses of quasi experiments:

1. Statistical analyses may not be useful, due to what?

Answer 63

A weakness of quasi experiments is that statistical analyses may not be useful, due to the:

1. Lack of randomisation
2. Threats to internal validity

Question 64

Weaknesses of quasi experiments:

1. Statistical analyses may not be useful, due to the lack of randomisation and the threats to internal validity.
2. The lack of random assignment into test groups leads to what?

Answer 64

A weakness of quasi experiments is that the lack of random assignment into test groups leads to non-equivalent test groups

Question 65

Weaknesses of quasi experiments:

1. Statistical analyses may not be useful, due to the lack of randomisation and the threats to internal validity.
2. The lack of random assignment into test groups leads to non-equivalent test groups that can do what?

Answer 65

A weakness of quasi experiments is that the lack of random assignment into test groups leads to non-equivalent test groups that can limit the generalisability of the results to a larger population

Question 66

Advantages of laboratory experiments - Ethical considerations:
It is easy to do what?

Answer 66

An advantage of laboratory experiments is that it is easy to:

1. Gain informed consent
2. Give participants the right to withdraw

Question 67

Advantages of field experiments - Ethical considerations:

It is easy to do what?

Answer 67

An advantage of field experiments is that it is easy to:

1. Gain informed consent
2. Give participants the right to withdraw

Question 68

Disadvantages of natural experiments - Ethical considerations:
Participants probably do not know what?

Answer 68

A disadvantage of natural experiments is that participants probably do not know that they’re taking part in an experiment

Question 69

Disadvantages of natural experiments - Ethical considerations:
Participants probably do not know that they’re taking part in an experiment and so what become serious concerns?

Answer 69

A disadvantage of natural experiments is that participants probably do not know that they’re taking part in an experiment and so:
1. Informed consent
2. The right to withdraw
become serious concerns

Question 70

External (ecological) validity

Answer 70

External (ecological) validity is the extent to which the findings of a research study are able to be generalised to real life settings