7.1: Types of experiment

Question 1

A psychologist studying obedience conducted the following experiment.
A confederate (stooge) approached people in the street and instructed them to pick up a piece of litter and put it in a nearby bin. None of the people approached had dropped the litter.
There were two groups in the experiment.

Group A: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in everyday clothing.
Group B: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in a uniform.

The psychologist recorded how many people in each group obeyed the instruction of the confederate (stooge).

Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in this experiment (2 marks)

Answer 1

The independent variable is whether the researcher was dressed in everyday clothing or in a uniform

Question 2

A psychologist studying obedience conducted the following experiment.
A confederate (stooge) approached people in the street and instructed them to pick up a piece of litter and put it in a nearby bin. None of the people approached had dropped the litter.
There were two groups in the experiment.

Group A: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in everyday clothing.
Group B: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in a uniform.

The psychologist recorded how many people in each group obeyed the instruction of the confederate (stooge).

Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in this experiment (2 marks).
The independent variable is whether the researcher was dressed in everyday clothing or in a uniform

Answer 2

The dependent variable is whether participants obeyed the instruction of the confederate (stooge) or not

Question 3

Explain one way in which a laboratory study differs from a natural experiment (2 marks)

Answer 3

In a laboratory study, a researcher manipulates an independent variable between the conditions of the experiment

Question 4

Explain one way in which a laboratory study differs from a natural experiment (2 marks).
In a laboratory study, a researcher manipulates an independent variable between the conditions of the experiment.
In a natural experiment, what?

Answer 4

In a natural experiment, there is no manipulation of an independent variable

Question 5

Explain one way in which a laboratory study differs from a natural experiment (2 marks).
In a laboratory study, a researcher manipulates an independent variable between the conditions of the experiment.
In a natural experiment, there is no manipulation of an independent variable - what?

Answer 5

In a natural experiment, there is no manipulation of an independent variable - an independent variable is used that varies naturally